United States abridged life tables, 1996

The life tables in this report are current abridged life tables for the United States based on age-specific death rates in 1996. The data used to prepare these abridged life tables are 1996 final mortality statistics and July 1, 1996, population estimates. Presented are tables showing life expectancy and survivorship by age, race, and sex. In 1996 the overall expectation of life at birth was 76.1 years, an increase of 0.3 years compared with life expectancy in 1995. Life expectancy increased from 1995 to 1996 for each of the four race-sex groups for which life expectancy is reported. Life expectancy increased for white males by 0.5 year (from 73.4 to 73.9), for black males by 0.9 year (from 65.2 to 66.1), for white females by 0.1 year (from 79.6 to 79.7), and for black females by 0.3 year (from 73.9 to 74.2).