COVID-19 increased existing gender mortality gaps in high-income more than middle-income countries
This study draws on recent data that were not available for earlier studies to examine the extent to which the gender gap in mortality shifted in high and middle-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has killed men at much higher rates than women, as has been well documented, but these gender differences have varied by country income. These differences were the result of some combination of variation in gender patterns of infection rates and infection fatality rates across countries. The gender gap in mortality declined in high-income countries in 2021, likely as a result of the faster rollout of vaccination against COVID-19.
Key outputs from the study include:
- The pandemic amplified the gender mortality gap in 2020.
- Rates of excess mortality were higher for men than women in high-income countries.
- By 2021, this exacerbation of the sex ratio of mortality declined significantly.
- In middle-income countries, a shift in the gender gap was not observed.
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Hazards
Epidemic and Pandemic
Themes
Gender
Number of pages
8 p.
Publication year
2024