Differential mortality among Pacific island countries and territories

Pacific island countries and territories are at different stages of demograhic transition, with some populations still experiencing relatively high mortality and fertility and others manifesting lower mortality and declining fertility. These countries are also passing through the epidemiological transition, with a progressive increase in proportionate mortality from chronic diseases and widening sex differentials in death rates (Taylor, Lewis and Sladden,1991; Taylor, Lewis and Levy, 1989).