RGA has created an online digital platform featuring an in-depth analysis of US population mortality in the wake of COVID-19. As a central component of that analysis, RGA's Global R&D team produced a report on all-cause excess mortality, which is summarized below.
Understanding excess death rates in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is essential to assessing its lingering burden. In this report, RGA has updated its analysis of US population data to understand how all-cause excess mortality settled in 2024, the fifth year of COVID-19.
While we have observed persistent excess mortality in the US population following the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, recent mortality trends suggest that all-cause mortality rates have continued to decrease substantially, with 2024 total excess mortality settling at just 0.4%. Minimal mortality burden from the past two flu seasons – impacting the 2024 calendar year – helped drive down excess mortality.
Age and sex differences significantly impact US population excess mortality estimates, which suggests the underlying drivers of persistent excess mortality vary based on these factors. To understand where population excess mortality may be headed in the medium term, a comprehensive evaluation of each major cause of death is essential. RGA will examine some of the trends in specific causes in subsequent reports.
To learn about the latest all-cause and by-cause report updates as they are published, sign up for RGA’s US mortality analysis email list.
