United States life tables, 1998.

The life tables in this report are current life tables for the United States based on age-specific death rates in 1998. Data used to prepare these life tables are 1998 final mortality statistics; July 1, 1998, population estimates; and data from the Medicare program. Presented are complete life tables by age, race, and sex. In 1998 the overall expectation of life at birth was 76.7 years, an increase of 0.2 years compared with life expectancy in 1997. Life expectancy increased from 1997 to 1998 for each of the four race-sex groups for which life expectancy is reported. Life expectancy increased for black males by 0.4 year (from 67.2 to 67.6), for black females by 0.1 year (from 74.7 to 74.8), for white males by 0.2 year (from 74.3 to 74.5), and for white females by 0.1 year (from 79.9 to 80.0).