Wikipedia

Draft:Continuous Mortality Investigation

  • Comment: The sources provided do not establish notability; all of the sources I was able to access are connected to the CMI or its parent organization. We need significant coverage in sources independent of the subject. I also strongly suspect undisclosed use of AI, due to formatting issues. If AI is used in article writing, you MUST rewrite to conform with the WP:MOS and double-check that all references not only exist but actually support the statements they're cited for. WeirdNAnnoyed (talk) 22:07, 1 April 2026 (UTC)


Continuous Mortality Investigation
TypeMembership organisation
IndustryActuarial science
Founded1924
HeadquartersUnited Kingdom
Websitehttps://www.actuaries.org.uk/learn-and-develop/continuous-mortality-investigation

Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI) is a leading actuarial body in the United Kingdom, responsible for the collection, analysis, and publication of mortality and morbidity data[1]. Established in 1924[2], the CMI has played a pivotal role in the development of mortality tables and projections, supporting the insurance and pensions industries for over a century.

The CMI’s mission statement is to produce high-quality impartial analysis, standard tables and models of mortality and morbidity for long-term insurance products and pension scheme liabilities on behalf of subscribers and, in doing so, to further actuarial understanding. The CMI’s work is undertaken as a UK private company[3], which is wholly owned by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries[4].

History[5]

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Foundation and Early years (1924-1973)

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The Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI) was established in 1924[6] 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 was known as the Continuous Mortality Investigation Bureau (CMIB)[7] until 2004.

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 industries. 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)

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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”[8] and “92”[9] 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)

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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)[10], 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[11], became a widely used tool for actuaries in the UK and internationally[12], providing a flexible and transparent framework[13] 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)

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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[14] and special working papers on the impact of the pandemic.

Structure and Governance

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An Executive Committee provides practical oversight of the CMI, supported by several investigation committees covering areas such as annuities, assurances, income protection, SAPS, and mortality projections. The CMI Secretariat, currently provided by Barnett Waddingham[15], manages data collection, processing, and publication.

Since 2013, the CMI has operated as a private limited company[3], wholly owned by the IFoA. Access to detailed outputs is restricted to subscribers, including insurers, reinsurers, consultancies, and academic researchers.

Activities

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The CMI undertakes a wide range of activities that underpin actuarial practice in the United Kingdom and internationally. Its core activities include the collection and analysis of mortality and morbidity data, the development of standard tables and projection models and the dissemination of research and guidance to the actuarial profession and wider stakeholders.

Data Collection and Research

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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

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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 updated regularly to reflect emerging experience and changes in population health.

Mortality Projections and the CMI Model

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The CMI develops and maintains[16] the CMI Mortality Projections Model[17], an industry-standard tool for projecting future mortality improvements[18]. The model is typically updated annually[19] 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[20]. The model is accompanied by detailed working papers, user guides, and regular benchmarking surveys to support its application in actuarial work.

Mortality Monitor

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Since 2020, the CMI has published the Mortality Monitor[21], 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.

Use of the CMI's Output

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The CMI's output is widely used by bodies including:

  • commercial corporations for the provision of life / annuity policies
  • pension schemes for the valuation of pension liabilities[22]
  • financial consultants for advising on topics[23] related to mortality / longevity trends
  • regulators (e.g. TPR, FCA and FRC) for ensuring sufficient pensioner protection[24], policyholder protection[25] and financial reporting[26]
  • journalists for reporting[27] on mortality / longevity trends
  • the government for helping with policy formulation[28] and knowledge sharing[29].

Committee and Volunteer Engagement

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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

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The CMI collaborates with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Society of Actuaries in Ireland, Society of Actuaries and other international bodies. It provides technical support, shares expertise (e.g. investigation and comparison of mortality projection models produced by the UK and US actuarial professions[30] ), 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

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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.

