Mortality and life expectancy at older ages in Russian megapolis (the case of Saint-Petersburg)

Gayane Safarova, Saint-Petersburg Institute for Economics and Mathematics RAS
Lenar Kozlov, Saint-Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology of the North-West Branch of RAMS
Alexander Lisenenkov, Russian Academy of Sciences
Anna Safarova, Saint-Petersburg Institute for Economics and Mathematics RAS

In Russia big cities have been main engines of demographic development. Saint-Petersburg (SPb) is the second largest city and in several aspects plays the leading role in the country. It has one of the lowest fertility rates in Russia and will be significantly affected by population ageing in the immediate future. An important characteristic of ageing process is life expectancy (LE) at older ages (60+), it is computed based on age specific mortality rates (ASMR). Paper aims at analyzing dynamics of LE at older ages in Saint-Petersburg in 1990 – 2006 in comparison with Russia. Mortality by causes of death in SPb and gender differences in ASMR and LE are considered. The paper is based on data given by Federal Statistic Service (Rosstat). Dynamics of ASFR (and of ASFR by causes of death) and LE for older age groups for males and for females are analysed. Computations of considered indicators are made in Excel. It is found that for almost all considered age groups in the whole period 1990 -2006 ASMRs have decreased. Three major causes of death are - diseases of the circulatory system, neoplasms and external causes. Since the beginning of this century LE at older ages in SPb has increased, but it is still much lower than LE in developed countries [1]. ASMRs for males are higher (LEs lower) than those for females. Gender imbalance is decreasing with age. Old age mortality in SPb is lower than that in Rissia as a whole. Results of the study may contribute to better understanding of regularities of ageing development not only in Saint-Petersburg but in Russia as a whole. They would enable enhancing management and planning of social and health services.