How long can we expect to live?

Data from the National Vital Statistics System

The CDC National Center for Health Statistics released the Mortality in the United States; 2017 report. 

• Life expectancy for the U.S. population declined to 78.6 years in 2017.
• The age-adjusted death rate increased by 0.4% from 728.8 deaths per 100,000 standard population in 2016 to 731.9 in 2017.
• Age-specific death rates increased from 2016 to 2017 for age groups 25–34, 35–44, and 85 and over, and decreased for the age group 45–54.
• The 10 leading causes of death in 2017 remained the same as in 2016.
• The infant mortality rate of 579.3 infant deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017 was not significantly different from the 2016 rate.
• The 10 leading causes of infant death in 2017 remained the same as in 2016 although 4 causes changed ranks.

This report presents final 2017 U.S. mortality data on deaths and death rates by demographic and medical characteristics. These data provide information on mortality patterns among U.S. residents by variables such as sex, race and ethnicity, and cause of death. Life expectancy estimates, age-specific death rates, age-adjusted death rates by race and ethnicity and sex, 10 leading causes of death, and 10 leading causes of infant death were analyzed by comparing 2017 and 2016 final data(1).

Figure 1. Life expectancy at selected ages, by sex: United States, 2016 and 2017

NOTES: Life expectancies for 2016 were revised using updated Medicare data; therefore, figures may differ from those previously published. Access data table for Figure 1
SOURCE: NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality.