Shocking news has emerged from Germany, as the country’s life expectancy has decreased for the third year in a row. According to a study by the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) and the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR), life expectancy in Germany is surprisingly low compared to other European countries. The latest data from BiB shows that in 2022, life expectancy for men decreased from 78.7 to 78.1 years, and for women from 83.5 to 82.8 years. This means that life expectancy is now lower than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study also revealed significant regional differences in life expectancy across Germany. Mortality researcher Markus Sauerberg explained that life expectancy for men in Saarland and Saxony-Anhalt was more than a year lower than in 2019. Similarly, women in Saxony-Anhalt had a life expectancy almost one year lower than in 2019. However, some states such as Baden-Württemberg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Saxony showed a more favorable trend for men.
Pavel Grigoriev, head of the mortality research group at BiB, noted that the differences between the states in West and East Germany have decreased slightly. In 2021, life expectancy in Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Brandenburg fell significantly below pre-pandemic levels. However, in 2022, these four states, especially for men, saw significant increases in life expectancy. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the decline in life expectancy in many western states, with the strongest decrease occurring between 2021 and 2022. Additionally, the flu epidemic at the end of 2022 contributed to the decline in life expectancy last year.
This news is concerning, and experts are urging policymakers to take action to address the underlying causes of the decline in life expectancy. It is essential to understand the regional differences and the impact of the pandemic on life expectancy to develop effective strategies to improve health outcomes for all Germans.
