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PROJECTIONS
LIFE TABLE
AG 2020
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September 9th
2020
1
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Publication Royal Dutch Actuarial Association, Groenewoudsedijk 80, 3528 BK Utrecht
telephone: 31-(0)30-686 61 50, website: www.ag-ai.nl
Design Stahl Ontwerp, Nijmegen
Print Selection Print & Mail, Woerden
Projections Life Table
AG2020
2
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1 Preface – 5
2 Justification – 7
3 Summary – 8
4 Introduction Projections Life Table AG2020 – 12
4.1 Why does AG develop a projection model for mortality probabilities? – 12
4.2 How does the model work? – 12
4.3 What happened since the release of Projections Life Table AG2018? – 13
4.4 Publication of Projections Life Tables on the AG website – 13
5 Data – 14
5.1 Dutch and European data are input for the Projection model AG2020 – 14
5.2 European mortality data: countries with an above-average GDP – 14
5.3 Data range – 15
5.4 Observed mortality has increased in recent years – 16
5.5 Data sources: Human Mortality Database, Eurostat and CBS – 16
6 The projection model – 18
6.1 Model assumptions unchanged – 18
6.2 Adjusted model assumptions – 19
6.3 Effects of adjustments made – 21
6.4 Parameter estimates – 21
7 Results – 26
7.1 Definitions of life expectancy – 26
7.2 Observations with respect to Projections Life Table AG2018 – 26
7.3 From AG2018 to AG2020 – 28
7.4 Projections in perspective – 28
7.5 Link between life expectancy at age 65 and 1st and 2nd pillar retirement age – 30
7.6 Effects on provisions – 31
8 The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic – 34
8.1 Effects in the Netherlands already observed – 34
8.2 Possible long-term effects – 35
8.3 Sensitivity analysis – 35
8.4 Results of the sensitivity analysis – 38
8.5 Future forecasts – 38
Appendices – 39
Appendix A - Projection model AG2020 – 40
Appendix B – Model portfolios Technical provisions – 49
Appendix C – Literature and data used – 51
Appendix D – Glossary – 53
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Contents
3
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AG2020
4
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For decades, life expectancy has increased steadily in the Netherlands as well as in the
neighbouring countries. This trend has had a large impact on society. It is important for
pension funds and life insurers to understand the development of life expectancy in order
to be able to estimate future cashflows and thus to set provisions.
Every two years The Royal Dutch Actuarial Association (Koninklijk Actuarieel Genootschap or
‘AG’) publishes a new Projections Life table, providing an insight into the expected
development of life expectancy in The Netherlands, based on the most recent information
at the time.
Before you is the publication of the new Projections Life Table AG2020. The underlying
model is a fully transparent model with a limited number of parameters, making it easy to
explain and exactly reproducible. This complies with AG’s aim to make knowledge
available to and applicable by the financial sector.
Since the publication of AG2018 various analyses have been conducted that have led to
further improvements of the model. The changes from AG2018 will be explained both
substantively and numerically.
The impact of Covid-19 on life expectancy is as yet hard to predict because of the limited
availability of data and the uncertainty in how the pandemic will develop in the future.
Therefore, only a number of sensibility analyses have been carried out.
I want to thank the members of AG Mortality Research Committee (Commissie Sterfte
Onderzoek or ‘CSO’) and the Projections Life Tables Working Group for their efforts and all
the work that they have done over the past two years.
Wies de Boer AAG
Chair AG Mortality Research Committee
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Preface
5
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AG2020
6
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JUSTIFICATION
Mortality Research Committee
Monitoring the development of mortality in the Netherlands and developing projections of
this has traditionally been an important task of the Royal Dutch Actuarial Association. An
expression of this is the long series of period and projections life tables the Association
has published. In 2011, the Board of the Association set up the Mortality Research
Committee and assigned it the task of publishing a new Projections table every two years,
which was to serve as the basis for estimating the future life expectancy of the population
of the Netherlands. In 2014, a model was implemented which, in addition to the
mortality projections, also reflects the uncertainty in the projection of this model (a
so-called stochastic model). This resulted in the publication of Projections Life Table
AG2014. Projections Life Table AG2016 is based on the same model as Projections Life
Table AG2014, with a number of changes to the data used and the method of estimation.
In particular, the correlation between the development of mortality amongst men and
women was modelled. After the publication of Projections Life Table AG2016 a number of
aspects have undergone further research, but this has not led to any model adjustments.
Thus, AG2018 was based on the same model as AG2016. In the past two years further
analyses have been performed, that have led to some model adjustments. These
adjustments have made the model more robust and this model is the basis for AG2020.
The committee consists of members with an academic background, members from the
pensions and insurance sector with a technical background and members from these
sectors with a managerial background. Mid 2020, the Mortality Research Committee
consists of the following members:
B.L. de Boer AAG, chair
drs. C.A.M. van Iersel AAG CERA, secretary
prof. dr. B. Melenberg
drs. J. de Mik CFA AAG
drs. E.J. Slagter FRM
prof. dr. ir. M.H. Vellekoop, vice chair
ir. R.E.J.M. Waucomont AAG
M.A. van Wijk MSc AAG
ir. drs. M.R. van der Winden AAG MBA
AG Projections Life Tables Working Group
The Mortality Research Committee set up the Association’s Projections Life Tables Working
Group at the end of 2012 with the task of supporting the Committee in the development
of projection tables. Mid 2020, the Working Group consists of the following members:
M.J.A. Klein MSc AAG, chair
F. van Berkum PhD
F.J. Cuijpers MSc AAG
ir. drs. J.H. Tornij
J.I. Tol MSc AAG
Drs. B.G. ter Veer AAG
W. van Wel MSc
K. Wittekoek MSc
In performing its task, the Working Group has carried out various analyses to obtain
Projections Life Table AG2020. These analyses have deepened the Working Group’s insights
and resulted in model adjustments. The Mortality Research Committee has validated the
Projections Life Table AG2020 as set by the Working Group.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Justification
7
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3 SUMMARY
By publishing Projections Life Table AG2020 AG presents its most recent estimation of
future mortality of the Dutch population to date. This estimation is based on mortality
data from both the Netherlands and European countries of similar prosperity. Projections
Life Table AG2020 replaces Projections Life Table AG2018.
The most important features of the Projections Life Table AG2020 are:
• Projections Life Table AG2020 can be used to estimate mortality levels far into the
future. Expected future developments in mortality can be factored into calculations of
life expectancy and provisions.
• In addition to historical mortality in the Netherlands, Projections Life Table AG2020
also uses mortality data from selected European countries with similar prosperity
levels. This combination of data leads to a stable model less sensitive to random
aberrations in the Dutch data for any one year.
• Projections Life Table AG2020 is based on a stochastic model, enabling pension funds
and life insurers to also estimate the uncertainty of the forecast.
After the publication of AG2018 various analyses were conducted in preparation of
Projections Life Table AG2020. These were partly driven by questions and suggestions from
the profession. With the analyses further refinements of the model were tested. The
selection of the AG2020 model was based on a number of science-based statistical model
selection criteria. Model outcomes must be plausible as well as explicable. Stability and
robustness of the model are important factors too. Finally, coherence is an important
criterion, meaning that future mortality in the Netherlands and the selected European
countries will not diverge significantly.
All this has resulted in two model adjustments, which are explained in detail in chapter 6.
Both adjustments relate to the modelling of the Dutch deviation from the European
countries:
1. Constants are added to the modelling of the Dutch deviation for both men and
women. This means that the time series that describe the differences between the
Netherlands and other countries converge to non-zero numbers.
2. The modelling of the Dutch deviation no longer used data from 1970 onwards, but
instead data from 1983 onwards. Dutch data from 1970 is still used in the modelling
of the European mortality trend.
The changes of Projections Life Table AG2020 as compared to Projections Life Table AG2018
are caused by (1) the two aforementioned model adjustments and (2) the addition of new
mortality data from The Netherlands and Europe.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Summary
8
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birth is reduced by about one year for both men and women. The remaining life
expectancy at age 65 drops by about six months. Model change is the main cause of the
downward adjustment of the prognosis. The impact of adding new mortality data is much
smaller.
Cohort life expectancy
in 2021
AG2018
Model change
Adding new data
AG2020
At birth
Male
90.2
-0.8
-0.1
89.3
Table 3.1 Cohort life expectancy in 2021
The conclusion is that life expectance is still expected to rise in the future, but at a lower
rate compared to Projections Life Table AG2018.
For a variety of model funds, chapter 7 presents calculations of the impact of the
implemented changes on provisions and premium levels.
For an average fund, the provision will drop by around 2 per cent at a 1% interest rate.
Table 3.2 breaks down the impact of replacing AG2018 by AG2020 for an average model
portfolio into two steps.
Impact TP 1% interest
Male
Model change
Data update
-1.6%
-0.5%
Average
Female
-1.4%
-0.8%
Total -2.1% -2.2%
Table 3.2 Impact on technical provision for an average model portfolio at a 1%
interest rate
It shows that more than two thirds of the reduction in technical provision is explained by
the model change.
The impact on the premium exceeds that of the provision. This is related to a longer
average projection horizon. The premium drops by 2.5 to 3 per cent at a 1% interest rate.
The expected development of the State Pension retirement age and standard retirement
age using the latest insights based on Projections Life Table AG2020 and the Outline
agreement of June 5th, 2019 is summarised in graph 3.1 We wish to emphasise that the
actual increase of the State Pension retirement age and standard retirement age is linked
to the estimates of Statistics Netherlands (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, CBS) and
these values are to be regarded as indicative.
