How did life insurance and public health increase interest in mortality studies during the 1700s?

During the 18th century, the development of life insurance and an increasing focus on public health significantly heightened awareness of the importance of mortality studies.1

As these fields emerged, there was a growing practical need to analyze vital statistics to better understand population trends, life expectancy, and the impact of disease. This interest built upon earlier foundations, such as the work of John Graunt, who had pioneered the construction of the mortality table in the 17th century to analyze death rates and survivorship. By the 18th century, figures like Johann Süssmilch further advanced this work by constructing mortality tables for entire populations, such as that of Prussia.12

These efforts were driven by the recognition that understanding mortality was essential for both the economic calculations required by insurance and the governmental and social initiatives aimed at improving community health and addressing issues like infant mortality and urban disease.13