United States Life Tables, 2015

Abstract

Objectives-This report presents complete period life tables for the United States by race, Hispanic origin, and sex, based on agespecific death rates in 2015. Methods-Data used to prepare the 2015 life tables are 2015 final mortality statistics; July 1, 2015, population estimates based on the 2010 decennial census; and 2015 Medicare data for persons aged 66-99. The methodology used to estimate 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. The methodology used to estimate the 2015 life tables for all other groups was first implemented with data year 2008. Results-In 2015, the overall expectation of life at birth was 78.7 years, decreasing by 0.2 year from 2014. From 2014 to 2015, life expectancy at birth decreased by 0.2 year for both males (76.5 to 76.3) and females (81.3 to 81.1). Life expectancy at birth decreased by 0.2 year for the white population (79.1 to 78.9) and by 0.1 year for the black population (75.6 to 75.5). Life expectancy at birth decreased by 0.2 year for the Hispanic population (82.1 to 81.9) and for the non-Hispanic black population (75.3 to 75.1). Life expectancy at birth decreased by 0.1 year for the non-Hispanic white population (78.8 to 78.7).