List of CMI committees

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The full list of committees[31] currently operating within the CMI are:

  • Executive committee
  • Management committee
  • Income protection committee
  • Annuities committee
  • Assurances committee
  • SAPS committee
  • Mortality projections committee

Chairs of the CMI

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The full list of Chairs of the CMI to date is:

  • Sir W. P. Elderton 1923-1948
  • R. Ll. Gwilt 1948-1961
  • F. M. Redington 1961-1968
  • J. M. Denholm 1968-1974
  • E. B. O. Sherlock 1974-1983
  • A.D. Wilkie 1983-1994
  • C.G. Kirkwood 1994-1999
  • P.J. Nowell 1999-2004
  • B.P. Ridsdale 2004-2008
  • A.G. Sharp 2008-2013
  • T.J. Gordon 2013-2017
  • J.M. Tait 2017-2020
  • M.F.J. Edwards 2020-2023
  • J.E. Hughes 2023-2026
  • S. McDonald 2026-

See Also

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  • Official website[32]

References

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  1. ↑ "Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI)". Club Vita. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  2. ↑ "Assured Lives 1924–38". Transactions of the Faculty of Actuaries. 17: 81–98. 1945. doi:10.1017/S0071368600002913. ISSN 2058-1033.
  3. 1 2 "CONTINUOUS MORTALITY INVESTIGATION LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "About the CMI | Institute and Faculty of Actuaries". www.actuaries.org.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  5. ↑ "CMI History Book | Institute and Faculty of Actuaries". www.actuaries.org.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "A long life: 100 years of the CMI". www.theactuary.com. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  7. ↑ Barnett, H. a. R.; Hayward, R. E. (1971). "The Work of the Continuous Mortality Investigation Bureau". Journal of the Staple Inn Actuarial Society. 20 (1): 1–8. doi:10.1017/S0020269X00008513 (inactive 23 June 2026). ISSN 0020-269X.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of June 2026 (link)
  8. ↑ "'80' series tables | Institute and Faculty of Actuaries". www.actuaries.org.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "'92' series tables | Institute and Faculty of Actuaries". www.actuaries.org.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "eNews Article: GAD contributes data for mortality tables". GOV.UK. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Aon says new mortality projection model is a positive step". Aon plc Global Media Relations. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "CMI Model Changes and Weight-Loss Drug Popularity Point to Changed Mortality Picture - ELSA". 14 January 2026. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  13. ↑ Huang, Fei (2017). "Mortality forecasting using a modified CMI Mortality Projections Model for China II: cities, towns and counties". Annals of Actuarial Science. 11 (1): 46–66. doi:10.1017/S174849951600018X. ISSN 1748-4995.
  14. ↑ "Mortality monitor | Institute and Faculty of Actuaries". www.actuaries.org.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "International Mortality and Morbidity". Barnett Waddingham. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  16. ↑ Gray, Jack (3 November 2026). "Updated CMI model to lead to longer life expectancies for most schemes". Pensions Age Magazine. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Mortality projections | Institute and Faculty of Actuaries". www.actuaries.org.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "CMI mortality projections model". Club Vita. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "Barnett Waddingham - Losing weights: planned changes to the CMI Model". Barnett Waddingham. 26 February 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "CMI 2022: What weight works?". www.hymans.co.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "Mortality monitor | Institute and Faculty of Actuaries". www.actuaries.org.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "LGPS funding – are actuarial models surplus to requirements?". www.mercer.com. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "How wrong is your mortality projection model?". www.lcp.com. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  24. ↑ "Mortality assumptions". www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 27 April 2026. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  25. ↑ https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/handbook/handbook-notice-104.pdf
  26. ↑ "HTML version for AS TM1: Statutory Money Purchase Illustrations v5.2". FRC (Financial Reporting Council). Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  27. ↑ "UK death rate 'reaches record low'". BBC News. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  28. ↑ Actuary, Natasha Hill- (6 September 2023). "Mortality and demographic modelling – Actuaries in government". actuaries.blog.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  29. ↑ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f775f83e90e0715cf25f262/Mortality_insights_December_2019.pdf
  30. ↑ https://www.soa.org/globalassets/assets/files/resources/research-report/2022/mortality-projection-models.pdf
  31. ↑ Full list of CMI committees https://ilcuk.org.uk/guest-blog-introduction-to-the-continuous-mortality-investigation-CMI/
  32. ↑ "Continuous Mortality Investigation | Institute and Faculty of Actuaries". www.actuaries.org.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
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