Female
92.7
-0.6
-0.4
91.7
Male
20.5
-0.5
0.0
20.0
At age 65
Female
23.3
-0.2
-0.2
22.9
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Summary
9
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66.0
66.5
67.0
67.5
68.0
68.5
69.0
69.5
65.0
2020
2024 2028 2032 2036 2040 2044 2048 2052 2056 2060
State Pension age
Standard retirement age
Graph 3.1 Development of State Pension retirement age and standard retirement age
based on AG2020. Adjustment of the State Pension retirement age is done in threemonth
steps. According to the AG2020 projections the State Pension retirement age
increases to 67 years and 3 months in 2030 and to 68 year in 2042.
The impact of Covid-19 on life expectancy is as yet hard to predict. The outbreak was in
2020 and that means that only limited date are available. Future developments related to
this virus are uncertain and at this time it is not clear if there will be a lasting effect. For
this reason, the 2020 effects have not been included in the projections. To provide some
insight into the possible impact on life expectancy, two sensitivity analyses were
performed:
• An analysis only including excess mortality until mid 2020.
• Another analysis assuming that there will be an equal excess mortality in the second
half of 2020.
In the first analysis the average life expectancy at birth is about six months lower than the
AG2020 prognosis. In the second analysis the average life expectancy decreases by more
than a year. The effect is stronger for men than for women.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Summary
10
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AG2020
Samenvatting
11
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 4
INTRODUCTION PROJECTIONS
LIFE TABLE AG2020
Through the publication of Projections Life Table AG2020, AG presents an assessment
of the expected development of survival rates and life expectancy in the
Netherlands. This assessment is based on the most recent mortality data from The
Netherlands and from European countries of similar prosperity. The result is a
forecast of mortality probabilities by age for each future year for men and women.
This introduction describes why the forecast is made, how the model works and
what activities were performed since the release of Projections Life Table AG2018.
4.1 Why does AG develop a projection model for mortality
probabilities?
Every two years AG publishes a projection model to forecast the development of mortality
rates in the Dutch population. This model is relevant to, among others, pension funds and
life insurance companies. The projection model can be used for the determination of the
provisions held by pension funds and insurers, taking into account fund or portfolio
specific mortality experience if desired. Pension benefits, in general, are paid as long as a
participant or insured person lives and therefore it is important to know how long this
person is expected to survive.
AG combines expertise from science and the pensions and insurance industry to develop
this mortality forecast. The AG model is fully transparent and only uses publicly available
data. Based on the model documentation and the data used, the model can be copied
and its results reproduced. AG has developed this model for the whole industry and it
therefore contributes to market uniformity.
4.2 How does the model work?
The projections are based on a stochastic model. This makes it possible to give an
impression of the uncertainty in the development of life expectancy.
The model estimates parameters that best describe the historical development of European
mortality in countries with a prosperity level similar to that of the Netherlands. Based on
these parameters a forward projection can be made for these countries. The size of the
dataset makes this projection stable. In addition, parameters are estimated that describe
the historical aberration between mortality in The Netherlands and these European
countries.
From 1970 onwards a decreasing difference in mortality probabilities between European
countries is clearly discernible. Also, the development of period life expectancy has shown
a similar upward trend for decades. See graphs 5.1 and 5.2 in chapter 5.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Introduction Projections Life Table AG2020
12
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expectancy is the balance of all (positive and negative) circumstances that impact life
expectancy. Implicit in our projections is the assumption that, as in the past, new
developments will keep occurring that bring about further increases in life expectancy.
This may be, for instance, medical or technological developments or developments related
to lifestyle and environment. Mortality developments observed in the past also had
multiple causes, such as changes in smoking behaviour, improvements in the treatment of
cardiovascular diseases and an increased regard for a healthy lifestyle.
The covid-19 outbreak may also impact life expectancy. At this time, it is hard to gauge
these effects, because much is still unclear. Although 2020 will show a significant excess
mortality, it is unclear what the effects will be in subsequent years. The absence or
availability of a vaccine is of great importance to this. Chapter 8 explores the possible
effects of covid-19 by calculating a number of sensitivity analyses. Because of the fact that
extrapolation techniques had to be used to obtain data points that were not yet available,
these sensitivity analyses are not part of the AG2020 model.
4.3 What happened since the release of Projections Life Table
AG2018?
A number of analyses were conducted to explore further model refinements. The analyses
conducted were in part prompted by questions and suggestions from the profession after
the publication of AG2018. The analyses have led to two adjustments. Firstly, constant
terms were added to the projection of the Dutch deviation from Europe. Also, the sample
length for the Dutch deviation was shortened. As a result, the projection model AG2020 is
further improved and meets the standards set by the Mortality Research Committee for a
good model.
4.4 Publication of Projections Life Tables on the AG website
AG published Projections Life Table AG2020, including the technical specifications of the
projection model, on its website. Refer to www.ag-ai.nl/ActuarieelGenootschap/
Publicaties. Also listed there are Excel files with the data sets that can be used to
reproduce the estimations of the model’s parameters.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Introduction Projections Life Table AG2020
13
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5.1 Dutch and European data are input for the Projection model
AG2020
The current Projection model AG2020 uses similar data as Projection model AG2018. This
implies that, additional to mortality in the Netherlands, data are used on the mortality
developments in a number of other European countries. Since 1970 a decrease in the
differences in mortality probabilities between these European countries is clearly
discernible. Also, the period life expectancies in these countries have shown similar
upward trends for decades. Please refer to graphs 5.1 and 5.2.
In view of these apparent similarities, as of Projection model AG2014 the choice was made
to expand the basis for the Dutch projections to the developments in these European
countries. This prevents the forecast from being solely dependent on Dutch data that may
include specific historical fluctuations that may not be indicative of future developments.
The view is, that the long term increase of life expectancy in the Netherlands can be more
accurately predicted by including a broader European population, as this vastly expands
the number of observations: from just over 100,000 deaths annually in the Netherlands to
over 2,000,000 deaths per year for the included European countries, rendering the model
more robust. Consecutive projections are expected to be more stable than when using only
Dutch data.
5.2 European mortality data: countries with an above-average
GDP
The projection model uses European mortality data from countries with an above-average
Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP is seen as a measure for a country’s prosperity. A
positive correlation exists between prosperity and ageing: the higher the prosperity level,
the older people get. The Netherlands is a high prosperity country with a GDP above the
European average. Based on this criterion, the following European countries have been
included: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg,
Norway, Austria, United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland. In this publication the
aforementioned countries together are referred to as “Europe” or “Western Europe”.
The selection of countries was first performed for the publication of the Projection model
AG2014. As time passes, other countries may also meet the above-average GDP selection
criterion, or countries may cease to do so. In the creation of AG2020 the criterion still
generates the same set of countries.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Data
14
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Graphs 5.1 and 5.2 show the historical development of life expectancy at birth in the
Netherlands and the selected European countries since 1950. The graphs show that in the
first part of this period life expectancies are quite far apart, for men in particular. From
1970 onwards a stable development can be seen in life expectancies of both men and
women. For the estimation of the European leg of the model, including the Netherlands,
we use data from the observation period 1970 through 2018. For the Dutch deviation we
use data from 1983 through 2019.
62
64
66
68
70
72
74
76
78
80
82
84
1950
1960
1970
The Netherlands
1980
1990
Other countries
Graph 5.1 Period life expectancy at birth male
62
64
66
68
70
72
74
76
78
80
82
84
86
1950
1960
1970
The Netherlands
1980
1990
Other countries
Graph 5.2 Period life expectancy at birth females
Graphs 5.1 and 5.2 show that life expectancy in the Netherlands after 1970 has risen less
than the average over the selected European countries. This is true in particular for
women, since the early eighties. The difference between Dutch and European women is
even more apparent when looking at the underlying mortality probabilities. Chapter 6 will
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Data
15
2000
2010
2000
2010
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uexplore this further and also explain what the effect of this lagging (compared to other
European countries) is on the Projection model AG2020.
5.4 Observed mortality has increased in recent years
In the publication of Projection model AG2020, attention was given to excess mortality in
the years 2016 and 2017 as a result of, among other causes, a wave of influenza in the
2016/2017 season. This led to mortality higher than was to be expected based on
Projection model AG2016, in particular for higher ages. This was true for the Netherlands
as well as for the selection of European countries.
For observation years 2017 and 2018 mortality continues to be higher than expected for
higher ages in particular. This too can be partly attributed to the flu season 2017/2018.
Mortality caused by influenza has been above average in recent years not only in the
Netherlands, but also in other European countries1,2. A strong increase or decrease of
mortality in the Netherlands often coincides with a strong increase or decrease in other
European countries. This can be seen in the bar charts in graphs 5.3 and 5.4. These
represent the numbers of deaths per year in The Netherlands and in Europe. Mortality in
2018 in the over 65 age group is shown to be higher than in previous years. For men this
shows in The Netherlands and in Europe, for women it is most prominent in The
Netherlands.
10
15
20
25
30
35
0
5
Age 0 to 65 age 65 to 80 age 80 thru 90
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
–
Age 0 to 65 age 65 to 80 age 80 thru 90
Graph 5.3 Number of deaths male (x1,000) in The Netherlands (left) and in Europe
(right) in the years 2012 – 2018
10
15
20
25
30
35
0
5
Age 0 to 65 age 65 to 80 age 80 thru 90
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
–
Age 0 to 65 age 65 to 80 age 80 thru 90
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Graph 5.4 Number of deaths female (x1,000) in The Netherlands (left) and in Europe
(right) in the years 2012 – 2018
1 – CBS (2018), ‘Meer
sterfgevallen in
wintermaanden’, CBS.
URL visited May 18th,
2020.
