United States Life Tables and Actuarial Tables 1939-1941

154 Pages·2006·7.08 MB·English

by  Federal Security Agency

FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY
UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
NATIONAL OFFICE OF VITAL STATISTICS
UNITED STATES LIFE TABLES
and
ACTUARIAL TABLES
1939-1 941
BY
THOMAS N. E. GREVILLE
Actuarial Mathematician
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Prepared under the supervision o/
HALBERT L. DUNN, M. D. .
CHIEF, NATIONAL OFFICE OF VITAL STATISTICS
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : I947
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For role by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 45, D. C. Price 31 .P5
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Associated with Dr. Greville in the preparation of this based on life insurance experience; Messrs. W. R. . .
volume was Miss Elbertie Foudray, Actuarial Stdtis- Williamson: Robert J. Myers, and Harry Mehlman of
tieian, whose long experience in dew ograpliic analysis the acthhl stafl' of the Social Security Board, whose I
and in the preparation of previous United States life counsel was frequently sought on. technical questions;
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tables has been of the greatest value. Numerous mem- and Mr. Mortimcr Spiegelman of the Metropolitan
bers of the clerical and professional staff of the Bureau Life Insurance Co., who made aaumber of useful sugges-
of the Census, and more particularly its Vital Statistics tions and assisted, in checking some of the references.
Division, made important contributions. Dr. Iwao Ackno,wlcdgment is made a.lso to Mr. J. W. Butcher,
M. Moriyama, Chief of the Planning and Analysis Government Sta.tistician of Ncw Zealand; for making
Section of the Division, and Mr. Morris B. Ullman, available in aclva.nce of publicetion tlie 1934-1938 life
Statistician in the Office of the Statistical Assistant to tables for that country, nnd to the American Life
the Director, played an importaiit part in shaping many Convention and its former Actuary, Mr. F. Edward
decisions as to the arrangement of the tables and the Huston, for furnishing tables of commutation columns
manner of presen_tation of tihe test material. Miss based on the 1930-1940 Experience table of morjdity.
Maude Sharp mas responsible for the gencral editorial Thcse werc used in computing certain values presented
accuracy and uniformity of tables and text. in table 0, 'part 111. R4r. Hugh H. Wolfenden, prom-
Thanks are also due to a number 'oI actuaries outside inent Canadian actua.ry and sta.tistician, was especiall?
the Bureau of the Census, who Assisted in various ways. generous in giving advice concerning the many teeh-
Among these should be mentioned Cspecially Mr. nical problcms which arose, and was freely consulted
John S. Thompson,' Vice President and Mathematician at every-stnge.of the work. His wide experience in the
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of the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co., and Mr. construction of mortality tables and his mastery of
Alfred N. Guertin, formerly Actuary of the Department abtua.ria1a nd statistical-t heory have left their stamp on
of Banking and Insurance of the State of New Jersey, every part of the volume. In acknowledging the con-
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who made available mortality data at the very old ages tributions so generously made by actuaries outside the
Bureau of the Census, it should be understood that they
ha1s A bse ctohmise v Polruensiide ewnat so gf otihneg Mtou ptureasls Bietn wefaits Lleifaer nIendsu trhaantc eM Cro. . John S. ThompsGn are not to be held accountable for any technical defects.
