Patterns of Mortality Improvement by Level of Life Expectancy at Birth

Kirill F. Andreev, United Nations

Mortality projections are often produced by a two-step procedure: first, projections of life expectancy at birth are made and, second, life tables consistent with the projected life expectancy at birth are computed. Large body of publicly available life tables makes possible now reliable estimation of age-specific patterns of mortality improvement. The estimated patterns could be used for incorporating more empirical evidence in the construction of the life tables for the projection periods. Such approach is important as it aids more accurate projections of future mortality age patterns.