In the United States, Life Expectancy and infant mortality rates set new record levels in 2000 as the death rate continued to decline.
The average American life expectancy for 2000 was 76.9 years, with a boy born in 2000 having a life expectancy of 74.1 years and a female newborn having a life expectancy of 79.5 years.
Per capita mortality was down from 877 deaths per 100,000 population in 1999 to 873 deaths per 100,000 population in 2000. The age-adjusted death rate hit a low of 872.4 deaths per 100,000.
Infant mortality hit a new low, with 6.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000, down from 7.1 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 1999.
With more Americans living longer than ever before, there has also been a rise in diseases such as Alzheimer’s, influenza and pneumonia and the conditions that disproportionately afflicted the elderly.
Source:
U.S. life expectancy hits new high. MSNBC, October 10, 2001.