Summary measure of mortality providing an overall picture of mortality, allowing countries and regions to be compared.

This is called a 'cohort life table' and requires data over many years to prepare just a single complete cohort life table.Īn example of how a life table can be constructed and the mathematics involved can be downloaded from the simple interactive statistical analysis website. In contrast, actual life expectancy of a particular birth cohort can only be calculated when everyone in this cohort is dead. This sort of life table is based on current age-specific death rates for each age or age band used and are called 'period life tables' and are the most frequently used type. Total number of person years lived after age x Number of person years lived between age x and x+n Probability of dying between age x and x+n Table 1: The different elements required for a life table include (using standard notations). Starting at birth, the probability of dying in each period is applied to the number of people surviving to enter that period, so that the initial figure slowly reduces to zero. The Office of National Statistics is one organisation which produces life tables.Īge specific mortality rates are applied to a notional population, typically of 100,000 (an example is the European Standard population). Life tables are usually constructed separately for men and for women because of their substantially different mortality rates.

the proportion of the original birth cohort still alive.

the remaining life expectancy for people at each age.

the probability of surviving any particular year of age.

From this starting point, a number of statistics can be derived and are also included in the table: Life expectancy is calculated using life tables.Ī life table is a table which shows, for a person at each age, what the probability is of them dying before their next birthday.

Life expectancy, usually reported at birth, although it can be applied to other ages as well, is a commonly used summary measure that can also be used to compare across countries. One important method of assessing the health of a population is to ask how long people can expect to live. Learning objectives: you will learn about the following concepts:

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