Determinants of age-sex mortality pattern in Korea, 1970-2005 : an analysis of causes-of-death by socio-economic characteristics

Tai-Hun Kim, Korea National University of Education

The purpose of this study is to discuss the changing determinants of the age-sex mortality pattern during the fast mortality decline in Korea. It is possible from the analysis of cause-of-death affected by personal characteristics.The age group which the sex ratio of mortality rate was the highest moved to higher ages after 1990. The age group of 40 years, which mortality differentials by sex were highest in 1990, increased up to age 55 years in 2005. While the average mortality differentials by age become smaller, the highest sex ratio of mortality rate by age became higher and reached to over 300 in 2000 and then is declining. These phenomena were found while educational level becomes higher and occupation changes among young age groups, and the highest sex ratio is predicted to decline when the educated people become older.