TOPIC 3: THE LIFE TABLES

Lecture 3 Course Instructor: MR. O.KIGAHE

 Introduction
➢The concept of a life table, literally meaning
table of life, notionally or instinctively implies
following up a person’s life from birth to death.
➢Indeed, from a definition of demography point
of view, the life table follows up a group of
people (of a homogeneous description, here let
us use a geographical area), by default, born at
the same moment in time - a birth cohort.
➢Follow up on what? Instinctively again, one’s
immediate interest is the fall in their numbers,
as they are depleted by mortality.
 Introduction

* Although life tables were developed for the

study of mortality, they can be applied to
any other “failure” process so long as:
– The process is measured in time, i.e.,
varies with age or some other measure
of duration
– The starting point of exposure can be
defined unambiguously
– The failure is an unambiguous event
with a clear location in time
Continued 3
 Types of Life Table

Life tables are classified according to their

uses:
i. According to reference (time taken to
construct)
ii. According to age interval
iii.According to factors of mortality
 Cont…
According to reference (time taken to
construct)
i. Current/Period Life Table
It is made from short time experience, 1-3 years
or intercensal (time between consecutive
censuses) period where mortality remains
almost the same.
ii. Generation/Cohort Life Table
It is based on mortality experience of a particular
cohort from their birth, mostly used for medical
purposes such as tracking effectiveness of new
medicine.
 Cont…
According to age interval
i. Complete/ Unabridged Life Table:
It contains data in the interval of one year
from birth to last applicable age. It offers
more detailed data.
ii.Abridged Life Table:
It contains data at the interval of 5 or 10
years, except age group 0-1 (infants) and 1-
4 (children) which are retained separately. It
is less burdensome to prepare and more
convenient to use
 Cont…
According to factors of mortality
i. Conventional Life Table
It is concerned only with the general mortality
experience of cohort by age. That is, status
considered is alive and dead
ii. Multi-decrement Life Table
It is concerned with separate and combined effects
of more than one factor. Examples are service
tables of pension funds, where a person can be
active, withdrawn, retired or dead member. Another
example is modelling for educational level of
employees where a number of stages are
considered.
 Conventional Life Table

* The life table conceptually traces a cohort

of newborn babies through their entire life
under the assumption that they are subject
to the current observed schedule of age-
specific mortality rates
* As age increases, the number of survivors
of the original group declines, the decline
being more rapid at ages where mortality
rates are high
8
 Columns of a Life Table

* The basic columns of a life table are:

Age
interval nqx lx ndx nLx Tx ex
(years)
(x, x+n)

9
 Conventional Life Table

* Note on life table notation:

– The subscript before a symbol defines
the width of the interval
– The subscript after the symbol defines
the starting point of the interval
– l x , Tx and ex never have a left subscript
as they refer to exact age x

10
 Description of Columns

* Age interval
– Age interval from exact age x to age
x+n, i.e., [x, x+n]
* nqx
– (Conditional) probability of dying in the
interval [x, x+n], given survival to age x

11
 Conventional Life Table

5
5

2
5
3
5

5
5

6
5
7
5
0

+
5
8
Source: Adapted from Keyfitz and Fleiger, 1990 Continued 17
 Conventional Life Table

* l x or l(x)
– The first entry, for age 0, is called the
radix
– The l x column indicates the probability
of survival to exact age x if the radix is
set at 1, or if the value of l x is divided
by the radix
– i.e., p(x) = l(x) / l(0)

Continued 13
 Conventional Life Table

* Alternatively, the l x column can also

indicate survivorship if the radix is set to
represent the number of initial births—the
column then shows the number of the
radix still alive by any exact age x
– l 20 = Number of survivors at exact age
20 (their 20th birthday)
* In this case, the radix is usually set at
100,000
Continued 14
 Conventional Life Table
Number Living at Beginning of Age Interval—lx
Mexico, Females, 1983

100
Thousands

80
60
40
20
0
0
5

75
15
25
35
45
55
65

85
95
105
Age Group

Source: Adapted from Keyfitz and Fleiger, 1990 Continued 20

 Conventional Life Table

* ndx or d(x,n)
– Number of deaths to the radix between
exact ages x and x+n
– Since all members of the radix die
sooner or later, the sum of the ndx over
all ages is equal to the radix
– If radix = 1, ndx = (unconditional)
probability of dying between ages x and
x+n
Continued 21
 Conventional Life Table

