Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T22:07:50.826Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The age pattern of mortality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2012

Extract

The development of a ‘law of mortality’, a mathematical expression for the graduation of the age pattern of mortality, has been of interest since the development of the first life tables by John Graunt (1662) and Edmund Halley (1693). Although Abraham De Moivre proposed a very simple law as early as 1725 the best known early contribution is probably that of Benjamin Gompertz (1825). Since World War II mathematical formulae have been used to graduate sections of the English Life Tables, as well as assured lives mortality, and pensioner and annuitant mortality. Reviews of attempts at finding the ‘law of mortality’ have been given by Elston and Benjamin and Haycocks.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Institute and Faculty of Actuaries 1980

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

(1) Australia, Australian Bureau of Statistics (1976) Australian Life Tables 1970–72, by Caffin, S. W.. Canberra.Google Scholar
(2) Australia, Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics (1950) Australian Life Tables 1946–48, by Balmford, W. C.. Canberra.Google Scholar
(3) Australia, Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics (1965) Australian Life Tables 1960–1962, by Caffin, S. W.. Canberra.Google Scholar
(4) Benjamin, B. & Haycocks, H. W. (1970) The Analysis of Mortality and Other Actuarial Statistics. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.Google Scholar
(5) Coale, A. J. & Demeny, P. (1966) Regional Model Life Tables and Stable Populations. Princeton University Press: Princeton.Google Scholar
(6) Elston, J. S. (1923) ‘Survey of Mathematical Formulas that have been Used to Express a Law of Mortality’. The Record. Part 1, no. 25, 6686. American Institute of Actuaries.Google Scholar
(7) Institute of Actuaries and Faculty of Actuaries. Continuous Mortality Investigation Committee (1974) ‘Considerations Affecting the Preparation of Standard Tables of Mortality’. J.I.A., 101, 135201.Google Scholar
(8) Institute of Actuaries and Faculty of Actuaries. Continuous Mortality Investigation Committee (1976) CMIR 2.Google Scholar
(9) Sadler, D. R. (1975) Numerical Methods for Nonlinear Regression. University of Queensland Press: St Lucia.Google Scholar
(10) Thiele, P. N. (1872) ‘On a Mathematical Formula to Express the Rate of Mortality throughout the Whole of Life’. J.I.A. 16, 313.Google Scholar