Glossary Term 4 min read Updated September 2026

Mortality Table (Life Table) - Definition & Actuarial Use

Understanding mortality tables, survival probabilities, and Society of Actuaries tables in pension valuation.

Verified by Certified Pension Actuaries (FSA / EA / CFA) • IRS 417(e) Methodology

Definition

A Mortality Table (or Life Table) is a statistical table that displays the probability of a person dying before their next birthday based on their current age, biological sex, and socioeconomic group.

Common Actuarial Tables

Pri-2012 / RP-2014: Published by the Society of Actuaries for private sector pension plans.
Pub-2010: Developed specifically for public sector retirement systems (teachers, public safety, general employees).

Authoritative References & Official Regulatory Sources

Verified citations from official government databases, actuarial research bodies, and statutory documentation.

Official Citations

Internal Revenue Service (IRS.gov) U.S. Government

IRS Notice: Minimum Present Value Segment Rates (§ 417(e))

Statutory 3-tier corporate bond yield curve segment rates used by corporate plan sponsors to calculate legal minimum lump-sum buyouts.

Inspect Regulatory Source

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC.gov) Federal Agency

PBGC Maximum Monthly Guarantee Tables for Defined Benefit Plans

Statutory federal insurance guarantee limits protecting private pension participants in the event of corporate plan termination or bankruptcy.

Inspect Regulatory Source

Society of Actuaries (SOA.org) Actuarial Standard

Society of Actuaries (SOA) Pri-2012 & Pub-2010 Mortality Study Tables

The institutional empirical mortality tables and generational mortality improvement scales (MP-2021) powering actuarial present value projections.

Inspect Regulatory Source

Social Security Administration (SSA.gov) U.S. Government

Social Security Administration: Actuarial Period Life Table

Official U.S. decennial life expectancy and survival probability curves for male and female retirees across single and joint age horizons.

Inspect Regulatory Source

Definition

Common Actuarial Tables

Authoritative References & Official Regulatory Sources

IRS Notice: Minimum Present Value Segment Rates (§ 417(e))

PBGC Maximum Monthly Guarantee Tables for Defined Benefit Plans

Society of Actuaries (SOA) Pri-2012 & Pub-2010 Mortality Study Tables

Social Security Administration: Actuarial Period Life Table

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