Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the official statistics agency of the Netherlands, has lowered the country’s life expectancy for 2029. Much of the data can be put down to the increased mortality rate in the Netherlands caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The data shows that from 2029, 65-year-olds can expect another 20,89 years of life, taking Dutch life expectancy to just under 86. Previously, the experts at Statistics Netherlands predicted that number to be higher, at 21,16 years.
Statistics Netherlands say that the main reason for the fall in life expectancy is due to the increase in mortality caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, more people have died than expected before the pandemic. This increase in mortality resulted in lower life expectancy,” the statistics agency said.
According to the statisticians, life expectancy is taking a longer time than imagined to recover from the hit of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The recovery from the current excess mortality after the pandemic is taking longer than expected,” CBS sociologist Tanja Traag told De Telegraaf. “The number of people who have died this year is lower than in 2021 and 2022, but still higher than for 2019”, adding that this is the reason why Statistics Netherlands decided to lower their prediction.
The lower life expectancy will have financial implications for many people, especially regarding their pensions. The government will have to make adjustments to the state pension because the state pension age is tied to the life expectancy forecast from Statistics Netherlands. According to the Old Age Act, the state pension age will be 67 from 2024 until 2027 and in 2028 it will be 67 years and 3 months.