Background: The study of mortality of human groups is important to judge the health conditions of population. Aim: To study the main mortality features among Chilean adults. Material and methods: Information about mortality in Chile from the Instituto nacional de Estadísticas and The World Health Organization, was analyzed. Data was expressed mainly as rates. Results: Annual mortality risk among Chileans is 812 per 100,000 inhabitants and is low compared to the rest of Latin America. In the last 30 years it has decreased systematically at a rate of 1% per year in both genders. The risk of mortality caused by cerebrovascular disease, coronary heart disease, hepatic cirrhosis, gastric cancer and tuberculosis has decreased. On the other hand, the risk of mortality caused by diabetes,hypertension and lung, gallbladder, prostate and colorectal cancer has increased. Mortality varies from 604 per 100,000 in Atacama to 934 per 100,000 in Valparaiso. The most factor that influences thiis variation is population aging. Mean survival at the start of adulthood is 54 years in men and 61 years in women. At 60 years, the expectancy is 19 and 24 years respectively. Mean age of death in Chile was 71,5 years in 1998. Seventy six percent of deaths occurs in the elderly and 33%, in people of 80 years or more. Conclusions: Chile is one of the four Latin American countries with lower mortality risk. In the last 30 years, the main causes of deaths among adults, with exception of pneumonia, have decreased. Therefore health care of the adult is in the correct track (Rev Méd Chile 2000; 128: 1144-49).