Assessing the Quality of National Life Tables in Algeria Using Specific Surveys

Meryem Chinoune, ENSSEA
Farid Flici, Centre de Recherche en Economie Appliquée pour le Développement (CREAD )

Civil status represents the main source of data needed to estimate demographic indicators including mortality rates and life tables. One way to estimate the completeness of civil records is by comparison to a parallel source of data, i.e., surveys data. When its coverage is incomplete, a critical question is raised, is it enough to rely on only one source while others are available? Thus, it is deemed necessary to explore surveys data to abolish the lack in information, enhance results quality and thus providing reliable estimates that serve our needs. The present paper deals with mortality analysis within the Algerian population, where a nationally representative household survey; the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey MICS; is used as a comparison reference to improve the quality of national life tables delivered by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The findings will have a great interest to establish more efficient policies.