United States Life Tables, 2011

Abstract

Objectives: This report presents complete period life tables for the United States by race, Hispanic origin, and sex, based on age specific death rates in 2011.

Methods: Data used to prepare the 2011 life tables are 2011 final mortality statistics; July 1, 2011, population estimates based on the 2010 decennial census; and 2011 Medicare data for persons aged 66-99. The methodology used to estimate the 2011 life tables was first implemented with data year 2008. The methodology used to estimated the life tables for the Hispanic population remains unchanged from that developed for the publication of life tables by Hispanic origin for data year 2006.

Results: In 2011, the overall expectation of life at birth was 78.7 years--unchanged from 2010. Between 2010 and 2011, life expectancy at birth increased for both males (from 76.2 to 76.3) and females (81.0-81.1), and for the white population (78.9 to 79.0), the black population (75.1 to 75.3), the Hispanic population *81.4 to 81.6), and the non-Hispanic black population (74.7 to 74.9).