2 – EuroMOMO (2020),
Graphs and Maps,
EuroMOMO. URL visited
May 18th, 2020.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
5.5 Data sources: Human Mortality Database, Eurostat and CBS
The data were obtained from the Human Mortality Database (HMD), supplemented with
data from Eurostat for years and countries missing in HMD. The 2019 data for the
Netherlands was obtained from CBS. The Eurostat data were adapted as required to ensure
consistency with HMD. This applies to the 2018 mortality probabilities for the overseas
territories of France, see appendix C.
Data
16
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adjusted retroactively for prior years. The data set used, in the shape of mortality
frequencies and exposure for both the Netherlands and the complete group of Western
European countries can be found on the AG website and totals more than 115 million
deaths.
The graph below shows the spread of these deaths across the countries.
AUT
IRL
BEL
LUX
Deaths (2018)
DNK
NLD
FIN
NOR
FRA
SWE
DEU
CHE
ISL
GBR
NLD
SWE
DEU
GBR
FRA
AUT
Graph 5.5 Spread by country of deaths (male plus female) in 2018
CHE
BEL
DNK
NOR
FIN
IRL
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Data
17
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Every two years the Mortality Research Committee, in collaboration with the Working
Group, estimates a new projection model, that can be used to determine a best
estimate of future mortality probabilities and also to generate stochastic scenarios.
In the analyses that precede this, considerations are made whether it is wise to
implement model changes. This was not the case when moving from AG2016 to
AG2018. The Committee has decided to make some changes for AG2020. These
changes are described and explained in this chapter.
First, the starting points of the approach are discussed, indicating why adjustments
in some areas are desirable. Then the new choices are detailed and the
consequences of these changes for the mortality forecast clarified.
6.1 Model assumptions unchanged
As in previous years, the forecast is based on the best possible projection of past trends.
Again, explicit consideration is given to the fact that mortality probabilities cannot be
observed, as we only observe mortality frequencies in a limited sample. The best way to
take account of the uncertainty that this entails is to estimate the parameters using a
statistical model.
The uncertainty in future projections can be visualised by defining stochastic scenarios for
future mortality alongside the best estimate mortality probabilities. This offers insurers
and pension funds the option to supplement the stochastic scenarios for quantities such
as interest, inflation and share prices in their asset and liability management with
stochastic scenarios for mortality. This feature makes the Dutch approach stand out from
that in many other countries, where the actuarial societies only supply mortality tables.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
The projection model
18
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The projections are based on publicly available mortality data in the Netherlands
and a number of similar countries in Europe.
Chapter 5 discussed the details of the dataset used. As in previous years, the Committee
promotes that the parameter calibration can be replicated by everyone. To that end,
Appendix A provides a comprehensive description of the estimation procedure. All
required datasets can be found on the AG website.
The model again builds on the fact that mortality developments in the selected group of
European countries clearly shows a linear trend for hazard rates on a logarithmic scale, as
we will show later in this chapter. This naturally leads to the use of a random walk with
drift model. If we then compare the Dutch hazard rates to the European rates at the same
logarithmic scale, we see annual fluctuations occurring, but there seems to be no
divergence. Therefore, for the Dutch deviation a first-order autoregressive process was
selected again.
3 – See Kannisto, V.
(1992). Development
of the oldest – old
mortality, 1950-1980:
evidence from 28
developed countries.
Odense University
Press.
4 – See Li, N and Lee,
R. (2005). Coherent
Mortality Forecasts for
a Group of
Populations: An
Extension of the LeeCarter
Method.
Demography 42 (3),
pp. 575 - 594
5 – See Brouhns, N.,
Denuit, M. and
Vermunt, J.K. (2002).
A Poisson log-bilinear
regression
approach to the
construction of
projected lifetables.
Insurance:
Mathematics &
Economics 31(3), pp.
373-393.
6 – Please note that
this does not imply
that the deviation
between the
Netherlands and the
other countries also
converges to zero,
because in addition to
this time series the
model includes a
constant difference
that does not vary over
time (denoted as αx in
the model
specification).
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Males and females are modelled jointly, not separately.
Dependencies between developments for men and women and between developments in
the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe are explicitly included in the modelling. There
are four stochastic processes that describe the annual changes in mortality probabilities.
Two pertain to the dynamics in Europe (one for men and the other for women) and the
other two generate the Dutch deviation from the European trend for both sexes. Any
dependencies between these four processes are allowed for by estimating all mutual
correlations during the calibration.
For high ages the common closing method of Kannisto is used.
The relatively small numbers of observations available for higher aged persons make that
data less reliable for estimating mortality probabilities. The difference between observed
mortality frequencies and estimated mortality probabilities could be large here. Therefore,
as with AG2018, mortality probabilities over age 90 are determined by extrapolation of
mortality probabilities for lower ages, assuming that the development in higher ages
corresponds to Kannisto’s parameterisation3.
The measurement noise, the difference between observed mortality frequencies and
the underlying mortality probabilities, has a Poisson distribution.
As before, the basis for AG2020 is a Li-Lee4 model that combines linear specifications for
hazard rates in the European countries and the Dutch deviation. Contrary to that model
we model measurement noise explicitly5 and allow for dependencies between different
stochastic drivers.
6.2 Adjusted model assumptions
6.2.1 Motivation for adjustments
During the construction of the previous projections table in 2018 and in the subsequent
discussions in the actuarial field a variety of pros and cons of the approach were brought
forward. Below we discuss a number of items that were frequently mentioned.
Are the time series for the difference between The Netherlands and other European
countries expected to converge to zero?
AG2018 explicitly assumes that the time series that describe the expected value of the
difference between the logarithmic hazard rates in The Netherlands and in other selected
European countries converges to zero6. The parameter driving the speed of convergence
also drives the stability of the model. During the 2016 and 2018 calibrations it soon
turned out that, although the model is stable, the values of this parameter for both men
The projection model
19
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stable model would be found if we allow the expected values of these time series to
converge to non-zero values.
How much history should be included in the creation of the projections?
If convergence to other values is allowed, the question is raised whether these values are
constant over time and, more specifically, if they are unchanged since 1970. This question
touches upon the choice of historical dataset used for the calibration and that is a subject
that the actuarial field has had questions about at earlier projections publications.
The choice to start the datasets in 1970 was driven by the relatively stable pattern in the
European mortality characteristics since that year. The effects of negative factors such as
smoking, aids and the rise of obesity on the one hand and positive developments such as
the successful battle against cancer and cardiovascular diseases on the other have yielded
an all but constant trend in the logarithmic hazard rates within the selected group of
European countries. The observed fluctuations in the Dutch deviation from this trend since
1970 are more ambiguous. Periods of increase and decrease emerge that make
convergence (in expected value) to zero less likely if we only look at recent data. It may
therefore make sense to exclude some data after 1970 from the estimation of the
expected value of the long-term difference between the Netherlands and other European
countries.
6.2.2 Adjustments made
In light of the above considerations the Committee has decided to implement two
adjustments.
7 – The autoregressive
parameter values for
men and women were
0.975 and 0.993
respectively. The
critical threshold for
these parameters is 1.
8 – The Akaike
Information criterion
(AIC) and the Bayesian
Information Criterion
(BIC) are quantities
that measure the
plausibility of a fitted
model with a loglikelyhood
term, but
seek to avoid
unnecessary
complexity by
introducing a “penalty
term” that increases as
more parameters get
used in the model.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
The projection model
20
The European dataset starts in 1970, the Dutch deviation dataset starts in 1983.
The choice of 1983 as the starting point for the Dutch calibration data and leaving the
starting point for the European data unchanged, is the result of an extensive analysis of
the time series involved. The Working Group also analysed several alternatives, including
specifications that also adjusted the calibration period for Europe, specifications with
different calibration periods for men and women, excluding any dependencies between
European changes and the Dutch deviation. The Committee’s deliberations around the
model choice included statistical model selection criteria such as log-likelihood, AIC and
BIC values8 and the long-term robustness and stability of fitted models and plausibility of
the projections. As a matter of fact, entering the start of the calibration period as a free
parameter in the model selection procedures almost invariably led to 1983 as preferred
option, based on the time series for women. That made the case for this choice.
The time series describing the differences between the Netherlands and the other
countries converge to values no longer assumed to be zero.
These limits are now new parameters included in the calibration, because new constant
terms are added to the autoregressive processes describing the Dutch deviation. This leads
to a change in the expected value of the difference in the longer term. Because the
variance of the time series does not move to zero over time, there will always be
fluctuations around this expected value. Dutch mortality probabilities will continue to fall
in terms of expected value, as the Dutch deviation is added to the falling European trend.
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The adjustments discussed impact several properties of the model.
The times series for the Dutch deviation are more stable
The parameter estimates that determine the speed of the convergence (in expected value)
for the Dutch deviation time series are now considerably further away from the critical
threshold. The introduction of two new constants and the new data points since 2017 also
change the estimates of the European trend somewhat, but not by much.
The model’s consistency improves
An important property of any projection model is time consistency. This means that in a
scenario where observed mortality exactly matches a projection, a re-estimate of the
model should yield unchanged parameters. In practice minor aberrations will always
occur, because after adding new data points there are more observations, altering the
estimators’ uncertainty. Adding the two additional parameters (constants) leads to a
stronger form of time consistency, that no longer depends on the method applied to
rescaling. Moreover, a projection for only the European countries (without adding the
Dutch data separately9) then equals the projection for those countries in case the Dutch
data are added. This implies that all other European countries in our peer group would
find the same European projection as the Netherlands, if they were to apply the AG2020
methodology.
