Life tables by ethnic group for Hawaii, 1980
Gardner, R.W.
R and S Report. Hawaii. Department of Health. Research and Statistics Office 47: 1-15
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0093-3481 PMID: 12314092 Document Number: 418506
The Hawaiian life tables presented in this study are constructed by utilizing recent mortality and population data provided by the US Census and the Hawaii State Department of Health. The problems and solutions encountered when dealing with a small state with a smal population are discussed. Along with the problem of data irregularities -- such as death fluctuations during short periods of time -- the most vexing problems lay in the procedure to close the tables. There are a number of ways to close the life tables; several are based on the assumption that certain mortality functions follow a specified type of curve. The conservative approach chosen involves a regression equation that tends to minimize differences among the various ethnic groups. For the combined sexes and for all ethnic groups combined, the regression equation gives a life expectancy at age 75 of 10.59 years and a life expectancy at birth of 76.92 years. This approach slightly underestimates life expectancy at birth for the total population. Because of this, tables for the numerically small groups are less reliable than are the tables for the larger groups and for the total population. Results show that: 1) female life expectancy at birth is 81 1/2 years; 2) male life expectancy is 75 years; and 3) life expectancy by ethnic group shows Chinese and Japanese rank the highest, Filipinos next highest, Caucasians and others have the next highest, and Hawaiians and part Hawaiians have the lowest. It is clear that marked nortality differentials remain between ethnic groups and between the sexes in Hawaii.