Objective. To evaluate the age structure changes impact on mortality rates and to make a comparative analysis of mortality trends among urban and rural population in the Republic of Belarus during 1959—2015.

Materials and methods. The data on the natural urban and rural population movement during 1959—2015 has been used. Crude and standardized mortality rates have been calculated using the direct standardization according to the world standard (Standard “World”) approved by WHO. Join Point software as well as MS EXCEL 2010 have been applied to study time trends.

Results. In Belarus, the most favorable impact of environmental factors characterized by low urban and rural population mortality values was seen in the later 1950s and the early 1960s. Till 1969, the rural population mortality was lower compared to that of the urban population. The rural population mortality throughout the study period increased
2-fold and that of the urban population — 1.4-fold being lower than the mortality estimated basing on the crude mortality rates (3.4 and 2.2, respectively). The mortality trends among the urban and the rural populations had a similar directions during 1964—2015.

Conclusion. It were the changes in the age population structure, that influenced the rural population crude mortality rates mostly. Since 2002—2004 the trends towards the urban and the rural population mortality declining had formed and became stable. The duration of the time trends reduction among the urban and the rural populations since 2002 and 2004 testified to efficiency and a complex character of the program measures aimed at protecting and promoting the public health.

mortality, mortality trends, urban population mortality, rural population mortality.