Aged population and pre-existing conditions in the countries worst hit by Covid-19

Detailed data from the CEIC database, covering the Covid-19 outbreak and the risk factors in the most affected countries, reveal some interesting correlations about the challenges the different regions are facing. 

As of March 20, Italy’s death toll overtook China’s. As the data shows, Italy and Iran’s fatality rate are relatively high, reaching 8.3% and 6.5%, respectively. By contrast, the rates in South Korea, Germany and the United States are below 1.5%.

Among the countries with higher case fatality rate, further details are observed, regarding additional factors that are likely influencing how the outbreak is spreading. The relatively higher rates in Western European countries (Italy, Spain, France) are due to the high share of the population aged 65 and above, while the high case fatality rates in China and Iran might be linked to high exposure to pre-existing conditions.

The bubble size in the bubble charts indicates the case-fatality rate. The third chart with the mortality risk factor-adjusted index shows what influence the two factors are having on the case-fatality rate.

Further data and analysis on the Covid-19 outbreak worldwide and in specific countries can be found on the CEIC Coronavirus Data Monitor.