Major improvements in life expectancy: 1989

Longevity in 1989 rose to a record for virtually every age. According to MetLife, average remaining lifetime for newborns established a new high of 75.2 years. Expectation of life enhancements were attributed to the absence of major epidemics and the decline in total mortality. Recent longevity differences between males and females continued to narrow but disparities widened among whites and blacks.