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CONTENTS
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PART 1.-INTRODUCTION
Page Page
Plan and scope of this volume_ ________ ______________ Comparisons based on the life tables-Continued
Accuracy of the tables 3 Comparison with earlier United States life tables- - - 10
tJomparisons based on the life tables: Cornparison with recent life tables for other coun-
Variation by race and sex 2 tries 14
PART 11.-LIFE TABLES
Page Page
Explanation of the columns of the life table ____________ 21
Use of life tables in estimating and forecasting popula- 24
tions___________________________________~-~2~2~ ~~~- 24
The life table as a frequency distribution- _____________ 23 25
PART 111.-ACTUAREAL TABLES
Page Page
Scope of the actuarial tables _________________________ 55 Uses of the actuarial tables __________________________ 57
Comparison, with mortality tables based on the expe- Mathematical notation employed in the actuarial tables- 57
rience of insured lives ___________________________5_5_
PART 1V.-MATHEMATICAL THEORY AND USE OF THE ACTUARIAL TABLES
1’;1L’e Page
A. GenCeoraml pMouatnhde minatetirceaslt _T_h__e_o_r-y - _ - - -_ - - -_ - - -_ - - -_ - - -_ - - - _- - _88_55 _B._ Ar_rUans.ge e_omf et_nhtp aa_cntdu _aUrsiea_ l otfa _.btlhe_es Ain_c tcuaal rciualla Ttianbgl essin-Cgolen l. ife
Pure endowment ____________________________8_5_ annuity values and net premiums for life in-
Annuities __________________________________85_ _ surance benefits- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - __- - - 93
TCeommpmouratartyi olinfe c aonlunmuintsy-_ -_ -_ _____________ ___________________ ______ ___ _ 8856 Usaen onf u!ihtei easc-t-u_a-r_i_al- -ta-.b.l-e_s- i-n- -e-v-a--lu-a--ti-n-g- -j-o-i-n-t- -l-if e 94
Other types of annuities _______________________ 86
Evaluation of joint life annuities involving ages
Life assurances _____________________________8_7_
under 17--------_--------------_-------_--- 95
Joint life annuities ____________________________8 8
Rqversionary annuities and last survivor. annu- * Calculation of net values of reversiouary and last
ities_ ______________________________________ 89 survivor annuities, and assurances involving
Relation between annuities aud assurances-- - - - - - 89 two or more lives- -c - __ ___ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 97
Formulas for joint life benefits ____________ _- :9 0 Estimation of joint life annuity values based on
B. ArrEanlegmemenentat rayn vda lUueses- o -f - t-h - e- -A - c- t-u -a -r -i a- l- T- -a -b _l -e -s -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 9922 wthhei tes efpemaraaltees _ l_if_e_ _t_a_b_l_e_s_ _f _o_r_ _w_h_i_t_e_ _m__a_le_s_ _a_n__d 97
PART V.-METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION AND GRADUATION OF THE LIFE TABLES
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A. Preliminary Adjustment of the Data __________-_ ____ 101 B. Calculation of the Rates of Mortality-Continued
.CAocmcupralectye noef stsh oef dbairtath_ re_gis_tra_tion_ - -_ - -_ - - __- __.__- _-_ -_ __1100__12 _____.A_ dtjh.ues temffeenctt ooff mmigorratatiloitny _ _r_a_te - s- -a t- -a g-e -s - 0- - t-o - -4 - -f -o -r 119
Completeness of registration of infant deaths_- - - 103 Grouping of ages for the computation of rates of
Method of adjustment of infant data_ ___________ 107 mortality at ages 5 and over- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 120
Adjustment for incomplete reporting of infant General procedhre used in obtaining rates of mor-
deaths by subdivisions of the first year of life--- 108 tality at ages 5 and over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
UERsneotdrfi eimsaptaogrtireibto_eund_ti _ooa_fng _e Josu_f la_“yto_ 1td_h,e_ e1a_r9t h_4ra _0_c,_ ep_s_o”_p _du_e_laa_tt_iho._sn __us_ n__d___e__r__ 1 _-_ -y_ -e_ -a__ -r ____111_000__999_ __ __PDTirev_eroaivttama_lt eivonan_tl uooeff _ ftphoirve_m ovtueal_rla ysr a oe_tlmeds p a_olgof eyms_e _do_-r_ t -_a -l_ i-_t _y__ __ -__ -____. .-_ --_ --_ ____ -_ 111222344
