Life expectancy in Europe declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, but new research reveals that the slowdown began nearly a decade earlier. While Europeans today still enjoy some of the longest lifespans in the world, experts warn that without policy changes, these gains may not continue.
A recent study published in The Lancet Public Health examined life expectancy trends in 20 European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the UK nations of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Between 1990 and 2011, life expectancy across these nations rose by an average of 0.23 years annually—about three extra months of life each year—due to declines in deaths from heart disease and cancer.
“Advances in public health and medicine in the 20th century meant that life expectancy in Europe improved year after year,” said Nick Steel, lead researcher and professor at the University of East Anglia. “But this is no longer the case.”
From 2011 to 2019, the pace of improvement slowed, with life expectancy rising by just 0.15 years annually (1.8 months). England saw the most stagnation, followed by Germany and Spain, while life expectancy remained relatively stable in Iceland and other Nordic countries.
Researchers attribute the slowdown to an increase in heart disease deaths linked to obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, poor diets, and lack of exercise. Changing demographics, particularly migration patterns in countries like the UK, France, and Germany, may have also played a role.
Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2019 and 2021, life expectancy dropped in most of the studied nations. Greece and England were hit hardest, losing more than seven months of life expectancy each.
In contrast, countries such as Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, and Ireland continued to see longevity gains, with Belgium maintaining stable life expectancy. The study suggests that stronger public health policies in these nations helped mitigate the pandemic’s impact.
“Comparing countries, national policies that improved population health were linked to better resilience to future shocks,” Steel noted.
As Europe recovers from the pandemic, the findings highlight the need for renewed focus on preventive healthcare, healthier lifestyles, and policies that promote long-term well-being.
