mortalitas

Mortalitas is a term used in demography and public health to denote the frequency of deaths in a population during a defined period. In Indonesian and Malay, mortalitas translates to mortality or death rate. The word derives from Latin mortalitas, meaning the state of being mortal or subject to death. In epidemiology, mortality is distinguished from morbidity, which refers to illness and disease burden.

Key indicators include the crude death rate (deaths per 1,000 people per year), life expectancy at birth, age-specific mortality rates, infant mortality rate, and cause-specific mortality rates. Mortality data are often presented in life tables that summarize the probability of dying at each age and the expected remaining life years for a cohort. Data are collected through civil registration, surveys, and health information systems and are used to compare populations and track changes over time.

Mortality levels vary by age, sex, geography, and period. Wealth, education, sanitation, vaccination, healthcare access, nutrition, and exposure to hazards influence the number and timing of deaths. Global mortality has declined over the past century due to improvements in public health, medicine, and living conditions, though substantial disparities persist. High-income countries tend to experience aging populations with shifting mortality patterns, while low- and middle-income countries may face higher mortality from infectious diseases, malnutrition, conflict, and limited health services.

Data on mortality inform public health planning, resource allocation, and monitoring progress toward health and development goals.