Mortality in Russia During the 18th and 19th Centuries

The classic methods of historical demography developed by Louis Henry stumble over the difficulties proper to the study of mortality, and in particular adult mortality. The main problem lies in estimating population size, the denominator necessary for calculating mortality risks. A previously unexploited source material for Czarist Russia is presented and investigated here by Alain Blum and Irina Troitskaya. It is used to construct complete life tables for two periods a century apart, thus revealing the change (or rather, lack of change) over time in the health status of a population which remains something of a mystery