Study: COVID drops U.S. life expectancy by a year, even more for people of color

The COVID-19 pandemic reduced life expectancy in the United States in 2020 by more than a year, from roughly 78.5 years to 77.5 years, with even larger drops for Latino and Black people, a new study found (Source: “COVID-19 reduced U.S. life expectancy, particularly among minorities,” United Press International, Jan. 14).

According to analysis published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,  life expectancy for Black people in the United States could fall by more than two years, while it may drop by more than three years for Latino people. For white people, it could fall by less than a year, according to the researchers.

The virus killed more than 336,000 people in the United States last year, due in part to higher fatality rates among Black and Latino people, compared to white people, the researchers said.