Abstract A simple method is presented for converting an age distribution in any closed population into the stationary population corresponding to its current mortality conditions. The conversion only requires a set of age-specific growth rates, which will normally be available from successive censuses. From the stationary population, any life table mortality measure of interest can be computed. The index most robust to normal data errors in developing countries is life expectancy, and the paper focuses on its calculation. The sensitivity of results to various forms of data error is considered, and procedures are proposed for removing errors resulting from differential census coverage completeness and from age misstatement at older ages. Applications of the procedures are made to data from Sweden, India and South Korea. Because of the absence of a radix, estimation of life expectancy usually will begin at the fifth birthday.
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