What signifies the incidence of disability due to sickness or accident within a population?

The correct answer is morbidity, which refers to the incidence or prevalence of a disease or disability within a population. In the context of insurance, morbidity measures the rate at which individuals become ill or disabled due to sickness or accidents. It provides critical data for insurers to assess risk and determine the necessary premiums for disability insurance products. Understanding morbidity helps insurance companies predict the likelihood that a particular demographic will file a claim due to a disability, which ultimately informs their financial planning and underwriting processes.

In contrast, mortality pertains to the incidence of death within a population and is not directly related to disability. Viability is typically used in discussions about the ability to live or survive under specific conditions but does not address disability rates. Productivity refers to the efficiency of production or work output and also does not directly measure the incidence of disability within a population.