The peculiar pattern of mortality of Jews in Moscow, 1993-95

Vladimir M. Shkolnikov, Evgueni M. Andreev, Jon Anson, France Meslé

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Russian Jews, particularly men, have a large mortality advantage compared with the general Russian population. We consider possible explanations for this advantage using data on 445,000 deaths in Moscow, 1993-95. Log-linear analysis of the distribution of deaths by sex, age, ethnic group, and cause of death reveals a relatively high concentration of endogenous causes and a relatively low concentration of exogenous and behaviourally induced causes among Jews. There is also a significant concentration of deaths from breast cancer among Jewish women. Mortality estimates using the 1994 micro-census population as the denominator reveal an 11-year Russian-Jewish gap in the life expectancy of males at age 20, but,only a 2-year life-expectancy gap for women. Only 40per cent of the Russian-Jewish difference for men, but the entire difference for women, can be eliminated by adjustment for educational differences between the two ethnic groups. Similarities with other Jewish populations and possible explanations are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)311-329
Number of pages19
JournalPopulation Studies
Volume58
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2004

Keywords

  • Cause of death
  • Ethnic group
  • Life expectancy
  • Russia
  • Sex differences

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Demography
  • History

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