The use of mortality data lies at the core of much of the research carried out by the actuarial profession.
The use of mortality data lies at the core of much of the research carried out by the actuarial profession. In the area of health, longevity and mortality, many readers will be aware of commonly used datasets such as those from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) or the World Health Organization.
There is, however, a wealth of mortality data - much of it free to access and available online. The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries has compiled a directory of datasets that cover the UK and Ireland as well as those that give an overview of European and world data.
The directory not only lists the datasets and provides links to each but also provides some detail on data points of interest to actuaries and on the timeframe over which the data was collected.
It is hoped that greater access to and awareness of these datasets will enable more accurate modelling, allowing actuaries to make informed decisions regarding longevity and mortality in relation to life assurance, pensions and long-term care products.
This resource, which is in Excel format, is available to download free of charge from the IFoA website at bit.ly/1JD9sPx