Source: Adapted from Keyfitz and Fleiger, 1990 Continued 22

 Conventional Life Table
* nLx or L(x,n)
– Person-years lived between exact ages
x and x+n
• If radix = 1, nLx = “expected” years
lived between ages x and x+n
* Tx or T(x)
– Person-years lived above age x
• If radix = 1, Tx = “expected” years
lived after age x
Continued 18
 Conventional Life Table

* Note: nLx and Tx are not expectations in the

usual sense since deaths before age x are
implicitly included

Continued 19
 Conventional Life Table

Source: Adapted from Keyfitz and Fleiger, 1990 Continued 20

 Conventional Life Table

* ex or e(x)
– Expectation of life at age x = Average
remaining lifetime for a person who
survives to age x
• e.g., e(0) = Life expectancy at birth =
number of years a person can expect
to live in his/her life

Continued 21
 Conventional Life Table
Average Remaining Lifetime—e(x)
Mexico, Females, 1983

77.4

51.6
Year
s

25.8

0.0

85
15
25
35
45
55
65
75

95
0
5

10
5
Age Group

Source: Adapted from Keyfitz and Fleiger, 1990 Continued 27

 Conventional Life Table

* Notes:
– The six functions are generally
calculated and published for every life
table; however, some columns may be
omitted without a significant loss of
information since the functions are
interrelated and some can be directly
calculated from the others

Continued 28
 Conventional Life Table

* Notes:
– In general, the conditional probability of
death (nqx) is the basic function in the
life table

29
 Life Table Column Notation
Column Notation Definition
1 (x, x+ n) Age interval or period of life between two exact ages stated
in years

2 𝒒 Proportion of persons alive at the beginning of the age

𝒏 𝒙
interval who die during the age interval

3 𝒍𝒙 Of the starting number of newborns in the life table (called

the radix of the life table, usually set at 100,000) the number
living at the beginning of the age interval (or the number
surviving to the beginning of the age interval)
4 𝒅
𝒏 𝒙
The number of persons in the cohort who die in the age
interval (x, x+ n)

5 𝑳
𝒏 𝒙
Number of years of life lived by the cohort within the
indicated age interval (x, x+ n) (or person-years of life in the
age interval)

6 𝑻𝒙 Total person-years of life contributed by the cohort after

attaining age x
0
7 ex Average number of years of life remaining for a person alive
at the beginning of age interval x
 Mathematical Derivation and
Relationships
* Mathematical derivation and relationships
(cohort life table)
* Let X = Random variable for age at death
f(X) = Probability density function of X
F(X) = Cumulative density function of X
x
=  f(y)dy
0

Continued 26
 Mathematical Derivation and
Relationships

* P{X> x}
=  f(y)dy = 1− F(x)
x
= l(x)
x+n
* P{x<X<x+n} =  f(y)dy = F(x + n) − F(x)
x
= l(x) − l(x + n)
= d(x,n)
Continued 27
 Mathematical Derivation and
Relationships
P{x  X  x + n} d(x,n)
* P{x<X<x+n|X>x} = =
P{X  x} l (x)
= q(x,n)

l(x,n)
* P(x,n) = 1-q(x,n) =
l(x)
* Note: P(x,0) = l(x)
Continued 28
Mathematical Derivation and
Relationships


T(x) =  l(y)dy
x

x+n

L(x,n) = l(y)dy = T(x) − T(x + n)

x


T(x) = L(y,n)
y=x
 
E(0) =  xf(x)dx =  l(y)dy = T0 = e0 (0)
0 0
Continued 29
Mathematical Derivation and
Relationships


l(y)dy
E(X | X  x) = x + x

l (x)

T(x)
=x+
l (x)
T(x)
E(X − x | X  x) = = e0 (x)
l (x)

Continued 30
Mathematical Derivation and
Relationships
x+n
 tf(t)dt
E(X − x| x  X  x + n) = t=x
x+n −x
 f(t)dt
t=x

L(x,n) − n  l(x + n)
=
d(x,n)

= a(x,n)

35
 Average Life Lived in Interval
by Those Dying in Age Interval [x,x+n]

n dx
 (X i − x)
a(x,n)=nax = i=1
ndx
* Where Xi = Exact age at which
a person dies
x = Age at beginning of interval

Continued 36
 Average Life Lived in Interval
by Those Dying in Age Interval [x,x+n]

