Ethnic Differentials of Mortality in Russia and the Role of Socio-Economic Conditions

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

Ethnic Russians in Russia traditionally have higher mortality at working ages compared to other ethnic groups. We analyzed mortality in 78 Russian territories according to percentage of ethnic Russians reported by the last 2002 census. The proportion of ethnic Russians in the total population is negatively correlated with life expectancy in a particular region and positively correlated with the level of mortality increase during the last 15 years. However this tendency varied depending on the socio-economic development of a particular territory. When living standards are low then lifestyle, religion or other national traditions result in higher ethnic inequalities in adult mortality.