US LIFE Expectancy Increases
The National Center for Health Statistics announced today that life expectancy in the United States has increased. A baby born in 2007 can expect to live 77.9 years, compared with 77.7 for one born in 2006. The decline in the death rates was a major contributor to this increase in life expectancy. The most dramatic decrease in death rates was among black males who have long had the lowest life expectancy.
The 2007 increase in life expectancy - up from 77.7 in 2006 -- represents a continuation of a trend. Over a decade, life expectancy has increased 1.4 years from 76.5 years in 1997 to 77.9 in 2007. In 1955 life expectancy was 69.6 years.
This report highlights the continued reduction in deaths from the three leading killers in the United States - heart disease, cancer and stroke - which is most likely due to better prevention efforts and medical advances in the treatments of these diseases.
Record high life expectancy was recorded for both males and females (75.3 years and 80.4 years, respectively). While the gap between male and female life expectancy has narrowed since the peak gap of 7.8 years in 1979, the 5.1 year difference in 2007 is the same as in 2006.
The most exciting news was that for the first time, life expectancy for black males reached 70 years. Since 1995 black men have had the most rapid gain in life expectancy and are narrowing the gap with white men.
However, of the 35 countries in the Organization of Economically Developed Countries the United States ranked 29th in life expectancy. The countries with lower life expectancy in the OECD group were Turkey, Slovak Republic, Portugal, Poland, Mexico, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. (OECD report)
