Life Tables: A
Fundamental Tool in
Demography
Presentation by: Group - 2
Introduction
The life table is a statistical tool widely used in
demography, actuarial science, epidemiology,
and public health. It shows the mortality
experience of a population. First developed by
Edmond Halley in the 17th century.
Definition
A life table is a table which shows, for each age,
what the probability is that a person of that age
will die before their next birthday. It also shows
the remaining life expectancy for people at
different ages.
In simple words: It tells us how many people
survive and die at each age.
Types of Life Tables Cohort
Cohort Life Table: Follows an actual birth cohort through
life. Requires long-term data collection.
Period Life Table: Based on mortality rates of a given
period.
Complete Life Table: Data for every single year of age.
Abridged Life Table: Data grouped in age intervals (e.g., 5
years).
Components of a Life Table
Main Columns:
❏ Mx: Age-specific death
❏ x: Exact age
❏ lx: Number alive at age x
❏ dx: Number dying between age x and x+1
❏ qx: Probability of dying between age x and x+1
❏ px: Probability of surviving from x to x+1
❏ Lx: Person-years lived between x and x+1
❏ Tx: Total person-years lived above age x
❏ ex: Life expectancy at age x
Example (Complete Life Table)
Age Mx per qx px lx dx Lx Tx ex
X 1000
0 9.12160 0.00908 0.99092 100000 908 99364 7826402 78.26
1 0.84807 0.00085 0.99915 99092 84 99042 7727038 77.99
2 0.49502 0.00049 0.99951 99008 49 98983 7622796 77.04
3 0.33352 0.00033 0.99967 98959 33 98942 7529013 76.08
4 0.27296 0.00027 0.99973 98926 27 98912 7430070 75.11
5 0.23258 0.00023 0.99977 98899 23 98887 7331158 74.13
6 0.22229 0.00022 0.99978 98876 22 98865 7232271 73.14
7 0.19266 0.00019 0.99981 98854 19 98846 7133405 72.16
8 0.18215 0.00018 0.99982 98837 18 98827 7034558 71.17
9 0.18216 0.00018 0.99982 98818 18 98809 6935731 70.19
10 0.18219 0.00018 0.99982 98800 18 98791 6836922 69.20
Formulas for Single Year Life Tables
1. Age-specific death rate 4. Number of survivors at exact
Mₓ = Dₓ / Pₓ × k age x
mₓ = dₓ / Lₓ lₓ₊₁ = lₓ × pₓ
lₓ₊₁ = lₓ − dₓ 7. Total population at
2. Probability of dying exact age x and over
between exact ages x and x + 1 5. Number of deaths between exact Tₓ = Σ Lₓ₊ₜ (sum from t=0
qₓ = (2 × Mₓ) / (2 + Mₓ) ages x and x + 1 to ∞)
qₓ = dₓ / lₓ dₓ = lₓ × qₓ Tₓ = Tₓ₊₁ + Lₓ
qₓ = dₓ / (Lₓ + ½ × dₓ) dₓ = lₓ − lₓ₊₁
Also, for ages x and over:
6. Average number living between 8. Expectation of life
∞qₓ = 1
exact ages x and x + 1 from exact age x
Lₓ = 0.5 × (lₓ + lₓ₊₁) eₓ = Tₓ / lₓ
3. Probability of surviving from
Lₓ = lₓ − 0.5 × dₓ
exact age x to exact age x + 1
L₀ = 0.3 × l₀ + 0.7 × l₁
pₓ = 1 − qₓ
L₁ = 0.4 × l₁ + 0.6 × l₂
pₓ = lₓ₊₁ / lₓ
Also, for an open-ended age interval:
Also, for ages x and over:
∞Lₓ = lₓ / Mₓ
∞pₓ = 0
∞Lₓ = Tₓ
Uses of Life Tables
● Public Health: Measure life expectancy and
identify mortality patterns.
● Insurance: Calculate premiums and
estimate liabilities.
● Demography: Forecast population growth.
● Pensions: Estimate survival probabilities for
retirees.
Limitations
● Data Quality: Accuracy depends on reliable
mortality data.
● Changing Conditions: Assumes mortality rates
remain constant over time.
● Simplification: May not reflect regional or social
variations.
Conclusion
● Life tables are essential tools for understanding
mortality and survival in populations.
● They help in policy making, actuarial
calculations, and health planning. Despite
● limitations, they provide valuable insights into
population dynamics.
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