L = n  l x +n + n a x n dx
n x

* Assuming that deaths are linearly

distributed in age interval, then:

n
L =nl + d
n x x+n 
2n
x

37
 Mathematical Derivation and
Relationships

Source: Adapted from Keyfitz and Fleiger, 1990 Continued 38

 Mathematical Derivation and
Relationships
Age
l7 l 0 = 10 1d6 = 2
cross l6 = 8 l7 = 6
line
7
=
(6.5 − 6) + (6.7 − 6)
1a 6
2
6 = 0 .6
l 6 cross
line 1L 6 = 6 + 0.6  2

= 7.2 39
 Construction
Conventional Life Table

* Conventional life table

– Assumption: Data on births, deaths, and
population are accurate
– However, one of the most important
aspects of the preparation of a life table
is the testing of the data for possible
biases and other errors; the level of
accuracy that can be tolerated depends
mostly on the intended use of the life
table
Continued 36
 Construction
Conventional Life Table

* Life table functions, presumed for cohorts,

are derived from period mortality data

37
 Assumptions Made in
Constructing a Life Table
Assumption 1: no migration
Assumption 2: annual age-specific death rates that
do not change over time
Assumption 3: annual number of births that remains
constant over time; the annual number of births
chosen is usually 100,000 and accordingly the
synthetic population has 100,000 deaths annually
over time; thus, the synthetic population is
stationary in that it never changes in size.
NB: Life tables are usually constructed separately
for males and females. However, they can also be
prepared for both sexes combined.
 Steps
Age-Specific Death Rates

* Steps
– Derive the probability of dying (nqx)
from the age-specific death rates by one
of various methods
– Calculate each entry of the l(x) and
d(x,n) columns
– Derive nLx, Tx and ex columns

39
 Relation of nMx and nmx
* Let D = Observed number of deaths in age
group x, x+n
P = Mid-point population in age group
x, x+n
ndx = Number of deaths in life table

nLx = Life table population in age group

x, x+n

40
 Observed Age-Specific
Death Rate
* nMx = Observed age-specific death rate in
age group x, x+n
D
=
P
* nmx = Life table death rate in age group x,
x+n
dx
= n
nLx

41
 Finding nqx from nmx

* Finding nqx from nmx

dx
n qx =
n

lx

= ndx  ndx =nmx n L x

nmx
nL x
m x n L x
so n qx = n
lx
42
 Construction
since n L x =nax  l x + (n−nax)  l x +n
mx [n ax  l x + (n−nax )  l x+n ]
n qx =
n
lx

l x +n
=nmx n ax + nmx  (n−na x ) 
lx
l x +n
since nqx = 1 −
lx
Continued 43
 Construction

n q x = n m x n a x + n m x  (n−nax )  (1−nqx )
Rearranging and bringing q to other side,

= n m x n a x+ nn mx −nmx n ax
nqx
[1+nmx  (n−nax )]
nn mx
=
1+ (n−nax )n mx
Continued 44
 Construction

* When n=1 and nax = 0.5,

2  mx
qx =  qx  1mx
2 +mx

* When n=5 and nax = 2.5

5  mx
5 qx =  5qx  5 m x
1+ 2.5 * mx
45
 Abridged Life Table

* The abridged life table is less burdensome

to prepare and more convenient to use
* Contains data by intervals of five to ten
years of age
– Except the zero to one and one to four
age groups, which are retained
separately
* Values for five or ten year intervals are
sufficiently accurate for most purposes
46
 Constant Risk Method

* Finding nqx from Mx

– Assumption: The force of mortality is
constant in (x, x+n) and equal to nMx

−n(n M x )
q
n x
= 1− e

– Note: Constant risk of deaths  more

deaths at beginning of interval
47
 Actuarial Method
* Assumption: Population distribution is the
same as life table distribution and life table
distribution is linear in (x, x+n)
nnMx
n qx =
n
1+ n Mx
2
* Note: Same number of deaths through the
interval
48
 Reed-Merell’s Method

* Assumption:
nMx = nmx
empirical fit to find “a”

−nn m x −an 3 n m x
2

n q x = 1− e
* Note: a = 0.008 takes lack of fitness into
account
49
 Greville’s Method

