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. 2023;40(2):9.
doi: 10.1007/s12546-023-09296-w. Epub 2023 Mar 17.

Trends in mortality patterns in two countries with different welfare models: comparisons between CUBA and Denmark 1955-2020

Henrik Brønnum-Hansen  1 , Juan Carlos Albizu-Campos Espiñeira  2 , Camila Perera  3 , Ingelise Andersen  1
Affiliations

Trends in mortality patterns in two countries with different welfare models: comparisons between CUBA and Denmark 1955-2020

Henrik Brønnum-Hansen et al. J Popul Res (Canberra). 2023.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Access to care; Age-at-death distribution; Life expectancy; Lifespan variation; Mortality; Welfare policy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest:None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Life expectancy at birth in Cuba and Denmark 1950–2020 (source: UNdata, United Nations, 2022)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The association between life expectancy and selected structural indicators and selected countries in 2000 and calendar years close to 2020
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Age-at-death distributions in 1955, 2000, and 2020 in Cuba and Denmark
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Survival and age specific contributions to the difference in life expectancy between Cuba and Denmark, 1955, 2000, and 2020 (Decomposition: Denmark minus Cuba)
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Lifespan variation in Cuba and Denmark, 1955 and 2020
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Contributions of early and late life mortality to life expectancy increases from 1955 to 2000 and from 2000 to 2020 in Cuba and Denmark
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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