6.4 Parameter estimates
Chapter 7 discusses the model results. In this paragraph we discuss the estimation results
of AG2020, that drive those model results. The details of the applied estimation procedure
are found in Appendix A. The underlying one year mortality probabilities are determined
by modelling hazard rates, namely the European hazard rates, ␮x
and gender g, and the hazard rate of the Dutch deviation from Europe, ␮x
g,EU (t), for year t, age x
g,NL (t), for year
t, age x and gender g. We model the logarithm of the hazard rates as follows:
ln
冠 ␮x
ln 冠 ␮x
ln
g,EU (t)
g,NL (t)
冡 = Ax
g + Bx
g Kt
g
冡 = ␣x
g + ␤x
g ␬t
冠 ␮x
g (t)
冡 = ln
冠 ␮x
g
The hazard rates for the Netherlands, denoted by ␮x
g (t), then follow from the equation
g,EU (t) 冡 + ln
冠 ␮x
g,NL (t) 冡.
Graph 6.1 shows the parameter estimates of the hazard rates on a logarithmic scale. The
top three graphs (graph 6.1a) show the parameters for Europe and the bottom three
graphs (graph 6.1b) show the parameters for the Dutch deviation. The first graph shows
the constant age specific effect (Ax
second and third graphs yields the age specific time effect (Bx
g Kt
graph shows the average annual improvement over all ages (Kt
g and ␤x
g ␬t
g and ␬t
g): the third
g), while the second
graph is age specific (Bx
g and ␤x
g) and represents the degree of change for that age. The
interpretation of each of the graphs is linked to the chosen normalisation, but the
resulting hazard rate estimates do not depend on this normalisation.
9 – We speak of
adding the Dutch data
“separately”, because
when using European
data only, the Dutch
data points are in fact
included in the
aggregated data set.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
The projection model
21
g and ␣x
g respectively). The product of the values in the
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-9
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
A
Males
Females
B
0.005
0.01
0.015
0.02
0.025
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
K
20
40
60
-60
-40
-20
0
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
Males
Females
Males
Females
Graph 6.1a AG2020 model parameter estimates: parameters for the group of
European countries
Alpha
0.1
0.2
-0.6
-0.5
-0.4
-0.3
-0.2
-0.1
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
-0.02
-0.01
0
-14
-12
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
8
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
Kappa
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
Males
Females
Beta
Males
Females
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2105
Males
Females
Graph 6.1b AG2020 model parameter estimates: parameters for the Dutch deviation
Projections Life Table
AG2020
The projection model
22
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rates is downward for both men and women. The Bx
series Kt
g values are positive while the time
g are descending. The trend for lower ages is in general more severe (downward)
than for higher ages, because the values in the middle graph are generally higher for
lower ages.
The results for the Dutch deviation in graph 6.1b show a more varied picture. For women
we see in the third graph an upward timeseries until the year 2002 and a more or less flat
development after that. The age specific effects for women in the second graph are
positive for most ages. This means that for these ages the difference in logarithmic hazard
rates between the Netherlands and Europe, or
ln
冠 ␮x
v,NL (t) 冡 = ln
冠 ␮x
v (t)
冡 - ln
冠 ␮x
冠 ␮x
v,EU (t) 冡, increases until 2002 and is more or less
stationary after that. For men we see in the same graph a time series that goes up until
2002 and drops thereafter. For men too the age specific effects in the middle graph are
positive for most ages. For these ages the difference in logarithmic hazard rates between
the Netherlands and Europe, ln
m,NL (t) 冡 = ln
until 2002 and decreases after that.
To estimate future hazard rates the time effects in Europe (Kt
walk with drift. The time effects of the Dutch deviation (␬t
g) are modelled as a random
g) are modelled by a first order
autoregressive AR(1) model (including the new constant terms cg). This leads to the
following equations, with parameters ␪g, ag and cg and noise terms ⑀t
g and ␦t
Kt
g = Kt-1
g + ␪g + ⑀t
␬t
g
g = ag ␬t-1
g + cg + ␦t
g
Table 6.1 shows the parameter estimates. The value of ␪g is the estimated drift of the time
effects in Europe. The values cg and ag are the estimated constant term and the estimated
AR(1) term of the time effects in the Dutch deviation.
Male
a
0.1951
0.9347
Female
␪ -1.9639 -1.8603
c
0.4071
0.9484
Table 6.1 Time series parameter estimates
The future time effects Kt
g and ␬t
g:
冠 ␮x
m (t) 冡 - ln
冠 ␮x
m,EU (t) 冡, increases
g can be estimated using these estimated models.
Combined with the age dependent quantities Ax
g, ␣x
g, Bx
g and ␤x
g (which are considered
constant over time) these will produce estimates of both the future European hazard rates
and the Dutch deviation from Europe.
For Europe we find that the hazard rates continue to drop. For identical values of the age
specific effects as shown in the middle graph of graph 6.1a the hazards rates for men
decrease slightly more than those for women, the ␪value for men being more negative
than for women.
For the Dutch deviation we observe that the logarithmic hazard rates of that deviation
converge to limit values ␣x
g + ␤x
g ␬∞
g . The limit values of the AR(1) processes ␬∞
g are
positive for men and women. This leads to positive limit values for the logarithmic hazards
rates of the Dutch deviation, for higher ages in particular. This means that, certainly in the
longer term, the estimated mortality probabilities at higher ages for Dutch men and
Projections Life Table
AG2020
The projection model
23
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expectancies of Dutch men and women will grow at a slower pace than those of European
men and women. This is confirmed in graphs 7.2 and 7.3 in the next chapter, that show
the development of period life expectancy at birth and at age 65 for The Netherlands and
the European group of countries.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
The projection model
24
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AG2020
Het Prognosemodel
25
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This chapter presents the results of Projections Life Table AG2020. The results are
compared to those of Projections Life Table AG2018. For a number of example funds
the effect on the level of the provisions is evaluated. With the aid of these example
funds it is possible to assess the impact for other pension funds. In addition, the
AG2020 forecast is confronted with historical developments and compared to the
latest forecast by Statistics Netherlands (CBS 2019-2060).
7.1 Definitions of life expectancy
A classic definition of life expectancy is the so-called period life expectancy. This period
life expectancy is based on mortality probabilities in a certain period, such as one
calendar year, and assumes that mortality probabilities will be constant in the future. In
period life expectancy current mortality rates are used for mortality rates needed one or
two years from now. So, period life expectancy does not allow for expected future
developments in the mortality probabilities. This definition is commonly used to compare
developments over time, but must never be used to estimate how long people are
expected to live.
The second definition however, the cohort life expectancy, does take into account
expected future mortality developments. When calculating cohort life expectancy at birth,
mortality probabilities are required for a new-born, a one-year-old a year from now, a
two-year-old two years from now and so on. In cohort life expectancy, for probabilities
you need in one- and two-years’ time, you use mortality probabilities projected one and
two years into the future. So, cohort life expectancy is based on expected developments in
mortality probabilities in future calendar years. To evaluate cohort life expectancy, you
need a forward projection of mortality probabilities.
In case of an expected decrease in mortality probabilities, cohort life expectancy is
therefore higher than period life expectancy.
7.2 Observations with respect to Projections Life Table AG2018
Tables 7.1 and 7.2 present the AG2018 forecast of period life expectancies in the years
2017, 2018 and 2019 and how these relate to the realised life expectancies in these
years. Also the table shows the forecast of life expectancies for 2019, 2020 and 2021. In
this case, period life expectancies are used, as these can be compared across observation
years.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Results
26
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Realised
2017 80.1
2018 80.2
2019 80.5
2020
2021
AG2018
80.1
80.3
80.4
80.6
80.8
AG2020
Realised
83.3
80.4
80.5
80.7
Table 7.1 Period life expectancy at birth
Males
Realised
2017 18.6
2018 18.6
2019 18.8
2020
2021
AG2018
18.5
18.6
18.8
18.9
19.0
AG2020
Realised
21.1
18.7
18.8
18.9
Table 7.2 Period life expectancy at age 65
In general, the observed life expectancies are slightly below the AG2018 forecast.
Graph 7.1 shows the development of period life expectancy at birth for the period until
2050. The graph is based on realised mortality rates until 2019 and AG2020 projections
thereafter.
90
21.0
21.2
83.3
83.6
Females
AG2018
83.3
83.5
83.6
83.8
84.0
AG2020
83.6
83.7
83.8
Females
AG2018
21.2
21.3
21.4
21.5
21.6
AG2020
21.3
21.4
21.5
85
Females
80
75
Males
70
The Netherlands
European selection
AG2020 NL
AG2020 Europe
65
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
Graph 7.1 Period life expectancy in the Netherlands and selected European countries
Graph 7.1 demonstrates that period life expectancy for Dutch women, as in the previous
projections, is still below life expectancy of women in selected European countries. Life
expectancy of Dutch men on the other hand is, as before, higher than life expectancy of
men in selected European countries. For men this difference is diminishing over time,
while the difference for women is roughly stationary.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Results
27
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To further clarify the differences between the old and the new projections tables, cohort
life expectancy is used. Cohort life expectancy includes all future mortality developments.
Below the step-by-step impact on cohort life expectancy for starting year 2021 of each
added set of data points is shown.
Cohort Life expectancy
in 2021
AG2018
Model change
Add EU2017
Add NL2018
Add EU2018
Add NL2019
AG2020
At birth
Males
90.2
-0.8
-0.1
-0.1
0.0
0.1
89.3
Table 7.3 Cohort life expectancy in 2021
Table 7.4 lists the future cohort life expectancies for starting years 2021, 2046 and 2071.
At birth
Starting
year
2021
2046
2071
At age 65
Males
89.3
91.6
93.3
Females Difference Males
91.7
93.8
95.3
2.4
2.2
2.0
20.0
22.7
24.9
Table 7.4 Future cohort life expectancy based on AG2020
These numbers demonstrate that according to the forecast life expectancies for men and
women will continue to rise, slightly faster for men than for women, thus reducing the
gap in life expectancies between the men and women.