Special adjustment of Negro data_ _____1_10 ___O.sc_ulat_ory_ int_erpo lation formulas used- - - - - - - - - - 125
Estimation of foreign-born population under 5---- 112 Test. of the graduation of the rates of mortality- - - 126
B. Calculation of the Rates of Mortality ______________ 112 C. Calculation of Other Life Table Functions- - - __ - - - - - 133
Ba$c process for obtaining mortality ratcs at ages Calculation of 1, and d, _______________________ 133
115 Calculation of L._ - - - - - - - - .. - - - - - - - - - - - -.- 133
117 Calculation of T, and k, _______________________ 134
APPENDIX
Page Poee
A. Method Used in Testing the Appropriateness of D. Procedure Used in Carrying Out the Makeham Grad-
Glover’s’ Separation Factors-- - - __ - __ - - - - - - - __ - - 135 uation of the Life Table for Total Whites _________ 138
B. Derivation of the Special Extensions of the Karup- General considerations- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 138
KRaint,ge sF aotr mAguelas 5U tsoe d1 1 faonrd I 2n6te trop o3l1a _t_io_n_ _o_f_ _M__o_r _ta_l_i_ty_ 136 Method of graduation eniployed- - - - - - - - - - - - - 138
C. h,Iet,hod of Computation of the Actuarial Tables for Preliminary graduation- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 139
White Males and White Females ________________ 137 Final determination of the Makeham constants-- - 139
Modification of the basic life table values for use Junction with original val.ies at very young ages- - 140
fine mthaele sa_ c_t_u_a_r_i_a_l _t_a_b_l_e_s_ _f_o_r_ w__h_i_t_e_ _m_a_l_e_s_ _a_n_d__ w hite 137 Completion of the mortality table ______ - - - - - - - - - 140
Calculation of the force of mortality ____________ 137 Test of t)e graduation ___________ 1_ ____________ 140
Calculation of commutation columns and net Calculation of other tables derived from the make-
premiums_ _______________________________1_3_8 I hamized mortality table- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 143
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CONTENTS
PRINCIPAL TABLES
Table Page Table Pago
LIFE TABLES FOR THE UNITED STATES: 1839-1941 ACTUARIAL TABLES BASED ON THPJ LIFE TABLE FOR
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1. Total population 26 WHITE FEMALES IN THE UNITED STATES: 103klQ41
23.. TToottaall fmemaleasle _s _____________________________________________r__________________ ______-__ _ ____23_08_ ___2 5. _ECloe_mmme_nuttaa_rtyio v_na lcuo_elsu-m'-_ n-s - _a -t _- ___- ___ - -_ - - ______ __ -_ - ___ ______ __69 :
-456... TWWohhtaiittlee wmfehamitleeassle _s- -_ - ____ - ___ - _- __=___- - -_ - - ___ - -_ - - -_ - -_ ____ -_ _333624_ _222678..._ _223% pp_ eeprrecc.reec_nnettn iit_nn ittneetrr_eeerssett_s __t_- -_____-____.__________________________________________________________ _-___7771_20 _- _____________
7. Total Negroes 38
8. Negro males __________________________________._____________4_0_ _ 2_9. __3% _perc_en_t in_tere_st -_-._______________-___7_3 --___-_________
9. Negro females- _____ _____ ______.______ _ __ ___ - _42_ .30 . 4 percent interest-- - 74
10. Total other races-_------------------------------ 44 Immediate whole life annuity, single and annual net
11. Other races, males _______________________________ 46 , premiums a t
(I 1123.. OLitfhee tra rbalcee fsu, nfecmtioanless f _or _the_ fir.st_ ye_ar _of l_ife_-. - _- - -_ - - _- - _.54_08 _3312..._ _22%_ p ep_recrec_netn i_tn itne_treers_ets _t_ _-____________. __-___-______-______77_65__ ___ ________
33. 3 percent interest 77
ACTUARIAL TABLES BASED ON THE LIFE TABLE FOR 34. 3%p ercent interes_tL -_-_-_________________-______-__________________ _7_8 ___
WHITE MALES IN THE UNITED STATES: 1838-1041 35. 4 percent interest-- .......................... 79
14. Elementary yalues-- - - _.______________________ __58
Commutation columns ut- . ACTUARIAL TABLES BASED ON THE MAKEHAMIZED
