Life Expectancy Of Indians Dropped By Two Years Due To COVID-19 Pandemic, Says New Study

The devastation caused by the COVID-19 is unlike anything that the world has seen in a long time, and its impact may not be limited to the pandemic years.

According to a new study, the life expectancy of Indians has dropped by nearly two years due to COVID-19.

The study by scientists of the Mumbai-based International Institute for Population Studies (IIPS) was aimed at assessing the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic on mortality patterns in the country.

BCCL

What the report said

''The life expectancy at birth in 2019 was 69.5 years for men and 72 years for women, which came down to 67.5 years and 69.8 years, respectively, in 2020,'' the report said.

The report authored by IIPS professor Suryakant Yadav said the study also looked at ‘length of life inequality’ (the variation in length of life within populations), and found the Covid toll among men in the 35-69 age group was the highest.?

“The 35–79 age group had excess deaths caused by Covid in 2020 compared to normal years and it is this group that has contributed immensely to the drop," the report said.

BCCL

'Life expectancy at birth' is defined as the average number of years that a newborn is expected to live if the mortality pattern during their birth remains constant in the future.

BCCL/ Representational Image

''Every time we are affected with some epidemic, the life expectancy at birth figures dwindle. For instance, after the HIV-AIDS epidemic in African nations, the expectancy had dropped. Once it was brought under control, the life expectancy recouped as well," IIPS director Dr K S James said.

According to the government data, more than 4.53 lakh Indians have died due to COVID-19 so far.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit?Indiatimes News.