HMI & FMI — the 2025 scale vs the 2026 exposure, year over year
The SOA/Academy Mortality Improvement Working Group publishes two companion scales for use with the Valuation Basic Table: HMI (historical mortality improvement — one smoothed rate per attained age, applied from the table's basis year to the valuation date) and FMI (future mortality improvement — rates by attained age and calendar year, grading to the long-term rate). This page compares the 2025 final recommendation against the 2026 recommendation exposed August 2026.
Both scales apply to fully underwritten business only — limited-underwriting business uses zero improvement for both HMI and FMI. Negative values are mortality deterioration.
HMI by attained age
The historical improvement rate at each attained age. Toggle to the change view to see exactly what moved between the 2025 scale and the 2026 exposure.
FMI by calendar year — pick an age
The future-improvement path for one attained age: the 2025 scale (solid) against the 2026 exposure (dashed), aligned on calendar year, with the year-over-year change in bars below zero-line scale. The 2025 scale grades to its long-term rate at 2035 and holds its 2045+ ultimate; the 2026 exposure runs through 2046.
Where the scales moved — change heatmap
The 2026 exposure minus the 2025 scale (unloaded FMI), for every attained age and overlapping calendar year. Red is lower improvement (or deeper deterioration) in the new exposure; blue is higher.