Uncovering unusual mortality differentials in Russia and Kazakhstan∗

Research on global mortality has exhaustively documented a Russian mortality paradox— the phenomenon of populations of Slavic descent in experiencing higher adult mortality despite higher socioeconomic status. This study exploits Kazakhstan’s relatively heterogeneous population and geographic diversity to study ethnic differences in cause-specific mortality. After controlling for contextual differences, all-cause mortality rates for Russian men remains 27% higher than for Kazakh men, and alcohol-related death rates among Russian men remain 2.5 times higher (15% and 4.1 times higher for females, respectively). Significant mortality differentials exist by ethnicity for external causes and alcohol-related causes of death. Adult mortality among Kazakhs is higher than previously found among Kyrgyz and lower than among Russians. This phenomenon suggests the existence of a continuum between ’non-Russian’ and ’Russian’ model mortality patterns based on degree of accord to documented patterns of alcohol consumption among Russians. Differential mortality across republics of Central Asia may improve our understanding of the Russian mortality paradox.