The chronic condition could cost OECD countries billions per year, with the total comparable to the annual health budgets of the Netherlands or Spain, a new report shows. The long-term illness affecting some people who have had COVID-19, known as long COVID, could impose a total economic burden of $135 billion (€115.38 billion) annually over the next decade.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) analysed the socio-economic impact of long COVID, highlighting losses driven by employment breaks, premature exits from the workforce, and reduced productivity. The report predicts that indirect costs will far exceed the direct healthcare costs associated with the condition between 2025 and 2035.
“Long COVID will continue to dent workforce participation and productivity at a time of modest economic growth and population ageing,” the authors wrote. Projections suggest that, depending on the ongoing incidence of the virus, the condition could affect between 0.6% and 1.0% of the OECD population over the next ten years.
The economic impact is expected to remain significant. Under realistic scenarios, yearly losses could equal 0.1% to 0.2% of GDP, translating to roughly $135 billion per year. Even if optimistic assumptions see prevalence and losses decline, the report stresses that persistent economic effects are likely.
The OECD noted that while the clinical features of long COVID are better understood today, the social and economic consequences are only starting to be systematically measured. Recognition, diagnosis, and care remain uneven across member countries, and most lack high-quality, usable data on the condition.
“Prioritising the collection and reporting of national data on long COVID is critical to inform policy responses,” the report said. Understanding the long-term effects of infection can help countries prepare for future pandemics and potential new variants of the virus.
The report also warned that early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic often overlooked long-term consequences, leaving health systems unprepared for post-acute recovery challenges. Authors stressed that any future pandemic response should integrate long-term sequelae into planning from the outset, ensuring early recognition and support for affected populations.
Long COVID symptoms can include fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and respiratory problems, which can persist for months after the initial infection. These health effects contribute to reduced workforce participation and productivity, reinforcing the report’s warning of significant socio-economic consequences.
The OECD’s findings underline that long COVID is not just a public health issue but a substantial economic challenge for advanced economies. Policymakers are urged to improve data collection, diagnosis, and care, while considering the broader implications for workforce planning and economic resilience in the years ahead.