7.4 Projections in perspective
Graph 7.2 compares the developments in period life expectancy at birth for AG2018,
AG2020 and CBS2019-2060. It is apparent that the AG2020 forecast is adjusted
downwards. The trend in the AG2020 forecast for Dutch men converges to the trend for
met in the forecast for the selected European countries. The trend in the AG2020 forecast
for women diverges slightly from the trend for European countries, which widens the gap
in period life expectancy through time.
Females Difference
22.9
25.3
27.3
2.9
2.6
2.4
Females
92.7
-0.6
-0.0
-0.4
-0.1
0.1
91.7
At age 65
Males
20.5
-0.5
0.0
-0.1
-0.0
0.1
20.0
Females
23.3
-0.2
0.0
-0.3
-0.0
0.1
22.9
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Results
28
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85
80
The Netherlands
European selection
AG2020 NL
AG2020 Europe
CBS-2019
AG2018
75
2000
2010
2020
2030
Graph 7.2 Development of period life expectancy at birth
2040
2050
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
The Netherlands
European selection
AG2020 NL
AG2020 Europe
CBS-2019
AG2018
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
Graph 7.3 Development of period life expectancy at age 65
Graph 7.3 shows the development of period life expectancy at age 65. For both men and
women, the downward adjustment compared to AG2018 is clearly visible. There is a minor
divergence between the different forecasts of period life expectancy.
Table 7.5 lists cohort life expectancies for AG2018, AG2020 and CBS2019-2060. The
differences in cohort life expectancy at age 65 between AG2020 and CBS2019-2060 have
increased since AG2018.
Year 2021
Projection
AG2018
AG2020
CBS2019
At birth
Males
90.2
89.3
Females
92.7
91.7
Not available
At age 65
Males
20.5
20.0
20.5
Females
23.3
22.9
23.3
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Table 7.5 Life expectancies for AG2018, AG2020 and CBS2019
Results
29
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retirement age
The Raising of the State Pension Retirement Age and Standard Pension Retirement Age Act
(Wet Verhoging AOW- en Pensioenrichtleeftijd) of July 12th, 2012 links the first pillar (State
pension) retirement age and the standard retirement age in the second pillar (employers’
pension schemes) to period life expectancy.
The development of the State Pension retirement age and the standard retirement age
using the latest views based on Projections Life Table AG2020 and the adjustments from
the Outline agreement of June 5th, 2019 is summarised in graph 7.4. However, the actual
adjustment of the State Pension age is linked to the CBS estimates, so the values shown
are to be considered as indicative.
65.5
66.0
66.5
67.0
67.5
68.0
68.5
69.0
69.5
65.0
2020
2024 2028 2032 2036 2040 2044 2048 2052 2056 2060
State Pension age
Standard retirement age
Graph 7.4 Development of State Pension retirement age and standard pension age
based on AG2020
Raising the State Pension retirement age
Raising the State Pension age is done in three-month steps. The adjustments depend on
the level of the average remaining period life expectancy at age 65, as estimated by CBS.
The Pensions agreement of June 5th, 2019 stipulates that the State Pension age will be set
to 67 years in 2024. Also, the link to life expectancy is adjusted to curb the rise of the
State Pension age: the adjustments to the State Pension age after 2024 are based on
2/3rds of the expected rise in remaining life expectancy at age 65. Because the State
Pension age is adjusted in 3-month steps, a minimum increase of 4.5 months in
remaining life expectancy is required for a further adjustment (taking into account
2/3rds).
According to Projections Life Table AG2020 the State Pension age will increase to 67 years
and 3 months only in 2030, because that is when the remaining life expectancy is
expected to be up 4.5 months from the 2024 reference value of 20.64, mentioned in the
bill “Adjustment Link State Pension and standard retirement age”. Table 7.6 shows the
expected State Pension age development in full year steps.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Results
30
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retirement age
68
69
70
71
CBS2019
2037
2051
Unknown
Unknown
AG2020
2042
2058
2075
2095
Table 7.6 Expected years in which the State Pension retirement age will have risen
by a full year according to the latest CBS and AG projections
Raising the Standard retirement age
The raising of the standard retirement age (in one-year steps) in the second pillar is based
on the same formula as for the State Pension retirement age. By law however, expected
increases in life expectance are to be anticipated sooner: it is to be based on the
remaining life expectancy of a 65-year-old that is expected to occur ten years after the
calendar year of the adjustment. An adjustment to the standard retirement age must be
published at least one year before it is implemented. For instance, an adjustment of the
standard retirement age in 2022 must be published before January 1st, 2021. This will be
based on the remaining life expectancy of a 65-year-old in 2032.
The mitigation of the link to life expectancy introduced in the Pensions agreement means
that the standard retirement age will only reach 69 in about 25 years’ time.
7.6 Effects on provisions
To plot the effects of Projections Life Table AG2020 on the technical provisions of pension
portfolios six fictitious example funds have been constructed. Three of the funds have
male participants and three have female participants. For both sexes a young, an old and
an average fund has been constructed. An additional model portfolio was designed to
assess the impact om pension premiums. See Appendix B for a description of the model
portfolios.
Besides an old age pension (OAP) the example funds contain a deferred survivor’s pension
(SP) and a survivor’s pension in payment. For male portfolios spouses receiving survivor’s
benefits are assumed to be females. For female portfolios the opposite applies. The
benefits used are a retirement benefit commencing at age 65 and an “undetermined
partner” type survivor’s benefit with a partner frequency of 100%.
A fixed age gap of 3 years is assumed between male and female partners, the male
partner being assumed older than the female. The model portfolios have a weighted (by
provision) average age of 45 (young), 55 (average) and 65 (old). The effects are shown for
interest rates 3 and 1%, so that the effects can be compared to the previous publication
(AG2018).
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Results
31
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Males
3% interest rate
OAP (65)
Deferred SP
SP in payment*
Total
1% interest rate
OAP (65)
Deferred SP
SP in payment*
Total
Young
Average
Old
Females
Young Average Old
-2.4% -2.2% -2.1% -2.2% -1.9% -1.6%
1.1% 0.7% 0.1% 1.9% 0.8% -0.3%
-1.2% -1.1% -1.4% -1.0% -1.3% -1.7%
-1.7% -1.6% -1.6% -1.8% -1.7% -1.6%
Young
Average
Old
Young Average Old
-3.0% -2.8% -2.5% -2.7% -2.4% -2.0%
0.4% 0.0% -0.4% 1.0% 0.0% -1.0%
-1.6% -1.5% -1.7% -1.5% -1.8% -2.1%
-2.2% -2.1% -2.0% -2.4% -2.2% -2.0%
Table 7.7 Impact on model portfolio provisions of a transition from AG2018 to
AG2020 (difference AG2020 minus AG2018 expressed as percentage of AG2018). The
separate percentages as listed for OAP and SP do not add up to the percentages in
the total lines. This is caused by the difference in the provisions for the separate
benefits.
* The impact on the provisions of survivor’s pensions in payment refer to the
gender of the surviving partner.
Table 7.7 indicates that the differences between model funds, in terms of provision, are
limited. For an average portfolio the provision will be reduced by about 2% at 1%
interest. For women the impact is higher (average reduction of 1.2 and 1.6%
respectively). Compared to the effects at 3% interest rate, the lower interest rate
exacerbates the impact at 1% interest.
Table 7.8 lists the impact of AG2018 to AG2020 on pension scheme contributions for the
model portfolios.
Impact Contributions
3% interest rate
OAP (68)
1% interest rate
OAP (68)
Males
-2.9%
OAP + 70% deferred SP accrual -1.9%
OAP + 70% deferred SP risk
-2.4%
Males
-3.5%
OAP + 70% deferred SP accrual -2.4%
OAP + 70% deferred SP risk
-3.1%
Females
-2.5%
-2.0%
-2.3%
Females
-3.0%
-2.6%
-2.9%
Table 7.8 Impact on model portfolio contributions of a transition from AG2018 to
AG2020 (difference AG2020 minus AG2018 expressed as percentage of AG2018)
The impact on contributions exceeds the impact on provisions due to the longer average
projection horizon and shows a decrease of 2.5 to 3 per cent at 1% interest rate.
In table 7.9 the impact on provisions of AG2018 to AG2020 for an average model portfolio
is split into 2 steps.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Results
32
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1% interest rate
Average
Model change
Data update
Males
-1.6%
-0.5%
Females
-1.4%
-0.8%
Total -2.1% -2.2%
Table 7.9 Impact on provisions for model portfolio “average” at 1% interest rate
The table shows that more than 2/3rds of the decrease in provisions is explained by the
model change.
Table 7.10 shows the provision effect on the separate benefits for various ages. As with
the impact on the provisions of the model fund, the impact of the new table is more
severe at lower ages. For SP in payment the impact increases for higher ages.
Impact Technical Provision
Males
3% interest rate
25
45
65
85
1% interest rate
25
45
65
85
OAP
Latent SP
Females
OAP
Latent SP
Males
SP in
Females
SP in
payment* payment
-2.6% 2.1% -2.6% 5.3% -0.5% -0.5%
-2.5% 1.1% -2.3% 2.0% -0.9% -0.9%
-1.8% 0.5% -1.4% -1.1% -1.8% -1.4%
-1.9% -1.1% -1.4% -2.2% -1.9% -1.4%
OAP
Latent SP
OAP
Latent SP
SP in
SP in
payment* payment
-3.2% 1.1% -3.1% 3.9% -1.0% -1.0%
-3.1% 0.3% -2.8% 0.8% -1.5% -1.4%
-2.3% -0.2% -1.8% -2.0% -2.3% -1.8%
-2.1% -1.3% -1.5% -2.5% -2.1% -1.5%
Table 7.10 Impact on provisions by age and gender of the transition from AG2018 to
AG2020 (difference AG2020 minus AG2018 expressed as a percentage of AG2018)
* The effect on the provisions of survivor’s pensions in payment refer to the gender
of the surviving partner.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Results
33
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THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC
The AG2020 forecast is based on European data until 2018 and Dutch data until
2019. This means that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are not included in the
estimations of mortality probabilities and life expectancies. In this chapter we
discuss the possible impact of the pandemic on the forecast and we argue why the
Committee feels that AG2020 at this time is the best possible estimation of future
mortality.
