mortalities

Mortalities is the plural term used to describe deaths within a population over a specified period. In epidemiology and demography, mortalities are analyzed to assess the overall level of mortality and to compare health outcomes across time and place. The concept encompasses all-cause deaths as well as cause-specific deaths classified by disease or injury.

Mortality statistics are expressed in several ways. The crude mortality rate equals the number of deaths per 1,000 inhabitants per year. Age-specific mortality rates break the deaths down by age groups, and age-standardized or age-adjusted rates adjust for differences in age structure when comparing populations. Special indicators include the infant mortality rate (deaths of children under one year per 1,000 live births) and the maternal mortality rate.

Data sources include vital registration systems, civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS), censuses, and household surveys. Causes of death are typically coded using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

Mortality patterns reflect a range of determinants, including infectious diseases, chronic conditions, accidents, social determinants, and access to health care. Historic trends show substantial declines in mortality in many regions due to sanitation, vaccination, and medical advances. Disparities by age, sex, socioeconomic status, and geography are common, and mortality levels may respond to public health interventions, economic development, and behavior changes.

Limitations include underreporting, misclassification of cause of death, and delays in data collection. Mortalities data inform public health priorities, resource allocation, and evaluation of interventions, while supporting international comparisons and monitoring of global health progress.