According to the authors, life expectancy decreased in 84 percent of all analyzed countries and territories (204 in total), which demonstrates the devastating potential impact of new viruses. In two years, the death rate among people over the age of 15 has increased by 22 percent for men and 17 percent for women. At the same time, Mexico City, Peru and Bolivia were among those places where life expectancy fell the most, reports lenta.ru.

However, despite the pandemic, people are still living much longer than before. Between 1950 and 2021, the average life expectancy increased by 23 years, from 49 to 72 years.

The study also showed how the population of many rich countries with an aging population has begun to decline, while in less affluent countries it continues to grow. According to scientists, this dynamic will lead to unprecedented social, economic and political problems, such as a shortage of labor in regions where the young population is declining, and a shortage of resources in places where the population continues to increase rapidly.