8.1 Effects in the Netherlands already observed
At the time of writing this publication (August 2020) the spread of Covid-19 in Europe has
been pushed back after the spike early in the year as a result of all the measures taken. A
resurgence of the number of cases is however visible, giving rise to new localised
restrictions. The World Health Organisation (WHO) warns that the worldwide pandemic is
far from over. At the presentation of this report more weeks will have gone by and the
situation may be quite different again.
Males
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
500
0
1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29 33 37 41 45 49
2018
2019
2020
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
500
0
1 5 9 1317212529 3337 414549
2018
2019
Graph 8.1 Mortality in the Netherlands by week in 2018, 2019 and 2020
Projections Life Table
AG2020
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic
34
2020
Females
׉	 7cassandra://7aGNGRoXRhJikWm_pSfciFpYcSTaMlGmTAg3DnhOCME`̵ _jL5r_jL5q{בCט   {u׉׉	 7cassandra://prIW9PwHHcnolu9Xh6sz_6i_215dGpQjpdANUPuow60 {` ׉	 7cassandra://lJNzYt0nRaTw77JZH7USG1DrOHvU3JAScKv_Da59Y-MQ`S׉	 7cassandra://nUsUACVHPWoewO3e8L8eyRktfxniD03HtR9MWfkC1ns `̵ ׉	 7cassandra://VPBuwiP1vdKyZDATgDwMK30Mot-g2E7b0nA_rOzjeGUEe&͠_jL5ט  {u׉׉	 7cassandra://SM7G2fJTOMVnuWhBLajVjW_ZAEfQJSLG7aSJs2LjxCg ` ׉	 7cassandra://mFMEq3sHNERq5Sgy11gCh1PE9KsiifAsT83RhZkvpNgF)`S׉	 7cassandra://3dTV_5L3ycEnjjRC1-yRuTF4ZzkRi4YbOF2ObQd_zHk`̵ ׉	 7cassandra://vbFz-pxc0hawCllh_z2xR6v5r52zFYKiVPzK4WadNsoW͠_jL5Ƒנ_jL5ȁ vg9ׁHhttp://www.mortality.orgׁׁЈ׉EIt is already apparent that in the first half of 2020 Covid-19 has caused more deaths than
the previous years’ average. Graph 8.1 demonstrates this10. We observe that in years with
an influenza epidemic the number of deaths exceed historical averages as well. During the
flu epidemic of 2017/2018 for instance, the National Institute for Public Health and the
Environment (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en milieu, RIVM) reported an excess
mortality of over 9,000 cases11. The effect of the influenza epidemic in the spring of 2018
shows clearly in the graph.
8.2 Possible long-term effects
Actuarial forecasting has a number of specific properties and targets that sets them apart
from other forecasts. For one, the extended time horizon adds to the importance of
distinguishing between incidental and structural effects. It is also upon the actuary to
make every estimation as objective as possible and to justify any subjective assumptions
as clearly as possible.
At this time, predictions about the impact of the Covid-19 virus on future mortality rates
and life expectancies are highly speculative. There are many uncertainties around the
spread of the virus, in addition to which very little reliable data about the impact to date
is available. Moreover, data from different countries is often incompatible because of
variations in dealing with Covid-19, in areas such as testing policy, prevention measures
and the available health care capacity.
In years to come the full impact of Covid-19 on long-term life expectancy will emerge. At
this point in time it is difficult to assess if the Covid-19 related excess mortality will be
structural. If a vaccine is found offering permanent protections, the number of victims will
drop sharply from then on. If persons dying from corona in general had a lower life
expectancy than their peers, the impact will be further reduced. It may also be the case
that elderly person who survive the virus have an above average resilience and therefore
have a higher life expectancy. However, if there is permanent damage to the lungs or
other organs after recovering from the infection, this could indicate a lower remaining life
expectancy. And if the care for patients with other afflictions is impaired because hospitals
get overwhelmed, that too will have a major impact on mortality.
10 – Data source: The
Short-term Mortality
Fluctuations in the
Human Mortality
Database,
www.mortality.org.
The Dutch data in that
database are provided
by CBS.
11 – Data source
Reukers et al. (2019),
Annual report
Surveillance of
influenza and other
respiratory infections
in the Netherlands:
Winter 2018/2019,
RIVM.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
All in all, very little can be said about the consequences for life expectancy in 2021 and
beyond. Therefore, the choice was made not to make adjustments to the AG2020 forecast,
which is based on data until January 1st, 2020, for the time being. In the Committee’s
opinion this forecast represents the best possible estimate at this point in time.
Nonetheless, in the following paragraphs the results of a sensitivity analysis is presented
to get a first impression of the impact of excess mortality in 2020 on life expectancies in
2021.
8.3 Sensitivity analysis
For the projections life table AG2020 the Dutch deviation from a European trend is
estimated, which is why we include observed excess or below-average mortality in other
countries in this sensitivity analysis. Due to limited availability of data the sensitivity
analysis only includes data from Germany, France, the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands.
On aggregate, these countries represent 83% of the European exposures normally used.
The aggregated weekly mortality in these countries can be found in graph 8.2 for 2018,
2019 and the first 21 weeks of 2020.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic
35
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Males
Females
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
0
1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29 33 37 41 45 49
2018
2019
2020
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
0
1 5 9 1317212529 3337 414549
2018
2019
2020
Graph 8.2 Aggregated weekly mortality in Germany, France, the UK, Belgium and
the Netherlands in 2018, 2019 and the first 21 weeks of 2020
Graph 8.3 presents the same information broken down by country, showing major
differences in terms of excess mortality and below average mortality. The German data
shows large excess mortality observed in 2018 due to the influenza wave in that year,
while 2020 to date shows no notable excess mortality due to Covid-19. Other countries do
show clear Covid-19 related excess mortality. Note also that in France and the UK there
was hardly any excess mortality in 2018 caused by influenza.
The sensitivity analysis for the impact of Covid-19 was done by augmenting the AG2020
data for Europe (through 2018) and the Netherlands (through 2019) with so called virtual
data points extending to the end of 2020. The data to do this are not available or not
complete yet, so extrapolation was used as required to determine excess or undermortality
compared to the AG2020 mortality forecast. Weekly CBS mortality data12 up to
and including week 21 was used, plus preliminary data from the Short-term Mortality
Fluctuations dataset in the Human Mortality Database (as shown in graph 8.3). Two
possible assumptions in the extrapolation were analysed:
• Current observed excess mortality
The assumption that mortality in the Netherlands and in Europe in the remainder of
2020 (i.e. from week 22 onwards) will develop according to the AG2020 forecast from
earlier chapters and no further excess or below-average mortality will occur.
• Double the observed excess mortality
The assumption that for the weeks after week 21 in 2020 the same total excess or
below-average mortality will be recorded (in number of deaths) as in the period up to
week 21. This effectively doubles excess mortality in 2020.
12 – A special query
was submitted to CBS
to be able to use more
detailed mortality data
by age and by week.
We thank the CBS staff
involved for their help
and quick delivery of
the data.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
In addition to virtual data points for deaths virtual data points for exposures were
construed, using population and migration data from Eurostat and projections based on
AG2020. Having added the virtual exposures and deaths, the usual calibration method for
the model can be applied. In time, the virtual data point now surrounded by much
uncertainty will be replaced by actual data points.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic
36
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Germany, Females
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
0
10
2018
France, Males
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
10,000
0
10
2018
the UK, Males
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
0
10
2018
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
500
0
10
2018
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
500
0
10
2018
20
30 40
2019
2020
50
20
Belgium, Males
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
500
0
10
2018
20
30 40
2019
2020
Graph 8.3 Mortality by country and by week in Germany, France, the UK, Belgium
and the Netherlands in 2018, 2019 and 2020
Projections Life Table
AG2020
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic
37
50
30 40
2019
2020
50
20
30 40
2019
the Netherlands, Males
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
500
0
10
2018
20
Belgium, Females
30 40
2019
2020
50
2020
50
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
0
10
2018
20
30 40
2019
2020
the Netherlands, Females
50
20
30 40
2019
2020
50
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
10,000
0
10
2018
20
the UK, Females
30 40
2019
2020
50
20
30 40
2019
2020
50
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
0
10
2018
20
France, Females
30 40
2019
2020
50
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Table 8.1 lists the results of the sensitivity analysis under the assumptions outlined in the
previous paragraph. The numbers are cohort life expectancies at birth and at age 65 in
2021 after recalibration of the model with the new, virtual data points. Adding that new
data, representing excess mortality for many ages, will shift both the European trend and
the Dutch deviation, leading to new life expectancy best estimates.
Cohort life expectancy
in 2021
AG2020
Current excess mortality
Double excess mortality
At birth
Males
89.3
88.6
87.9
Females
91.7
91.3
91.0
At age 65
Males
20.0
19.6
19.2
Females
22.9
22.7
22.5
Table 8.1 Cohort life expectancies in 2021 based on AG2020, the current excess and
below average mortality in 2020 and doubled excess and under-mortality in 2020
Difference relative to AG2020
Cohort life expectancy
2021
Current excess mortality
Double excess mortality
Male
-0.68
-1.37
At birth
Female
-0.41
-0.73
Male
-0.44
-0.87
At age 65
Female
-0.19
-0.33
Table 8.2 Difference in cohort life expectancies in 2021 relative to AG2020, based on
the current excess and below average mortality in 2020 and doubled excess and
below average mortality in 2020
The effect observed in graphs 8.1 and 8.2 that a relatively high number of men die of
Covid-19 clearly returns in table 8.1 The effect for men exceeds women by 50 to 150 per
cent. We also note that doubling the excess and under-mortality observed to date also
doubles the drop. For women this factor is a bit smaller.
