When Do We Bury Our Close Kin? Understanding The Kinloss Over Life Course in India

Mortality shapes the human life course, yet its relational dimensions are underexplored. This Study examines the timing and likelihood of kin loss in India using data from the fifth Demographic and Health Survey, which records both current household members and reported deaths among former members. We developed new linkages to identify deceased kin and constructed non-parametric period life tables to estimate when individuals lose parents, spouses, and children across socioeconomic groups. Results show that parental loss occurs, on average, by age 33, with fathers dying earlier than mothers. Inequalities are marked: the poorest are twice as likely to lose a parent by age 25 and nearly three times more likely to experience a child’s death by age 65 than the richest. Gender differences are also substantial; by age 70, 36% of women are widowed compared with 9% of men. These findings demonstrate profound socioeconomic and gender disparities in relational mortality across the life course.