Understanding Caste Difference in Health Outcomes in India: A Study on Longevity and Lifespan with NFHS-5 Data

Vanshika Khatri, IIT Mandi
Shalem Balla, Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi
Mayanka Ambade, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

In India, caste plays a pivotal role as a social and structural determinant of health inequities, shaping access to and affordability of healthcare services. This study aims to address the existing gap in understanding lifespan variation among caste groups by examining differences in life expectancy and mortality using data from the National Family Health Survey (2019-2021). We applied an abridged life table to measure life expectancy at birth (e0), at age 15 (e15), and at age 60 (e60), allowing us to assess whether social disparities in mortality are age-specific or persist throughout life. To capture lifespan variation, we calculated the coefficient of variation across caste groups, genders, and rural-urban settings, while the Gini coefficient was used to measure inequalities. Our analysis revealed that Scheduled Castes have the lowest life expectancy at birth, followed by Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, with differences of 2.73, 2, and 1.05 years compared to general caste individuals. Scheduled Castes also showed the highest lifespan variation across all demographics, followed by Scheduled Tribes. These variations highlights the disproportionate mortality burden faced by marginalized communities. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted policies and interventions to address health inequities among marginalized caste groups in India.

Keywords: Mortality and Longevity, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination

See paper.