The sensitivity of the pension scheme provisions can be tentatively assessed by looking at
the cohort life expectancies for 65-year-olds. We see that these drop by 2.2 and 0.8% for
men and women respectively under the first assumption and by 4.3 and 1.5% under the
second. In reality the effects on provisions will be mitigated by interest and by survivor’s
pensions.
8.5 Future forecasts
CBS and RIVM are working to increase the availability of reliable data on the impact of
Covid-19. The Committee, in collaboration with the Working Group, will continue its
efforts to include new data in future forecasts. We stress again that calculations around
the impact of Covid-19 are currently of a highly speculative nature. Much will depend on
the effects turning out to be structural or only temporary. The sensitivity analyses given
above need to be assessed in this context.
This being the case, the Committee is of the opinion that the AG2020 forecast as outlined
in previous chapters provides the best possible assessment at this moment. For this reason
too, only the model parameters and mortality probabilities for that forecast are published;
the sensitivity analysis is not part of the AG2020 model. In the course of 2021 an update
will be published if and when new developments give cause to do so.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic
38
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Projections Life Table
AG2020
39
׉	 7cassandra://OPWoiaRa7KHKXXYvN0dY1QoSoN8-ecd94wDVy1D6yV4`̵ _jL5w׉E"APPENDIX A
Projection model AG2020
Technical specifications
1 Definitions
2 Dynamic model
13 Li, N. and Lee, R. (2005) Coherent Mortality Forecasts for a Group of Populations: An Extension of the Lee-Carter Method. Demography 42(3), pp.
575-594.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix A
40
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9ׁH 8http://www.mortality.org/Public/Docs/MethodsProtocol.pdfׁׁЈ׉E 3 Closure of the table
4 Best estimates for mortality probabilities and life expectancies
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix A
41
׉	 7cassandra://HFkMlx6OjlEFtYIL1Vw3Fh_r_jK0i1_MKgz3KwHafXID`̵ _jL5y׉EN5 Data set used for calibration
14 Brouhns, N., Denuit, M. and Vermunt, J.K. (2002) A Poisson log-bilinear regression approach to the construction of projected lifetables.
Insurance: Mathematics and Economics 31, pp. 373-393.
15 See http://www.mortality.org/Public/Docs/MethodsProtocol.pdf
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix A
42
׉	 7cassandra://LhS7ExJJNEyX1-g-qloDq5Ul25Cuuwa4QADaZupQhns`̵ _jL5z_jL5y{בCט   {u׉׉	 7cassandra://IyezLyw4oTboV2MqNHkkhH4M_sRrW2K61tN71FbhpmM %` ׉	 7cassandra://VZGnPMxJ7-ZYpSmm8RPZSpvtBNUtG9eAC0_N275Zaco?`S׉	 7cassandra://DM2L_xrCOQMc7C2SimAyL2egbYxTEiR3aWhK-agTfRoI`̵ ׉	 7cassandra://zhs2cWrkhxy8xSNVgLx5ZWFpf_uiB6wl6qzEMvOf7cQ T͠_jL5ט  {u׉׉	 7cassandra://nFXmx7ji5lsLSt5kTBkHT0WHYx3qQzXXcOa5if7Rf40 ]` ׉	 7cassandra://lGefZd1905IFKZhDIY-bSnEgvqt9j9x1BXg5okiFe7g&` S׉	 7cassandra://glJIZmBmw4ot5LVjT3lJxPdfL4mpnfK1IhLVGdZr9n0`̵ ׉	 7cassandra://MlItKGQVvoj-2V_lGCSgFuABVhcjj_lxbDBvkqHYdaQ T͠_jL5׉E A6 Calibration method
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix A
43
׉	 7cassandra://DM2L_xrCOQMc7C2SimAyL2egbYxTEiR3aWhK-agTfRoI`̵ _jL5{׉E L7 Simulation of the time series
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix A
44
׉	 7cassandra://glJIZmBmw4ot5LVjT3lJxPdfL4mpnfK1IhLVGdZr9n0`̵ _jL5|_jL5{{בCט   {u׉׉	 7cassandra://Zvqpj3ZoDScl42tyBJQE6rD2f9aEMioeSRbD9p322rY T`׉	 7cassandra://0xv6h1TUgbka-SDmhbQe3xG2m8YTR-qXn6hLiSe-tO4T`S׉	 7cassandra://JUD8X4edcnBugfHgccXhGvZrGYDzMU43dbB_uOcIMPQ`̵ ׉	 7cassandra://jEXjuyRdBl8h-DgDp0vnhQtC1Lx-ODvroPVkovSHyy4 @͠_jL5ט  {u׉׉	 7cassandra://zspfLf0zA3AZwuDDK-_CKeCwEqhDZsCv1mcm3sJOriQ Z`׉	 7cassandra://BG5VFEylRfk_loMFNVE9eyDS2BNacSZG4ouDgw7JhEE#`S׉	 7cassandra://jDi2zd2SQKwifzKduaj-LeDqmfhf-rwzme6us8noggQ
	`̵ ׉	 7cassandra://E--TVVktnIHHC-UgWFtOMbjG-wLuC4Dl2MV8aJ20BIA @͠_jL5׉E CParameter values
Males
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix A
45
׉	 7cassandra://JUD8X4edcnBugfHgccXhGvZrGYDzMU43dbB_uOcIMPQ`̵ _jL5}׉E >Males (continued)
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix A
46
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	`̵ _jL5~_jL5}{בCט   {u׉׉	 7cassandra://-ms1zcZbedNNXE9k-_4SBuW6cAQ-8AVRSlHxCpnHmmo `׉	 7cassandra://2jN7jNKCgAoDkOIAoHvEq7SOz3wnypV8ASWaWXRVTi0S`S׉	 7cassandra://3ASAiAdeo2uFS28j3aKQMCm2xAXx8_s7LHnh7WBwdfQ`̵ ׉	 7cassandra://PUF1qLBEqgqRePamv9eFQnR2yNZguhNxrJpyqLGTuz0 6͠_jL5ט  {u׉׉	 7cassandra://hijKTUWCVNecHytZOfkpJTgG8XwSZOdMinhSDVvVIbU `׉	 7cassandra://yA2l3rWeZ7VXPyEuGERacprKetnDNvsj1nhSVZccZgA0`S׉	 7cassandra://KOnhM2lJfutmAU0ru4L2UDUF137J-t_IoRGGJ3ViVmk`̵ ׉	 7cassandra://Yjgjof2DA_C8g4XcbunIsNSkCBaaMMShbwtEDt_zVqc F͠_jL5׉E 4Females
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix A
47
׉	 7cassandra://3ASAiAdeo2uFS28j3aKQMCm2xAXx8_s7LHnh7WBwdfQ`̵ _jL5׉E aFemales (continued)
Covariance and Cholesky matrices
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix A
48
׉	 7cassandra://KOnhM2lJfutmAU0ru4L2UDUF137J-t_IoRGGJ3ViVmk`̵ _jL5_jL5{בCט   {u׉׉	 7cassandra://2rjdeV8LjAn9k7J_CeTVYVlL8GUHPaVlPH9hEtU9tu4 ` ׉	 7cassandra://mZHuuXVP_xGb8x-3HLDVHV3NaQwO3qyCrF2XetfX7tc?`S׉	 7cassandra://ZLCZ5cHQs4rm1xPK8vxp92XJEYQrlQmvvx8JuM5fg4s`̵ ׉	 7cassandra://BnZXSBPs36MnCF-rpFzS3_bW3CnwxaLiUmjAeVhh7_U9r̒͠_jL5ט  {u׉׉	 7cassandra://TTghq-dLTw479r3nEgzxiVpKavwUlJoFILI6jkuQKGE Hf` ׉	 7cassandra://dY5xmm0HqNvG7wTbU-Hg40rtANPw506TPJxcQalBsts/`S׉	 7cassandra://4Bw6YcyRZIVjBG_AYOaQDobS1q4FGJKNiRjIhktyDvk`̵ ׉	 7cassandra://rL_1sUR5Nz5shhSB7_DtDWFcOhEt7eujykKIXa2A5BU:D͠_jL5׉EAPPENDIX B
Model portfolios Technical provisions
To evaluate the impact on the technical provisions of model portfolios six model portfolios
were used. The portfolios differ in gender (male and female) and average age (young,
average and old). The model portfolios have a weighted (by provision) average age of 45
(young), 55 (average) and 65 (old).
The model portfolios contain the benefits lifelong old age pension (OAP) and lifelong
Survivor's pension (SP).
Listed under male are the benefits accrued by male participants (including widows) and
under females the benefits accrued by female participants (including widowers).
Males Young
Males Average
- 1,500 1,050
-
500
Males old
Age OAP (65) SP (def) SP (i.p.) OAP (65) SP (def) SP (i.p.) OAP (65) SP (def) SP (i.p.)
