The paper, which was written at the invitation of the Council of the Faculty for submission on the occasion of the Centenary celebrations, deals with the broad trend of mortality rates in the hundred years 1850-1950.

The paper is in five main parts :—

• 1. The political and social background of the period, in so far as it might affect mortality rates, is briefly discussed.

• 2. The trend of mortality rates during the hundred years is discussed principally with reference to the following six countries which, besides being relatively stable politically during the period, have recorded mortality rates throughout—

  • England & Wales

  • Denmark

  • France

  • Netherlands

  • Norway

  • Sweden.

• The experience in more recent years of a number of other countries is also discussed.

• 3. The relationship between the mortality rates of males and females is examined at various ages for the six countries above mentioned.

• 4. The more recent mortality statistics are analysed according to cause of death in broad groups.

• 5. The paper concludes with a statement on the points which seem to be of special interest, setting out in the form of questions some of the thoughts which spring from them.

In the pages which follow (Appendices 1-18) the statistics referred to in Parts 2 and 3 are illustrated by a series of graphs.

The paper, which was written at the invitation of the council of the Faculty for submission on the occasion of the Centenary celebrations, traces the growth of without-profit business in the United Kingdom and the trend of the without-profit premiums during the period from 1913. The actuarial bases of the rates are examined and some conclusions reached regarding the profitability of the business.

The actuarial considerations which should influence an oflice in determining the volume and the type of new business to be transacted are then discussed for both mutual and proprietary companies, and methods are suggested to assist in determining what proportions of with-and without-profit business should be transacted. Tables are given illustrating the numerical applications of the methods to life assurance business in varying circumstances, and their application to annuity business is discussed.