Cause of death and expectation of life: some international comparisons

Formulae were recently derived which allow the analysis of the contributions of various causes of death at different ages to the change in expectation of life at birth of a population over a given time period. These formulae can also be used to analyse the sex differential in life expectancy and differentials in life expectancy between populations. In this chapter, the changes in expectation of life of selected populations over the 1970s are analysed. Japan is an interesting example in that it represents a large population with one of the highest life expectancies in the world. Hungary is also unusual in that it is one of the few experiencing deteriorating mortality for most major causes of death, and, for males, a reduction in expectation of life at birth. Although the formulae employed in this chapter relate solely to the expectation of life at birth, the methods and formulae are readily adapted to expectations of life at other ages and indeed temporary expectations, which have been proposed as useful mortality indicators. -from Author