Elderly Mortality Rates Diverge in Finland and Iceland: A Post-Pandemic Perspective on Life Expectancy

In Finland, life expectancy in 2022 remained 0.4 years shorter than in 2019. The mortality rate for people over 70 was one-third higher during the corona wave in November-December of the same year compared to other months of the year. However, there are signs that the mortality rate is falling to pre-pandemic levels at the beginning of this year. This can be attributed to the successful implementation of strict measures and high vaccination rates among Finnish elderly.

In contrast, life expectancy in Iceland remained at its lowest point last year due to a combination of factors such as under-mortality seen in 2020 and an aging population. Although Iceland managed to reduce the mortality rate of people over 70 significantly during the pandemic, it seems that some of this success may have been lost due to an increase in deaths among younger populations.

Overall, both Finland and Iceland faced challenges related to their aging populations and corona mortality rates. While Finland has seen some progress in reducing its mortality rate for elderly individuals, Iceland’s under-mortality may contribute to an over-mortality observed in subsequent years.

According to recently published statistics from Eurostat, life expectancy has returned to pre-pandemic levels in more than 18 countries in the European Union. However, Finland is one of seven countries where this has not yet occurred.

In Spain, which has the highest life expectancy in Europe with an average of 84 years, life expectancy was also affected differently by the pandemic compared to other countries. Some countries experienced decreases while others saw increases.

Overall, it is clear that different factors such as vaccination rates and age demographics have had varying impacts on life expectancy across Europe during and after the pandemic.