Mortality

The study of mortality examines death — its levels, causes, patterns, and decline — a core demographic process.

Scope

It covers mortality measurement and the life table, causes of death, the epidemiologic transition, and differentials in mortality and longevity.

Core questions

• What determines death rates and life expectancy?
• How and why has mortality declined?
• How do causes of death change with development?
• Why do mortality rates differ across groups?

Key concepts

• Life table
• Life expectancy
• Epidemiologic transition
• Cause of death
• Mortality differentials
• Infant mortality

Key theories

Political arithmetic and the life table

Graunt's analysis of mortality bills founded the quantitative study of death and the life table.

The epidemiologic transition

Omran theorized the shift from infectious to chronic, degenerative causes of death as societies develop.

History

Mortality study began with Graunt's life table and developed the epidemiologic-transition framework (Omran), now analysing health inequalities, ageing, and longevity.

Debates

Why did mortality decline?

The relative roles of nutrition, public health, medicine, and living standards in the historical mortality decline.

Key figures

• John Graunt
• Abdel Omran

Seminal works

• omran-1971
• graunt-1662

Frequently asked questions

What is the epidemiologic transition?

Omran's theory of the shift, as societies develop, from high mortality dominated by infectious disease to low mortality dominated by chronic, degenerative disease.