Draft:Continuous Mortality Investigation

Foundation and Early years (1924-1973)

The Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI) was established in 1924^[3], formerly known as the Continuous Mortality Investigation Bureau (CMIB) until 2004, as a response to the need for a permanent, centralised body to collect and analyse mortality data for the UK life insurance industry. Prior to its formation, mortality investigations were conducted by ad hoc committees, which disbanded after each study. The CMI was created as a joint venture between the Institute of Actuaries (England) and the Faculty of Actuaries (Scotland), marking the first long-term collaboration between the two professional bodies.

The CMI’s initial focus was on the mortality of assured lives, annuitants, and pensioners, with data collected from life insurance companies across the UK. The first Chairman was Sir William Elderton, who played a pivotal role in shaping the organisation’s early direction. The CMI’s constitution and rules, established in the 1920s, set out its objectives: to collect statistics, analyse them, construct mortality and morbidity tables, and publish findings for the benefit of the insurance and pensions industry. In its early decades, the CMI relied on manual data collection and calculation, with a small staff processing returns from contributing offices.

Expansion and Innovation (1973–1999)

This marked a period of significant expansion and innovation for the CMI. The introduction of computerisation in 1975 revolutionised data processing, enabling more complex analyses and faster turnaround of results. The CMI’s remit broadened to include new areas such as Permanent Health Insurance (PHI) (now commonly known as income protection insurance), impaired lives, and critical illness investigations. Other areas of development included analysing mortality data segregated by smoking status and provision of software, the Standard Tables Program.

During this period, the CMI began to produce standard mortality tables, such as the “80”^[4] and “92”^[5] Series, which became industry benchmarks. The organisation also started publishing its own reports (CMIRs), providing detailed analyses and technical papers for the actuarial profession.

The CMI’s committee structure evolved, with the formation of sub-committees to oversee specific investigations.

Modernisation and Governance changes (2000–2019)

The turn of the millennium brought further modernisation and changes in governance. The CMI expanded its scope to include mortality data from self-administered pension schemes (SAPS), reflecting the growing importance of occupational pension schemes. The organisation also launched its mortality projections committee, to oversee an industry standard mortality projections model.

In 2013, the CMI became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), with a formal governance structure and a move from voluntary contributions to a subscription-based funding model.

The CMI Mortality Projections Model, first released in 2009, became a widely used tool for actuaries in the UK and internationally, providing a flexible and transparent framework for projecting future mortality improvements. The organisation also embraced new technologies, including the use of generalised linear models and advanced statistical techniques.

The COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022)

The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for the analysis of mortality data, requiring rapid evolution of methodologies and new analyses of excess mortality. The CMI played a leading role in providing timely and objective analysis to the actuarial profession and the wider public, including the publication of regular mortality monitors^[6] and special working papers on the impact of the pandemic.

Data Collection and Research

The CMI collects anonymised data from a large proportion of UK life insurers and pension schemes, covering mortality, morbidity, and critical illness experience. This data is processed and validated using robust quality assurance procedures, with feedback provided to data contributors to promote accuracy and consistency. The CMI’s research covers a broad spectrum of topics, including mortality rates, longevity trends, causes of death, and the impact of socio-economic factors.

Production of Mortality and Morbidity Tables

A central activity of the CMI is the construction and publication of standard mortality and morbidity tables. These include the “80”, “92”, “00”, “08”, and “16” Series tables, as well as the SAPS (Self-Administered Pension Schemes) tables, and are widely used by actuaries for pricing, reserving, and risk management in life insurance and pensions. The tables are regularly updated to reflect emerging experience and changes in population health.

Mortality Projections and the CMI Model

The CMI develops and maintains the CMI Mortality Projections Model^[8], an industry-standard tool for projecting future mortality improvements. The model is typically updated annually and is designed to be flexible, allowing users to adjust key assumptions such as the long-term rate of improvement and the responsiveness to new data. The model is accompanied by detailed working papers, user guides, and regular benchmarking surveys to support its application in actuarial work.

Mortality Monitor

Since 2020, the CMI has published the Mortality Monitor^[9], a regular bulletin that tracks population mortality in England & Wales and provides timely analysis of trends, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mortality Monitor is publicly available.

Committee and Volunteer Engagement

The CMI’s work is supported by a network of investigation committees and working parties, staffed by volunteers from across the actuarial profession.

Collaboration and Outreach

The CMI collaborates with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Society of Actuaries in Ireland, and other international bodies. It provides technical support, shares expertise, and contributes to the development of actuarial best practices. The CMI also engages with the wider public through blogs, webinars, and public briefings.

Data Governance and Quality Assurance

Maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of data is a core priority for the CMI. The organisation has established rigorous data governance frameworks, including secure data handling, regular risk reviews, and compliance with data protection regulations. Quality assurance processes are embedded throughout the data lifecycle, from collection and validation to analysis and publication.