Mortality rate of the Russian population in 2020-2021

Abstract

In 2020-2021, the new coronavirus pandemic significantly changed the global demographic situation. Most countries of the world faced a significant increase in mortality. The spread of COVID-19 presented the greatest challenge in recent history for the health systems, as well as the social sphere and the economy of most states and has influenced the increase in the mortality in 2020-2021 in almost every country. The objective of this study is to analyze the dynamics of population mortality in 2020-2021 (January-August) and the impact of coronavirus infection on mortality and life expectancy of the Russian population. Assessing the impact of COVID-19 by directly counting the number of deaths due to coronavirus infection has its limitations: the increase in the total number of deaths significantly exceeds the official mortality from coronavirus infection. In this regard, when determining mortality from coronavirus, indicators of excess mortality and changes in life expectancy are used. Excess mortality is one of the main indicators characterizing the direct and indirect impact of the spread of COVID-19 on the population mortality and the effectiveness of different countries’ efforts to mitigate the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic. The paper analyzes the operational information on the population mortality for 8 months of 2021 and detailed data for 2020 as a whole. The authors note that the decrease in life expectancy in 2020 is associated with an increase in mortality from COVID-19, circulatory diseases, respiratory diseases, digestive diseases, external and other causes in middle and older age groups.

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