The Patterns of Mortality During the Great Finnish Famine in the 1860s

Detailed studies on the demographic consequences of pre-industrial subsistence crises are difficult to conduct in Western societies due to insufficient and missing data. Even for relatively recent, well-known famines such as the Great Irish Famine of 1846–51 the age- and sex-specific mortality rates, as well as the overall population losses are based on estimates and hence, are subject to considerable adjustments (e.g., Mokyr 1980, Boyle/Ó Grada 1986). Most historical famines occurred so long ago that the demographic impact and the magnitude of related mortality crises are open to discussion (Watkins/Menken 1985, Palloni et al. 1988). Certain aspects of famine demography, in particular social differentials in demographic behavior, have remained nearly untouched (Palloni 1987). The lack of adequate demographic data also hampers an investigation of the factors leading to famine crises.