Decomposing Life Expectancy Changes in Spain During and After COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decline in life expectancy at birth (LE) across Western European countries in 2020, with recovery only seen by 2023. Despite being heavily impacted, Spain maintained the highest life expectancy in the European Union.
Study Objective
This study aims to break down changes in life expectancy in Spain from 2019 to 2023 by specific age groups and causes of death, while comparing these changes with the pre-pandemic period from 2010 to 2019.
Methods
- Data on life expectancy and mortality rates by age and cause of death were sourced from the Spanish National Institute for Statistics (INE) for 2010, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
- The Arriaga decomposition method was applied to estimate age-specific contributions to changes in life expectancy.
- These age-specific contributions were then proportionally assigned to major causes of death.
Key Findings
- In 2020, age groups above 20 years showed a negative impact on life expectancy, but most had positive contributions in subsequent years up to 2023.
- Interestingly, the groups most affected in 2020 contributed positively to life expectancy changes over the entire 2019-2023 period, while those under 45 years old have continued to show negative contributions.
“Infectious diseases were the main contributor to the sharp drop in life expectancy in 2020, accounting for −1.33 years in the total population, with a more severe impact in men (−1.43 years) than in women (−1.16 years).”
This analysis highlights the complex age- and cause-specific dynamics underlying life expectancy changes in Spain during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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