TY - JOUR

T1 - Trends in mortality patterns in two countries with different welfare models

T2 - comparisons between CUBA and Denmark 1955–2020

AU - Brønnum-Hansen, Henrik

AU - Espiñeira, Juan Carlos Albizu-Campos

AU - Perera, Camila

AU - Andersen, Ingelise

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Cuba and Denmark represent states with different welfare models that have reached the same level of life expectancy. The purpose was to investigate and compare mortality changes in the two countries. Systematically collected information on population numbers and deaths for the entire Cuban and Danish populations was the basis of life table data used to quantify differences in the change in age-at-death distributions since 1955, age-specific contributions to differences in life expectancy, lifespan variation, and other changes in mortality patterns in Cuba and Denmark. Life expectancy in Cuba and Denmark converged until 2000, when the increase in life expectancy for Cuba slowed down. Since 1955, infant mortality has fallen in both countries but mostly in Cuba. Both populations experienced compression of mortality as lifespan variation decreased markedly, primarily due to postponement of early deaths. Given the different starting point in the mid-1900s and living conditions for Cubans and Danes, health status achieved among Cubans is striking. A rapidly ageing population is challenging both countries, but Cuban health and welfare are further burdened by a deteriorating economy in recent decades.

AB - Cuba and Denmark represent states with different welfare models that have reached the same level of life expectancy. The purpose was to investigate and compare mortality changes in the two countries. Systematically collected information on population numbers and deaths for the entire Cuban and Danish populations was the basis of life table data used to quantify differences in the change in age-at-death distributions since 1955, age-specific contributions to differences in life expectancy, lifespan variation, and other changes in mortality patterns in Cuba and Denmark. Life expectancy in Cuba and Denmark converged until 2000, when the increase in life expectancy for Cuba slowed down. Since 1955, infant mortality has fallen in both countries but mostly in Cuba. Both populations experienced compression of mortality as lifespan variation decreased markedly, primarily due to postponement of early deaths. Given the different starting point in the mid-1900s and living conditions for Cubans and Danes, health status achieved among Cubans is striking. A rapidly ageing population is challenging both countries, but Cuban health and welfare are further burdened by a deteriorating economy in recent decades.

U2 - 10.1007/s12546-023-09296-w

DO - 10.1007/s12546-023-09296-w

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36970714

VL - 40

JO - Journal of Population Research

JF - Journal of Population Research

SN - 1443-2447

M1 - 9

ER -