Indirect Estimation of Life Expectancy at Birth for the Districts of the Major States of India (2001–05)

Life expectancy at birth (e00) is considered as an important indicator of the mortality level and quality of life in a population. In India, direct estimation of e00 through construction of life tables is not possible due to incomplete death registration. The Sample Registration System of India provides information on e00 only for 16 states. The estimates of e00 for the districts are not available. Most of the indirect methods for estimating e00 are inapplicable due to the unavailability of the required data and/or failure to satisfy the associated assumptions at the sub state level. An effort is made in this paper to estimate the e00 at the district level of India for the period 2001–05 by developing a regression model. We have found that, of the major states, Pathanamthitta district of Kerala has the maximum and Katni district of Madhya Pradesh has the minimum e00.