11:;56:.. 224 6p eprecrecnet nitn itnetreerset _st--_ ___ - - _- - - _- - -. - -_ - - _-.- _ - - -_ -. -_ - _56_90 __._MU_NOIRT_TEADL_ ISTTY_A TTE_ASB: L_1E8 39F_-1O94R1_ TO_TA_L W_HI TES IN THE
3 ercent interest 61
3Y2 p ercent intere_s_t_-________r_________-___-_^_--_-_-_-_--_-_-_--_-_-_-_ 62 36. Makeham constants__-- ___ ______ - __ __ - - __ ___ 79
19. 4 percent interest-- - ____________-._6 3 _3_7. T_ab_le of_ un_ifor_m s_enio.ri_ty _ ___________ ____________ 80
Immediate whole life annuity, bingle and annual net 38. Elementary values _____-_- ___ ______8_0 ___________:
xz premiums at-
22. 322 gpeeprrecc reecnnettn iitnq !itenertreeesrste_t,-s t-- --- --- --.. -- - . -- -- -- -1 _- _- - - --- -_- -_- _:e_ -_-_- -_ - __- __- --_ _-- --. 666654 3409.. Imm22% ep deprieacrteecn etl nifiten i tanentreenrsuetis _tti_ _es__ a--t_-_ _-_ ___ ____ ______ __________- _--1_-_ ______ ___88_12 _ _
2234.. 34> p/2ep recrecnetn itn itnetreersets,-t _____.____.__c_ L _-_ _____________ _ ___.__..__.__._ _ ___-_ __ 66-_78 __44_12.. _43_ ppee rrcceenntt iinntteerreesstt _ ________________________________________________________ 8834
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FIGUWS '
Figure Page Flgure Paac
1. Annual rate of mortality per 1,000,fore ach race by sex': 8. Annual rate of mortality per 1,000 for white females:
L _______________________
United States, 1939-1941 4 ' death-re istration.Stat.es of 1900 and 1920, and the
- 2. Annual rate of mortality per 1,0_0_0,- b_y_ r_ac_e _an_d_ b_y_ ______ United hates, at 10-year intervals, 1900-1941__,, 13
sex: United States, 1939-1941 5
9. Number of survivors out of 100,000 live births, from
3. Number of survivors out of 100,000 born alive, for
each race by sex: United States, 1939-1941_---_-- 6 recent life tables for selected countries, I. Males-- 18
4. Number of survivors out of 100,000 born alive, by race 10. Number of survivors out of 100,000 live births, from
___________
and by sex: United States, 1939-1941 7 recent life tables for selected countries, 11. Females- 19
. 5. AvSetraatgees ,f 1u9tu39re- 1l9if4e1t i_m__e_, _f_o_r_ e_a_c_h_ _r_a_c_e_ _b_y_ _s_e_x_: _U__n_i_te_d 8' 11. Frsetqauretinncgy wdiistthr ib1u0t0i,o0n0 0of liavgee sb airtt hdse, atbha siend a ocno htohret
, 6. AvSetraatgees ,f u1t9u3re9 l-if1e9ti4m1e,- -by- _ra_c_e- a_n-d_ b_y- -se-x-: _U-n_it_ed- -_-_9- _--.. mortality of white males: United States, 1939-1941- 24
7. Annual rate of mortality per 1,000 for white males: 12. Ratio of Negro deaths in'selected age groups to Negro
death-registration States of 1900 and 1920,a nd the deaths at ages 60-54 'in the same year: United
United States, at 10-year intervals, 190O-1941_ - - - 12 I States, 1933-1941----------------------------- 111
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UNITED STATES LIFE. TABLES AND ACTUARIAL
TABLES, 1939-1941
PART I
INTRODUCTION
Plan and scope of this volume of incompleteness of reporting, except in the case of
The life tables in this volume are bard on the 1940 birth statistics.’ How’ever, it is believed that the un-
census of population and the deaths of the 3-year period reported cases constitute, in general, a small percentage
1939-1941. Separate life tables have been prepared for of the totals involved, except in the case of data for
each sex for each of three racial groups: white, Negro, very young children (including births). In the latter
and other races. This is the first time official life tables case, a serious attempt has been made to introduce a - 1
have been prepared for races other than whites and suitable correction in the process of constructing the
Negroes in the United States. Life -tables are also life tables.2 It should be mentioned also that when
included for the total population of each sex, for the death itatistics are related to thh, corresponding popu-
total population of each racial group without distinction lation data, as in the computation of rates of mor-
by sex, and for the entire population without distinc- tality, any incompleteness in the enumeration of the