* Assumption: nMx=nmx
l(x) is fit by cubic equation

nmx
nqx =
1 1 n
+nmx   +  (nmx − loge c) 
n 2 12 

* Note: logec could be assumed to be about

0.095
50
 Sirken’s Method
* Assumption: ngx is derived from a complete
life table
nn Mx
n qx =
1+ngx n Mx
* Note: Since this method obtains the new
table by reference to a standard table, it
should only be used when mortality in both
tables is of a comparable level
58
Relation of ngx to nax
n 1 n 1
n gx = − = −
n qx n mx n dx n dx
lx nLx

n l x n L x n  l − L
= − = x n x

ndx ndx ndx

= n−nax
Note : n−ngx = n a x
52
 Chiang’s Method

* Assumption: Population distribution is the

same as life table distribution
* Need nax
nn mx
nqx =
1+ (1−nax )  nn mx

* Note: Chiang defines nax as the fraction of

an interval lived by those dying
53
Table 2.1 Life Tables (females) typical for Africa the period 1995-2000
Age X 𝒒 𝒅𝒙 𝒍𝒙 𝐿𝑥 𝑻𝒙 𝒆𝒙
𝒏 𝒙 𝒏 𝑛

0 0.10604 10,604 100,000 90,668 5,179,183 51.9

1 0.06022 5,383 89,396 346,818 5,088,515 56.9
5 0.01852 1,556 84,013 416,173 4,741,697 56.4
10 0.01429 1,178 82,456 409,338 4,325,524 52.5
15 0.02025 1,646 81,278 402,277 3,916,186 48.2
20 0.02628 2,093 79,632 392,930 3,513,909 44.1
25 0.02983 2,313 77,540 381,916 3,120,978 40.3
30 0.03366 2,532 75,227 369,803 2,739,062 36.4
35 0.03775 2,744 72,695 356,612 2,369,259 32.6
40 0.0425 2,973 69,950 342,320 2,012,647 28.8
45 0.0499 3,342 66,977 326,532 1,670,327 24.9
50 0.06689 4,257 63,635 307,535 1,343,795 21.1
55 0.08977 5,330 59,379 283,568 1,036,260 17.5
60 0.13244 7,158 54,048 252,346 752,693 13.9
65 0.18968 8,894 46,890 212,215 500,346 10.7
70 0.28203 10,716 37,996 163,190 288,131 7.6
75 0.40573 11,068 27,280 108,729 124,941 4.6
80+ 1 16,212 16,212 16,212 16,212 1
 Cont…
➢With a given schedule of mortality, i.e. the
proportion dying between age x and x+n,
𝒒𝒙, we get values of the other columns as
𝒏
follows:
➢With the number of deaths occurring
between age x and x+n
𝒅𝒙 = 𝒍𝒙 . 𝒒𝒙
𝒏 𝒏
Then the number of survivors to the
beginning of the next interval becomes
𝒍𝒙+𝒏 = 𝒍𝒙 − 𝒏𝒅𝒙
 Cont…
➢For the example of the African life table, survivors
to exact age 15, who were at exact age 10 are
arrived at as follows:
𝒅𝟏𝟎 = 𝒍𝟏𝟎 . 𝒒𝟏𝟎,
𝟓 𝟓
1,178 = 82,456 𝑥 0.01429
➢the number of survivors to the beginning of the
next interval becomes
𝒍𝟏𝟓 = 𝒍𝟏𝟎 – 𝒅𝟏𝟎
𝟓
81,278 = 82,456 – 1,178.
➢NB: The proportion dying in the last, open interval
is put to 1.00 (100 %), as all survivors are sure to
die.
 Calculation of 𝑛𝐿𝑥
➢Person years lived in the interval x to x+n, 𝐿𝑥 can be
𝑛
looked at as being contributed from two sources, as
demonstrated in the following picture, those who:
 Cont…
i. survived through the entire interval, the
𝒍𝒙+𝒏 , their total person years lived are
𝑛 . 𝒍𝒙+𝒏
ii. died, 𝒅𝒙 = 𝒍𝒙 − 𝒍𝒙+𝒏 , we assume on
𝒏
average lived only half of the interval; thus
the person years they lived:
(1/2) . 𝑛 . (𝒍𝒙 − 𝒍𝒙+𝒏 )
Thus the total in the interval,
𝐿𝑥 = 𝑛 . 𝒍𝒙+𝒏 + [(1/2) . 𝑛 . (𝒍𝒙 − 𝒍𝒙+𝒏 )]
𝑛
 Cont…
Opening the brackets,
𝑛𝐿𝑥 = 𝑛 . 𝑙𝑥 + 𝑛 + [(1/2) . 𝑛 . 𝑙𝑥 ] – [(1/2) . 𝑛 . 𝑙𝑥 + 𝑛, )]
= [𝑛 . 𝑙𝑥 + 𝑛 − [(1/2) . 𝑛 . 𝑙𝑥 + 𝑛, )]] + [(1/2) . 𝑛 . (𝑙𝑥 )]
= [(1/2) . 𝑛 . 𝑙𝑥 + 𝑛, )]] + [(1/2) . 𝑛 . (𝑙𝑥 )]
Therefore
𝑛𝐿𝑥 = (𝑛/2) . [𝑙𝑥 + 𝑙𝑥 + 𝑛]
simply, the area of a trapezium.
 Cont…
➢The above assumes, except in the young age
group 0-1 (and a few ages after that), a linear
decline of the 𝒍𝒙 curve in the small interval x to x+n
we cut off, since also 𝒍𝒙 declines gradually. The
following figure demonstrates what we have done
above.
➢Thus the two segments form the area of a
trapezium.
➢Over the entire 𝒍𝒙 curve the area under it is
therefore approximated by a trapezoid rule, which in
the limit, as the interval x to x+n approaches zero,
the total area is the integral
𝒍𝒙 (𝒅𝒙 ) = 𝑻𝟎 .
 Cont…
➢Example: number of person years lived
between age 10 and 15, the 𝐿10.
5
𝐿10 = (5/2). (82,456 + 81,278)
5
= 409,338
➢Special: person years lived in age group 0-
1, 𝑳𝟎 Mortality at the fist few ages is high
(see th 𝒒𝟎 e and 4q1 in the above tables),
meaning 𝒍𝒙 declines faster, although with a
declining slope, than the linear assumption at
other ages
 Cont…
Establish a principle of avoiding
overestimation in age group 0 – 1
➢The survivors to exact age 0, 𝒍𝟎 , (compared to
those surviving to age 1, the 𝒍𝟏 ), due to high
mortality rate 𝒒𝟎 , die off very soon after birth, thus
it contains quite a number of persons who
‘contribute’ very little person years to 𝑳𝟎 : they have
to be given a much smaller weight than 0.5 in the
equation. In the above life table for Africa 𝒍𝟎 is
given a weight of 0.12; thus 0.88 goes to 𝒍𝟏 .
➢Thus,
𝑳𝟎 = 0.12 ∗ 𝒍𝟎 + 0.88 ∗ 𝒍𝟏
𝑳𝟎 = 0.12 𝑥 100,000 + 0.88 𝑥 89,396
𝑳𝟎 = 90,668
 Cont…
➢Since the linearity assumption is not valid for age
0 and 1, and in such cases the other approximate
value of nLx is:

