Understanding of the mortality variations driven by the COVID-19 pandemic at the population level is apparently limited in the existing literature. Using the data derived from the Human Mortality Database, this study presents a comprehensive examination regarding the changes in life expectancy from 2020 to 2021 (as of September 26, 2021) and the relevant age decomposition analysis in 27 countries (mainly developed countries in Europe and the United States). The findings demonstrate that the COVID-19 pandemic had resulted in an immense decline in life expectancy in 2020 among the 27 countries investigated. The largest reduction in life expectancy at age 15 in 2020 was observed in the United States, reaching -2. 2 years, followed by -2. 1 years in Russia and -1. 8 years in Bulgaria. In 2021, trends of life expectancy at age 15 diverged among the 27 countries, with those located in Western Europe and Southern Europe experiencing a rebound in life expectancy at age 15, while some other countries, largely located in Eastern Europe, suffered a continuing decline. Further age-decomposition analysis indicates that the reductions in life expectancy at age 15 among the 27 countries in 2020 were largely driven by reductions in life expectancy at age 65 and over, but were less contributed by the changes in life expectancy at younger age. Additionally, life expectancy decreased more for men at most ages than for women, but more for women at ages above 85. It is worth noting that while life expectancy of the majority of the 27 countries rebounded in 2021, life expectancy of the young population in some countries still decreased reflecting a greater risk of COVID - 19 for young people. Results from this study present an updated investigation regarding the latest mortality variations internationally and the trends and characteristics of population mortality changes in different populations, shedding new light on the policy formulation to cope with the challenges arising from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