tion by race or sex. Each of the 12 life tables is based population tends to offset whatever deficiency may
on data for the entire continental United States. Also exist in the reporting of deaths. It is believed, there-
included are certain actuarial tables derived from the fore, that errors of incomplete reporting are not likely,
life tables for white wales, white females, and total in general, .to be of sufficient magnitude to seriously
whites, to be used in calculating premiums and values affect the life table valu?!s fo‘r white persons. How-
for life annuities, life assurances, and other monetafy ever, there is some indication that in the rural areas of
benefits contingent on death or survival. Other sections the South the reporting of Negro deaths may be appre-
give a brief synopsis of the elementary mathematical ciably less complete than the enumeration of Negroes
theory of life contingencies, including those involving in the ensu us.^ Since 49 percent of the total Negro
more than one life; instructions for using the actuarial population is found in the rural parts of the South, it is
tables, with numerical examples; and a complete ac- possible that mortality rates for Negroes may be some-
count of the methods and processes used in constructing what understated. There is a more serious possibility
the life tables. Because of the increasing interest in the of error in the case of the group of “other races” which
preparation of life tables on the part of demographers, includes Indians living on reservations, a class which
public health workers, and other groups, an effort has presents real difficulty from the standpoint of complete
been made to render this statement of methods and reporting and enumeration.
processes intelligible to readers having a reasonable Among the errors due to incorrect reporting, those
knowledge of mathematics and statistics, but without arising from incorrect statements of age are by far the
specific actuarial training. -For this reason, some of the most important class, as regards the construction of
explanations will doubtless seem to the actuary un- life tables. These errors in’ age fall into two general
.necessarily full, and even somewhat tedious. An ap- types: (1) systematic errors, which arise from a pref-
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pendix, intended primarily for actuariea, explains the’ erence for ages ending with certain digits, such as 0, 5,
special pkcesses used in the construction of the actu- and the even numbers generally, and (2) errors charac-
arial tables, and certain other technical matters. teristic of particular ages or periods of life. The sys-
tematic errors are believed to have been 1argely.elimi-
Accuracy of the tables
nated in the graduation of the data described in part
It is well known that the statistics on which these
I V. A typical example of an age error of the second
life tables are based are subject to various errors, the
type would be that described by Wolfenden4 as “a
magnitude of which is, in most cases, diflicult to esti-
natural inclination-to overstate the age until the attain-
mate with precision. These errors, whether found in
ment of majority, and then to understate at adult ages,
.statistics of populations, deaths, or births, fall into
two general classes: (1) incompleteness or underenu- 1’ see p. 102.
see pp. 1ae-108.
meration, and (2) incorrect reporting of some of the 8 U. 8. Burmu of the Censuq, United States Abrldged LiJe Tables, IgSB, Urban and
pertinent information, such as age, race, or sex. Very Rural, by Region#. ColorFand Srz, p. 5, June 1043.
little specific information is available as to the extent No4. W 3).o lfpe.n 2d7.e nA,HctuugahrE isl., SPoocpiuektyr loifm A Rmaetirsilciess, NanPdW TY loierirk .C o19m2p5 ilation (Actuarial .%die#,
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2 UNITED STATES LIFE TABLES AND ACTUARIAL TABLES
with some oveistatemcnt in advanced years.” Errors TABLE A.-i940 ENUMERATEPODP ULATIONS, AND TOTAL
DEATIIRSE PORTED IN 1939-1941, BY RACEA ND SEX: UNITED .
