Britain has experienced the biggest surge in excess deaths among 50-64 year olds since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Just Group said.
Data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities showed that since the beginning of the pandemic on 27 March 2029 to 29 December 2023, a total of 2,079,687 deaths were registered in England. Among this figure were 171,376 excess deaths, indicating a 9% increase in the number of total excess deaths relative to expected deaths.
Those aged between 50-64 years experienced the greatest uptick in the number of excess deaths, with an excess mortality rate of 15%. There was a 10% rise in the excess death rate among those aged between 25-29 and a further 9% increase in the 65-74 cohort.
The North West, West Midlands and London saw the most significant rise in excess deaths since the pandemic, jumping by 11%, 11% and 10% respectively.
The data follows the latest life expectancy figures, which showed a drop in life expectancy to 78.6 years for males and 82.6 years for females.
Stephen Lowe, group communications director at Just Group, said: “The data reveals the scale of the excess deaths experienced from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 and its effect, in particular, on older cohorts.
“It follows last week’s ONS life expectancy data which showed that higher mortality rates in 2020-22 had set back improvements in UK life expectancy by about a decade. These are sobering figures but amid the doom and gloom it is important to remember that historic numbers tell us little about how the future might turn out, especially about how our own individual futures may turn out.”
Lowe said average life expectancy figures only provide an age at which people have a 50:50 chance of achieving.
“It is not a target. We are as likely to live longer as die sooner,” said Lowe. “That is why financial planners seek to cover all the eventualities when giving advice to clients so retirement plans can work in all scenarios.”
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