𝑳𝟎 = 0.3 ∗ 𝒍𝟎 + 0.7 ∗ 𝒍𝟏
There is no hard and fast rule that these are the
weights! The weights, from the principle would
depend on the curvature in the age segment,
having to do with level of mortality, meaning the
speed of decline of lx: the higher the
curvature/mortality the less weight lo would get.
 Cont…
➢Rather than the number of years already lived, it
has been plausibly assumed one’s better interest to
be, being at a certain age x, the number of years
one expects to live for the rest of one’s remaining
life.
➢Thus for a birth cohort of survivors to exact age x,
interest is the average number of years one expects
to live, 𝑒𝑥 , thus a ‘stepping stone’ to it, 𝑇𝑥 , the
total number of person years lived by the cohort
after exact age x.
➢Thus using the 𝑛𝐿𝑥column we get cumulate from
the bottom; at each row we have the 𝑇𝑥 thus,
𝑇𝑥 = 𝑇𝑥+𝑛 + 𝑛𝐿𝑥
 Cont…

➢Thus in the African life table above, after assuming the survivors to
exact age 80 (𝑙80 ), the last cut-off, live one year and all die (since they
are a small insignificant number), thus 𝑇80 becoming equal to 𝑙80 . In
other words:

➢The calculation, and the segments from the table are shown in the next slide
T0 = T1 + L0 = 5,088,515 + 90,668 = 5,179,183 e0 = T0/l0 =
51.8 T1 = T5 + 4L1 = 4,741,697 + 346,818 = 5,088,515 e1 = T1/l1 =
56.9 T5 = T10 + 5L5 = 4,325,524 + 416,173 = 4,741,697 e5 = T5/l5 =
56.4 T10 = T15 + 5L10 = 3,916,186 + 409,338 = 4,325,524 e10 = T10/l10 =
52.5

. = . and so on, cumulating from the bottom.

