Long Covid will cost OECD countries up to $135 billion annually in lost productivity and workforce participation, according to a new study from the Paris-based economic organization. The research represents the first comprehensive attempt to quantify the economic burden of persistent post-infection symptoms across EU and OECD nations.

The projected GDP losses of 0.1 to 0.2 percent annually stem primarily from reduced productivity and employees leaving the workforce entirely, rather than direct healthcare costs. The OECD drew on US survey data showing lasting increases in health-related absences and labor market exits, combined with academic studies from the UK, Australia, and other high-income countries.

Economists have struggled to measure long Covid's impact because few countries tracked affected individuals after the pandemic's peak. The OECD warns these estimates likely understate the true burden, as they add to existing challenges including sluggish growth and aging workforces. While many countries have developed recognition policies, significant gaps remain in long-term care pathways and healthcare worker training. The organization's 38 member states face a structural economic brake that will persist for at least a decade.