Excess female mortality in nineteenth-century England and Wales - A regional analysis

Abstract

Sex differences in mortality among historical populations are (in intriguing) yet neglected issue. In mid-nineteenth-century England and Wales, although women and girls enjoyed an overall longevity advantage, the intended to die at higher rates than males at ages when modern life tables show female advantage. We use multilevel modeling to analyze these sex diflerences in mortality. We idenlify significant regional variation, related to local demographic conditions, econonmic structure, and the nature of female employment. But some regional variation remains unexplained, suggesting the need for further investigation.