. = .
T70 = T75 + 5L70 = 124,941 + 163,190 = 288,131
T75 = T80 + 5L75 = 16,212 + 108 = 124,941
T80 = l80 = 16,212;

Age x nqx ndx lx nLx Tx ex

0 0.10604 10,604 100,000 90,668 5,179,183 51.8
1 0.06022 5,383 89,396 346,818 5,088,515 56.9
5 0.01852 1,556 84,013 416,173 4,741,697 56.4

70 0.28203 10,716 37,996 163,190 288,131 7.6

75 0.40573 11,068 27,280 108,729 124,941 4.6
80+ 1.00000 16,212 16,212 16,212 16,212 1.0
 Application of Life Tables
i. survival ratios; the probability or chance of, or
proportion, surviving from one age to another (the
complement being probability of dying);
ii. related to survival ratios is population projection: by
use of survival ratios, estimation of the number of
people at a future date (since the table gives us
the proportion surviving); Life tables can be used
to compare population trends at national and
international levels.
iii. detection of errors in census age distributions;
iv. The survival rates in a life table can be used to
calculate the net migration rate on the basis of age
distribution at 5 or 10 year interval
 Cont…
v. It helps in determining the average expectation of
life based on age specific death rates. The
method of constructing a life table can be
followed to estimate the cause of specific death
rates, male and female death rates, etc.
vi.Instead of a single life table, multiple decrement
life tables relating to cause specific death rate,
male and female death rates, etc. can be
constructed for analyzing socio-economic data in
a country.
➢Life tables are particularly used for formulating family
planning programs relating to infant mortality, maternal
deaths, health programs, etc. They can also be used for
evaluating family planning programs.
 Survival ratios calculation
➢p(survival from one exact age to another
exact age) = 𝒍𝒙+𝒏 /𝒍𝒙
➢It follows the classical rule of probability:
➢ For example, using the African life table, the
probability of survival from:
birth to exact age 15
= 𝒍𝟏𝟓 / 𝒍𝟏𝟎 = 81,278/100,000
= 0.81
***of course it can be read of directly from the life
table;
exact age 25 to exact age 45
= 𝒍𝟒𝟓 / 𝒍𝟐𝟓 = 66,977/77540
= 0.86
 Cont…
➢This kind of survival probability is virtually abstract for the
abridged life table; we need what is practicable: survival
from an age x (meaning age group x to x+n), except from
birth (which is exact age 0 to another age group).
➢p(survival from one exact age to an age group) = 𝑛𝐿𝑥 / 𝒏. 𝒍𝒙
𝑛𝐿𝑥 / 𝒏. 𝒍𝒙 = [(𝒏/𝟐). (𝒍𝒙 + 𝒍𝒙+𝒏 )]/ 𝒏. 𝒍𝒙 cancel the n as it is at to
and bottom, giving
𝑛𝐿𝑥 / 𝒏. 𝒍𝒙 = [(𝟏/𝟐). (𝒍𝒙 + 𝒍𝒙+𝒏 )]/ 𝒍𝒙
𝑛𝐿𝑥 / 𝒏. 𝒍𝒙 = [(𝟏/𝟐). (𝒍𝒙 + 𝒍𝒙+𝒏 )]/ 𝒍𝒙
average, (𝒍𝒙 +𝒍𝒙+𝒏 )= 𝒍[x+(n/2)] , the survivors in the
middle of the age group

= 𝒍[x+(n/2)] / 𝒍𝒙
 Cont…
Example: a practically useful one is the
probability of survival (or proportion
surviving) from birth (i.e. exact age zero) to
an age group x to x+n, e.g. to age group 15-
19, adult ages.
From the African life table,
5𝐿15 / 𝟓. 𝒍𝟎 = 402,277/(5 x 100,000)
= 0.805
 Cont…

➢p(survival from an age group to another

age group)
= 𝑛𝐿(𝑥 + 𝑛) /𝑛𝐿𝑥 It follows the classical rule of
probability: but needs an explanation. Similar
to previous derivation,
𝑛𝐿(𝑥 + 𝑛)/𝑛𝐿𝑥= 𝑙[(𝑥 + 𝑛) + (𝑛/2)] / 𝑙[𝑥 +
(𝑛/2)]
***It goes from middle of one age group to
another.
 Cont…

Example: probability of survival from age

group 0-4 to 15-19
5𝐿15 / 5𝐿0 = 402,277/437,486
= 0.920