of this sort are not easy to-detcct, especially if the samc STATES
type of error occurs in both population and death sta-
tistics. Only in one instance, in which the effect was 1940 1939-1941
RACE AND SEI population deaths f
particularly noticeable, has any adjustment bcen made -
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for such errors in the construction of the life tables in White: ____ __ __
this volume. This point is fully discussed in part V. MFcnmlca lc_ ____ ___.___ ____________ .__-_.-_ .-_ - __ ___ _____ ___________...._55.89_.,_47_4686__.,5_3428..2 ___. 21_ ,,004083_,,61290_2 ___.
Ncgro:
Errors in the reporting of race probably are rclatively MFcamlen_ lc_ .-_..-- _ -. _-_ _.___ _ ___ ____ ________- -_..- -_ -_ _________ __________-_ --. -. .__ .86_-,,5_29_66_9,,4_0_8_308 __ _.__ 22_84 26,._44QW_4 _.
infrequent, except in the case of persons ,of mixed OtheMr aralec.e-s ._: __._-_ -_ - _._- _- _- ______ ___- _- _- _- _______ .- _..- - -_ __- _.__ - -.. _- __ 344,006 13,803
white and Indian blood. Thcre is no general agree- Female ~ ~ __..______24_4,86_1 __8_.21_ I ________
ment as to what proportion of Indian blood entitles
one to be called an Indian, and it is likely that the infor- additional figures beyond those which can be regnrdqd
mation furnished on death ccrtificates mny often fail as dependable is to secure a reason-able degree of smooth-.
to be consistent in this respect with the definition ness in the res&. This is always desirable, and in
adopted in the population census. Any error arising many of the uses to which life tables are put excessive
from this source could scarcely be of sufficient magni- roughness is a serious inconvenience. A further reason
tude to have any appreciable influence on mortality exists in the. case of the actuarial tables, because of the
rates for the white population, but could easily have a mathematical relationships which hold between different
disturbing effect on those for “other races.” It is be- actuarial- functions, such as the values of life annuities
lieved that any errors in the reporting of s’ex would not and assurances. The actuary wishing to make use of
be sficiently numerous to seriously affect any of-the the tables is inconvenienced if, because of excessive
life tables. rounding, these relationships do not hold with a fair
In addition to errors resulting from actual inaccuracies degree of precision.
in the data, there are errors due to chance fluctuation
Comparisons based on the life tables
in the numbcr of deaths: that is, what is known as
Variation by race and sex-The most usual measure
sampling error. This is of importance only in fairly
of the comparative longevity of different populations
small classes, in which a small variation in the absolutc
is the average duration of life, also called the expecta-
number of dcaths in a given age group may make a
tion of life at birth. This is the average number of
considerable difference in the rate of mortality. Tablc
A, showing the total enumerated population and the years lived by the members of a specified cohort, or
closed group of pcrsons, assumed to be subject through-
total‘deaths in thc 3-year period in each of the six sub-
out life to the life table rates of mortality. A compm-
divisions of the population for which separate life *
ison on this basis is given in table B. This table indi-
tables were prepared, indicates the size of the exposure
cates that females live, on &e average, longer than
underlying each life table. Sampling errors tend to bc
males, white persons longer than Negroes, and Negroes
largely corrected by the graduation process, in which
not quite so long as those of “other races.” There is,
the mortality rates in each age group are adjusted so
however, some objection to the use of the average dura-
as to bring them into line with those in the neighboring
tion of life as a standard of comparison because the
age groups. In any case, it is believed that the effect
method of calculating it gives great weight to the rela-
of sampling error is negligible in the life tables for whitc ‘
tively large number of deaths occurring in the first year *
persons, and of minor importance in thosc for Negroes,
of life. Thkinfluence may be entirely eliminated hy
except at the very old ages. However, it may havc
considering instead the average lifetime remaining to
significantly affected the results for “other racw.”
those members of the cohort who survive to age 1,. .
