Modeling and forecasting subnational age distribution of death counts

Abstract: This paper presents several forecasting methods to model and forecast subnational age distribution of death counts. The age distribution of death counts has many similarities to probability density functions, which are nonnegative and have a constrained integral, and thus live in a constrained nonlinear space. To address the nonlinear nature of objects, we implement a cumulative distribution function transformation that has an additional monotonicity. Using the Japanese subnational life-table death counts obtained from the Japanese Mortality Database (2025), we evaluate the forecast accuracy of the transformation and forecasting methods. The improved forecast accuracy of life-table death counts implemented here will be of great interest to demographers in estimating regional age-specific survival probabilities and life expectancy.