Death rates in England have been falling steadily in recent decades especially in older age groups. One consequence of this trend is that in 2014, 55 per cent of all deaths in England occur red in people over the age of 80 years. In the past, statistical analysis has tended to focus on premature mortality (often defined as deaths under 75 years) or on life expectancy at birth. As the average age at death increases, patterns of mortality in older age groups become increasingly important both in their own right and as a contribution to overall mortality.
