Life Expectancy at Birth

The gap in life expectancy at birth between white persons and black persons persists but has narrowed since 1990.

Life expectancy is a measure often used to gauge the overall health of a population. Between 1980 and 2010, life expectancy at birth in the United States increased from 70 years to 76 years for males and from 77 years to 81 years for females. Racial disparities in life expectancy at birth persisted for both males and females in 2010 but had narrowed since 1990. In 2010, Hispanic males and females had longer life expectancy at birth than non-Hispanic white or non-Hispanic black males and females.

Figure 1 consists of a line graph showing trends in life expectancy at birth, by race and sex, for 1980 through 2010, and a bar chart showing life expectancy at birth for 2010, by sex and race and Hispanic origin.

Figure 1Life expectancy at birth, by selected characteristics: United States, 1980 –2010

Excel and PowerPoint: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/contents2012.htm#fig01

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, Health, United States, 2012, Table 18. Data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS).

Infant Mortality

Infant, neonatal, and postneonatal mortality rates declined between 2000 and 2010.

The infant mortality rate is the risk of death during the first year of life. The 2010 infant mortality rate of 6.15 per 1,000 live births—a historically low value—was 11% lower than in 2000. During the same period, the neonatal mortality rate (death rate among infants under 28 days) decreased 13% to 4.05 per 1,000 live births, and the postneonatal mortality rate (death rate among infants 28 days through 11 months) declined 8% to 2.10 per 1,000 live births.

Figure 2 is a line graph showing infant, neonatal, and postneonatal mortality rates for 2000 through 2010.

Figure 2Infant, neonatal, and postneonatal mortality rates: United States, 2000–2010

Excel and PowerPoint: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/contents2012.htm#fig02

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, Health, United States, 2012, Table 13 and reference 1. Data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS).

Selected Causes of Death

Between 2000 and 2010, the age-adjusted death rate decreased 16% among males and 13% among females.

During this 10-year period, age-adjusted death rates among males for stroke declined 37%, heart disease declined 30%, cancer declined 16%, and chronic lower respiratory diseases declined 13%, while Alzheimer’s disease increased 38% and unintentional injuries increased through 2007 and then declined. Among females, age-adjusted death rates for stroke declined 35%, heart disease declined 32%, and cancer declined 12%, while Alzheimer’s disease increased 41%. In 2010, age-adjusted death rates were higher for males than females for heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, diabetes, and unintentional injuries; were similar for stroke; and were higher among females than males for Alzheimer’s disease.

Figure 3 consists of two line graphs, one for males and one for females, showing age-adjusted death rates for selected causes of death for all ages, for 2000 through 2010.

Figure 3Age-adjusted death rates for selected causes of death for all ages, by sex: United States, 2000–2010

Excel and PowerPoint: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/contents2012.htm#fig03

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, Health, United States, 2012, Table 20. Data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS).

Motor Vehicle-related Death Rates

Between 2000 and 2010, motor vehicle-related death rates declined among males and females aged 15–19 and 20–24.

Motor vehicle-related deaths are a significant cause of preventable death, accounting for about 35,000 deaths in the United States in 2010 across all ages (1). Motor vehicle-related death rates were higher for males and females aged 15–24 than for most other age groups (Table 33). For males and females aged 15–19, motor vehicle-related death rates declined 47% from 2000 to 2010. Motor vehicle-related death rates declined 31% for males aged 20–24 and 26% for females in the same age group during this 10-year period.

Figure 4 is a line graph showing motor vehicle-related death rates among persons aged 15 to 19 and among those aged 20 to 24, by sex, for 2000 through 2010.

Figure 4Motor vehicle-related death rates among persons aged 15–24, by sex and age: United States, 2000–2010

Excel and PowerPoint: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/contents2012.htm#fig04

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, Health, United States, 2012, Table 33. Data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS).