Recent Mortality Trends in Russia: Differences between Younger and Older Generations

Natalia S. Gavrilova, University of Chicago
Victoria G. Semyonova, Ministry of Health, Russia
Galina N. Evdokushkina, Ministry of Health, Russia
Leonid A. Gavrilov, University of Chicago
Alla E. Ivanova, Ministry of Health, Russia

This paper analyzes the most recent trends of mortality in Russia across ages, genders and regions using official statistical data for 1991-2001. During the last decade Russia experienced two mortality crises in 1992 and 1998. Life expectancy in Russia continues to decline after 1998. Mortality data for 2001 show opposite tendencies for younger and older age groups: mortality of young adults (20-30 years old) tends to decline while mortality among middle-aged and older adults continues to grow after 1998. Our findings suggest that the recent mortality trends in Russia demonstrate increasing level of violence and stress in the society. However, many negative tendencies can be reversed in the case of more attention to these largely avoidable causes from the society. This study was supported in part by the grant 98-52206 from the MacArthur Foundation.