If allowance is made for all the possi6le sources of
This comparison is presented in table C, which shows,
error discussed above, thc life tables for whites and
in general, about the same relationships ns table B.
Negroes are believed to be sufficiently accurate and
However, the differences between the corresponding
reliable for all ordinary purposcs. However, those for
values for Negroes and “other races” are slightly
“other races” can be regarded only as reasonable
increased now that thc effect of the high infafit mortal-
approximations. For reasons explained in part V, this
ity among “other races” is no longer reflected in the
is also true of the life table values for subdivisions of
figures.
the first year of life in all the tables.8
In connection with the accuracy of the tables, it
should be clearly understood that the values cannot
be considered reliable, in most cases, to anythirig like
the number of decimal places or significant figures
shown in the tables. The chief purpose of retaining
3 In connection with tke distribution or “othk races” deaths by snhdivisionsof the
flrst year of life, a correction was applied for snnrpling error. See p. 108.
6 See p. 108.
INTRODUCTION
TABLE C-AVERAGE FUTUREL lFETlhfE 1N YEARS AT AGE 1, TABLEF .-SURVIVORST O AGE 65 OI~TOF 100,000 LIVEB IRTHS,
BY RACEA ND SEX:U NITEDS TATE?1,9 39-1941 -BY RACEA ND SEX: UNITEDS TATES1,9 39-1941
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RACE Bothsexes Male Femf~le RACE Bothsexes Male Female
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I All races_ _._.______~_-___6_5_.7_6 ____ .6.4..00. ___67.7_3 -________ - ~
NWehgirtoe _ ________..____.~ ~..____ ___._____.________.__._.__.5676_...1_8_.54 _ ___._.__.___h6.54.. .99__38_ _. _5688_..4963 _
Other raccs-. __..__~ .___._._____.__._.% .90_ __58_. $0 ___60.1_4
Another possible standard for comparing the longev- In considering the mortality and longevity of the
ity of different populations is provided by the median group of “other races,” it should be kept in mind that
length of life, or ‘(probable lifetime,” which is the age this is a heterogeneous class made up of elements
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at which exactly half thc originallmembers of the which differ widely both in the general level of mortality
cohort have died, and half are still alive. In other and in its incidence by age. The racial composition of
words, it is the age to which an infant born alive has the group is shoh in table G, and age-specific death
just an even chance of surviving. The va.lues of the rates for the principal races separately appear in table
median length of life (shown in table D) are greater in H, together with comparablc figures for whites and
every case than those of the average length of life: the Negroes.
difference ranging from 3.81 ‘years in the case of Negro
females to 8.70 years in the case of females of “other TABLEG .-POPULATIONO F OTHERR ACES,B’ Y SPECIFIERDA CE
AND SEX: UNITEDS TATES1, 940
races.” The use of the probable lifetime as a measure I
of longevity results in a somewhat more favorable
POPULATION PERCEKT RP RACE
