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Mortality from the influenza pandemic of 1918-19 in Indonesia

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  • Pierre van der Eng

Abstract

This paper discusses existing estimates of the number of deaths due to the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic in Indonesia, particularly in the core island of Java. Chandra (2013) estimated these deaths to be 4.26 to 4.37 million. The paper substantiates that these estimates are the result of a methodology that relies on an overestimated annual average population growth rate of 1.75% during 1880-1930. Using a more realistic growth rate of 1.1% per year reduces the estimate to a still considerable 1.47 million deaths in 1918. A rough estimate of excess mortality among the non-Indonesian population in Java and the whole population in the outer islands of Indonesia suggest a total of 2 million excess deaths related to the Spanish flu in 1918-19. The paper also briefly scrutinises the available vital statistics obtained from the village registers in Java. Correcting these as much as possible for under-recording confirms the impression that the estimates in Chandra (2013) are too high. The paper identifies opportunities for further historical demography research related to the 1918 flu pandemic in Indonesia.

Suggested Citation

  • Pierre van der Eng, 2023. "Mortality from the influenza pandemic of 1918-19 in Indonesia," Departmental Working Papers 2023-06, The Australian National University, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:pas:papers:2023-06
    as

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    File URL: https://acde.crawford.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/publication/acde_crawford_anu_edu_au/2023-06/acde_van_der_eng_2023_06.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. van der Eng, Pierre & Sohn, Kitae, 2019. "The biological standard of living in Indonesia during the 20th century: Evidence from the age at menarche," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 216-224.
    2. Siddharth Chandra, 2013. "Mortality from the influenza pandemic of 1918-19 in Indonesia," Population Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 67(2), pages 185-193, July.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Spanish flu; epidemic; influenza pandemic; mortality; Java; Indonesia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I19 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Other
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • N35 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Asia including Middle East

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