A Study on the Changing Patterns of Mortality in Korea

우리나라 사망수준의 추이에 관한 연구

This study was carried out to determine the mortality level and it's related demographic factors in Korea since 1942. In order to clarify the changes in structure of mortality and the causes of death, the indices such as Crude Death Rate(CDR) or Life Expectancy at Birth were used. The author examined the mortality levels and major causes of death and performed the relevant demographic analysis. The followings are the summary of this study: 1. The CDR declined rapidly till 1960's. Such improvement slowed down from 1960's to mid 1970's and stabilized afterwards. It was due to the change of age composition, namely, the increase of aging population. 2. The Life Expectancy at Birth increased rapidly till mid 1960's. But elongation of the Life Expectancy slowed down after then. Especially in female, it slowed down more. 3. Changing patterns of major causes of death summarize that, till 1960's infectious diseases were major causes of death, but recently non-infectious diseases like chronic degenerative diseases became more prevalent. 4. The elongation of Life Expectancy at Birth till mid 1960's was mainly resulted by $_4{q}_1$. But the major contributing factor of the improvement in Life Expectancy at Birth in female is he reduction of $_$\infty${q}_{50}$ recently. In male, the improvement in Life Expectancy at Birth is due to the reduction of $_1{q}_0$. recently. 5. The age-sex-specific mortality rates revealed that $_n{q}_x$ declined in common throughout the period, even though there exists some variability of their ranges as age changes. Consequently, this study seems to suggest that the demographic transition in Korea occurred between late 1960's and early 1970's. In other words, the rapid change before late 1960's was eased in early 1970's. The slow change in this period caused a stabilizing pattern. Therefore, the population change is expected to be stabilized continuously.