Selected Analytical Approaches to Mortality at the Highest Age Groups: Illustration on France, Sweden, and Czech Republic
Abstrakt
Demographers face the question whether the increase in life expectancy that has started since the 18th century in developed countries is caused by decreasing mortality at younger age-groups or whether it is also associated with the extension of human longevity. The aim of this paper is to introduce theoretical and analytical approaches to mortality at the highest age-groups focused on cohort approach.
First, hypotheses that attempt to support the existence of the limit of human life were presented. Second, mortality for ages 80-105+ in generations 1866-1896 was analyzed (cohort life tables were constructed for France, Sweden and the Czech Republic using data available in Kannisto-Thatcher Database).
Results show decrease of mortality at the highest age-groups in France and Sweden and its stagnation in the Czech Republic. However, contrary to assumption of some hypotheses, decrease of mortality in France and Sweden was accompanied by increase of variability in age at death.