-
showing for “other races,” as compared with Negroes, RICE 1) 11
than when the average duration of life was used. In ,Total Ma&ZI Total Male IFemai
fact, the probable lifetime of males of “other races” _____
Totalotherraces --58__8,8_87_ _3__44,_0_06_ _2_44,8__81 _--1-0 0 .0 100.0 100.0
slightly exceeds- that of Negro females. The reverse
Indian_ _____3_33,96_9 .1.71.,4_27 _162_,642_ _56._7 _49_.8 __66.4
was true of the corresponding average durations of life. Chinese_ _____..7_7,5.04. ._57_,38_9 _20_,115_ _1_3.2 16.7 8.2
Jap8nCS3_ ______.12.6..94.7_ _7_1,9_67 __54,9_80_ 21.6 20.9 22.4
Filipino_ ____________________.____ .4.5,.56_3 ._39_,72_3 _5_,840_ __7.7 11.6 2.4
TABLED .-MEDIAN LENGTHOF LIFEI N YDARSB, Y RACEA ND Allother 4,904 3,500 1,404 0.8 1.0 0.B
SEX: UNITEDS TATES1, 939-1941
1 11 1 1 All except white and Negro
BACE ’ Bothsexes , Male Female TABLEH .-DEATH RATESP ER1 ,000 ENUMERATPEODP ULATION,
BY AGE, RIA CE,A N1D SEX: UNITEDS TATES1, 939-1941
-
- SEX AND AGE -White -Negro -Indian -Chinese rapaneso Other
\ I II I MALE
04__ __________ _____ _1_3.2 __22_.8 __35._8 .._13.7_ 12.1 12.7
5-9 __. 1.2 1. fi 3.3 11.0 1.1 11.6
10-14 ._____..1..1 _._1.7_ __2. 8 1.6 1.3 1 2. 1
15-19 1.7 3.7 5.7 3.5 1.8 11.4
%252-249 ________.._... _22..35 _ __67..84. _..87...65 54..70 22..69 54.. 91
3c-34_ ___.__-_ .3_.1 _.__9.7 .. 8.3 6.9 4.8 4.7
344550---344994 ________________~__ _____ _________ _ ...-_4f9i_...211 - --121_105...487 __1893_...260 _ 11972...518 496... 45n . 1772... 4(9i
556500---565944- _ --- -- ____ .- . -_ -_ ~ ___-___-~ _. .__ ..231 _00 3...077 __324639 ...841 231406...311 . 234378...873 211771...464 251799.. .645
‘6755- 7a4n- d_ ove_r _.________ - _.1.53_35..10 __1_5149..58. . 14089..94 18902..21 14150..70. 10023..27
10.4 18. 1 32.1 13.7 9.4 10; 7
.9 1.3 2.8 1.0 1.0 3.0
.7 1.5 3.0 1.5 .E 11.4
1.2 4.2 6.4 -2.8 1.5 1 2.7
1.8 5.8 9.5 3.6 1.9 14.5
2.0 6.6 9.1 4.3 3.3 12.5
24 8.2 8.4 2.5 2.5 15.5
3.1 9.9 ’ 9.4 4.6 3.3 1 4.4
4.3 14.0 9.6 5.6 3.9 18.5
6. 1 17.6 11.2 9.8 6.7 23.2
9.0 25.7 16.0 15.1 7.9 45.3
13.5 32.4 21.9 17.0 13.9 57. 5
20.7 40.0 28.0 2R 2 17.3 142.9
40. 8 44.9 43.0 42.5 37.0 91.7
120.8 86.5 103.7 93.8 49.0 1388.9
1 Rate based on less than IO deaths.
UACE ~Both sexes Male Female -A more de-tailed comparison of life table values by
Allraces. __..______-_92_,234_ _~_91.,39.2. __9_3,116_ _~ra_ce_ a_nd_ s_ex_ is_ of fered by figures 1 to 6, in which are
White ______________92_.951_ __92_,09.8 ___93,8_48 __pl_ot_ted_ g_ra_p_hic_al_ly_ th_e_ v_alu_e_s a t all ages of the rate
, NOethgreor _rac_es_ ._.___-____.__.________.___.__8827_,_.8356_37 _____86__26,,44_19_24_ __.__88_83..,2_3b_0l2_ __o__f_‘m___o_r ta_li_ty,_ th_e _nu_mb_er_ o_f s urvivors out of 100,000
live births, and the average future lifetime for each of
the 12 life tables. These graphs bring out certa,in
I
P .
,
FIGUREl.-A NNWAL RATE OF MORTALITPYE R 1,000, FOR EACHR ACE BY SEX:*UNITED STATES, 1939-1941
100
90
80
7c
3c
2c
-
I I I I
I 45 50 55 60 t
Age in years
FIGUR2E.- ANNUAL RATE OF MORTALITPYE R 1,000, BY RACE AND BY SEX: UNITED STATES, 1939-1941
SiG
20
45
Age in years
I -
I
.
Age in years
-
;.f
.
-
c
r