Age-standardised mortality II

How do we calculate the age-standardised mortality rate?

There are different ways to measure mortality. This article focuses on the method of age-standardisation:

• Age-standardised mortality rates: the calculation starts with mortality rates for each age group. Analysts calculate a weighted of these age-specific rates. That creates the age-standardised mortality rate. This is often expressed per 1,000 people or per 100,000 people.

Through the calculation

The Office for National Statistics details its method for calculating these rates.

First, we start with age-specific rates. These are like crude mortality rates, except for certain age groups. For each age group, divide the number of deaths by the population estimate. That calculation can be for either sex or both combined.

Using these components, calculate their weighted average. The weights come from the European Standard Population 2013.

The age groups start at 0, 1 to 4, and end with 90 and over. In this artificial standard population, 91 out of 100 people are 74 years-old or younger.

You can also calculate age-standardised rates for wider age groups, such as those aged 10 and over.

This is a weekly version of the calculation. (Image: Office for National Statistics)