The effect of prime age adult mortality on household composition and consumption in rural Ethiopia

► We estimated the impact of adult mortality on household composition and consumption in Ethiopia between 1994-1997. ► We used propensity score matching with difference-in-difference to control for endogeneity. ► With the exception of non-poor households, adult mortality resulted in increased dependency ratios. ► Adult mortality did not adversely affect households' total, food and non-food expenditures. ► However, adult mortality resulted in a decline in dietary diversity among the poorest households.