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Mortality in the United States, 2018

Key Findings
Data from the National Vital Statistics System:

• Life expectancy for the U.S. population in 2018 was 78.7 years, an increase of 0.1 year from 2017.
• The age-adjusted death rate decreased by 1.1% from 731.9 deaths per 100,000 standard population in 2017 to 723.6 in 2018.
• The 10 leading causes of death in 2018 remained the same as in 2017. From 2017 to 2018, age-adjusted death rates decreased for 6 of 10 leading causes of death and increased for 2.
• Age-specific death rates decreased from 2017 to 2018 for age groups 15–24, 25–34, 45–54, 65–74, 75–84, and 85 and over.
• The infant mortality rate decreased 2.3% from 579.3 infant deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017 to 566.2 in 2018.
• The 10 leading causes of infant death in 2018 remained the same as in 2017.

Keywords

​life expectancy, leading cause, National Vital Statistics System

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A Decrease in Cause-specific Mortality Led to an Increase in Life Expectancy in 2018