30 15,000 10,500
350
40 25,000 17,500
50 10,000 7,000
60 7,500 5,250
70 3,500 2,100
80 1,500
90
-
750
-
150 8,500 5,950 1,000 3,000 2,100
450 15,000 10,500 2,000 7,000 4,900
-
-
200
450 15,000 10,500 2,000 15,000 10,500 5,000
600 8,500 5,100
- 3,500 1,750
-
500
200
Table B.1 Accrued rights per type of benefit for model portfolio males
Females Young
Females Average
40 20,000 14,000
50 15,000 10,500
60 5,000 3,500
70 1,000
80
90
-
-
600
-
-
50 2,500 1,750
150 7,500 5,250
250 12,500 8,750
50 10,000 7,000
- 7,500 2,250
- 5,000 1,000
- 1,000
100
-
750
Females old
Age OAP (65) SP (def) SP (i.p.) OAP (65) SP (def) SP (i.p.) OAP (65) SP (def) SP (i.p.)
30 7,500 5,250
100 1,000
525
700
250 5,000 3,500
250 10,000 7,000
500
-
-
250
500
100 12,500 3,750 1,000
- 10,000 2,000
- 5,000
500
250
Table B.2 Accrued rights per type of benefit for model portfolio females
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix B
49
500 15,000 9,000 10,000
150 15,000 7,500 5,000
- 10,000 4,000 2,000
׉	 7cassandra://ZLCZ5cHQs4rm1xPK8vxp92XJEYQrlQmvvx8JuM5fg4s`̵ _jL5׉E^Modelportfolio premium level
For the effect on premium levels a single model portfolio was used. Table B.3 lists the
accrual by age in any year.
Males
age OAP (68)
30
40
50
60
600
750
800
600
Females
SP (def) OAP (68) SP (def)
420
525
560
420
400
500
550
400
280
350
385
280
Table B.3 Rights accrual per type of benefit for model portfolio premium levels
For the survivor’s pension risk premium 40 years of service are assumed (in service at age
28, retirement at age 68). For schemes with old age pension and risk only survivor’s
pension this means assuming 40 service years for all participants. For funds with survivor’s
pension accrual, the survivor’s pension risk premium is based on future service years (68
minus current participant age minus 1).
Actuarial assumptions
The technical provisions and premiums for these portfolios are calculated using the
following assumptions:
• Life tables: Projections Life Table AG2018 and Projections Life Table AG2020,
starting year 2021
• Age corrections and/or experience mortality: none
• Discount rate: 1% and 3%
• Retirement age: 65 for provisions and 68 for premiums
• For deferred survivor’s pensions the following applies:
– Undetermined-partner system prior to retirement age with a 100% partner
frequency, determined-partner system after that.
– 3 years age difference between man and woman (man older than woman)
– Different genders for participant and spouse.
• Lump sum rates for old age pension and survivor’s pension in payment are set by
taking the average of in advance and in arrears payments.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix B
50
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Literature and data used
This report makes use of the data as was available in the Eurostat, CBS (Statline) and
HMD databases at the end of June 2020.
[1] CBS data from Statline for 2019:
Exposures-to-Risk (P-values); version of June 10th, 2020.
https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/37325/table?ts=1530795309853
Observed Deaths (C-values and D-values); version of June 10th, 2020:
https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/37168/table?ts=1530802763004
[2] Eurostat data (data until 2018):
Exposures to Risk (demo_pjan) version of February 24th, 2020:
http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=demo_pjan&lang=en
Observed Deaths (demo_mager en demo_magec) version of March 2nd, 2020:
http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=demo_mager&lang=en
http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=demo_magec&lang=en
[3] HMD-database:
http://www.mortality.org/
Table C.1 shows for each geographical area and each year which data source was used as
input for the AG2020 model. The Eurostat data definition for France was changed at the
end of 2012: since that time it includes data from overseas territories. This was
compensated for in the French Eurostat data using the difference between populations
according to both definitions (the P values) as observed at January 1st, 2013 and the
difference in mortality for each age (the C values) observed in 2012.
GEO
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France
(metropolitan)
Germany
(until 1990 former territory of the FRG)
Iceland
Ireland
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Table C.1 Data sources AG2020
2013 through 2016
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
2017
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
HMD
EUROS
EUROS
2018
EUROS
HMD
HMD
HMD
EUROS
EUROS
HMD
EUROS
EUROS
HMD
HMD
HMD
EUROS
EUROS
2019
HMD-version
HMD
2018.09.03
2019.09.06
2020.03.20
2019.12.02
2019.11.01
2018.12.17
CBS
2020.04.02
2019.10.01
2019.12.10
2020.04.03
2019.11.21
2020.01.09
2020.05.08
2018.05.28
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix C
51
׉	 7cassandra://I2vUjF-6low92Ojb_Wty9wf_KgpMCrFQIsKwuRamDZ8`̵ _jL5׉ETo generate the 2020 virtual data points in the Covid-19 impact sensibility analysis the
weekly mortality data from CBS up to and including week 21 plus preliminary data from
the Short-term Mortality Fluctuations dataset in the Human Mortality Database were used.
In addition, the most recent population and migration data from Eurostat were used to
derive virtual exposures in 2020.
Literature
Brouhns, N., Denuit, M. and Vermunt, J.K. (2002) A Poisson log-bilinear regression
approach to the construction of projected lifetables. Insurance: Mathematics and
Economics 31(3), pp. 373-393.
V. Kannisto. (1992). Development of the oldest – old mortality, 1950-1980: evidence
from 28 developed countries. Odense University Press.
N. Li and R Lee. (2005). Coherent Mortality Forecasts for a Group of Populations: An
Extension of the Lee-Carter Method. Demography 42(3), pp. 575-594.
Reukers et al. (2019), Annual report Surveillance of influenza and other respiratory
infections in the Netherlands: winter 2018/2019, RIVM.
CBS (2018), ‘Meer sterfgevallen in wintermaanden’, CBS. URL visited May 18th, 2020.
EuroMOMO (2020), Graphs and Maps, EuroMOMO. URL visited May 18th, 2020.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix C
52
׉	 7cassandra://zl9-VP7FaYN2OBhGgKpD8sIbOgRKsdbnVL4YEI-ozDgz`̵ _jL5_jL5{בCט   {u׉׉	 7cassandra://ZqzhDDV8KHlkVC-b3iuux-q9T5sM6Z8lDXQnBeoGbGI ` ׉	 7cassandra://7WWflj4DAuhGRH-ruRRAxEjvTXGCJlTk1ZsCMxVTgbY8`S׉	 7cassandra://k0-L9yMJM2YZcA2jZti1EN0bJSiUBLRielR_r_5U1Rw*`̵ ׉	 7cassandra://1-EUXDaxSdhCG6JO4wof0WtBYRNWFUL8Y8-igz5emog2&͠_jL5ט  {u׉׉	 7cassandra://2hJ0QDdRKGCYcJI-cYRR1HDIN73mMlNmqFAKKWJWPpM ` ׉	 7cassandra://rsYKPgSM_OXuiO14rJFOukfSNNmPHP3tei00cSQNS-Q*`S׉	 7cassandra://QrDHqnHYVYG0q3TlsK5_Dy3FqCxX9XOtG0xNNRrBaBEw`̵ ׉	 7cassandra://6vbBPdEbyu0j4xaHfrx-VQeDZMfCMDTsSr9BbTAuO4g& "͠_jL5׉EAPPENDIX D
Glossary
State Pension retirement age
Age at which a person becomes eligible to receive State Pension retirement benefit (AOW).
Best estimate
In this publication: the most likely value for a quantity subject to chance, such as a
mortality probability, the value of a product or portfolio etc.
Cohort life expectancy
Life expectancy based on a projections life table allowing for expected future mortality
developments in the following calander years. To calculate cohort life expectancy at birth,
mortality probabilities are needed for a newborn today, a 1-year-old in one-year’s time,
a 2-year-old in two years’ time and so on.
Eurostat database
The database of Eurostat (the European Union’s bureau of statistics) offers a wide range of
data, for use by governments, companies, the education sector, journalists and the
broader public.
Human Mortality Database (HMD)
International database containing population and mortality data from over 40 countries
worldwide.
Survivor’s pension in payment (SP in payment)
An insurance where the surviving spouse (the co-insured) of the main insured person gets
periodic payments after the main insured person is deceased.
Kannisto closure of the table
A method to obtain mortality probabilities for high ages from mortality probabilities of
lower ages through extrapolation.
Deferred survivor’s pension (deferred SP)
An insurance – linked to old age pension – in which a provision is formed to pay out
periodic benefits to the survivor after the main insured person is deceased, as long as the
survivor lives.
Old age pension (OAP)
An insurance where the insured participant (main insured person) receives periodic
benefit payments after reaching the retirement age for as long as that person lives.
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix D
53
׉	 7cassandra://k0-L9yMJM2YZcA2jZti1EN0bJSiUBLRielR_r_5U1Rw*`̵ _jL5׉EPeriod life expectancy
Life expectancy based on mortality probabilities in a certain period, usually one calender
year. This expectancy assumes that mortality probabilities are stationary over time. To
calculate period life expectancy current probabilities are used as the probabilities needed
for 1 or 2 years from now. Thus, period life expectancy does not account for expected
future developments in mortality. This definition is often used to compare developments
in time, but must not be used to estimate the expected longevity of individuals.
Projection period
The number of future years over which -within the model- mortality levels are stated.
Projections life table
Mortality table in which mortality rates are given for each future year. This provides a
mortality probability for each combination of age and observation year. This offers the
possibility to calculate a remaining life expectancy for every age and every (future) starting
year.
Statline
Statline is the public database of Statistics Netherlands (CBS). It provides statistics on
economics, the Dutch population and our society.
Stochastic model
Model in which future mortality probabilities are not fixed but are defined by means of
probability distributions.
Stochastic projections life table
Projections life table that results from using a stochastic model and hence assumes
different values in different realisations of the random variables (as can be seen in the
simulations).
Projections Life Table
AG2020
Appendix D
54
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LIFE TABLE
AG 2020
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