COVID-19 pandemic related excess mortality and trends in healthy longevity,

 

The analysis presented in this chapter of the World Health Statistics 2026 Report is based on the WHO global excess mortality estimates associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and estimates on lifeexpectancy and HALE by region and sex. The global excess mortality estimates were produced using data from multiple sources, including national vital registration data compiled from various repositories as well as all-causes mortality estimates from the UN Inter-agencyGroup for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) 2023 (1) for children younger than 15 years and the global health estimates 2021 (2) for adults older than 15 years. A summary of the methods used to derive the estimates can be accessed online (3). The methods were developed with the support of and guidance from the Technical Advisory Group onCOVID-19 Mortality Assessment (from 1 February 2021 to 31 December 2025) (4). All external experts submitted to WHO a declaration of interest disclosing potential conflicts of interest that might affect, or might reasonably be perceived to affect, their objectivity and independence in relation to the subject matter of the guidance. WHO reviewed each of the declarations and concluded that none could give rise to a potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest related to the subjects covered by the guidance. The life expectancy and HALE estimates are part of the WHO global health estimates and were produced using data from different sources, including national vital registration data, latest estimates from UN partners and interagency groups, and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Global Burden of Disease and other scientific studies. The life expectancy and HALE estimates also incorporate the WHO estimates for the global excess deaths associated with the COVID-19 pandemic for the assessment of all-cause mortality for the years 2020–2023. The summary of the methods of the life expectancy and HALE estimates can be accessed online (5). Both the global health estimates 2023 and the global excess mortality estimates were reviewed by WHO Member States through consultation with national focal points and WHO country and regional offices.