OBJECTIVES

This report presents complete period life tables for the United States by race, Hispanic origin, and sex, based on age-specific death rates in 2008.

METHODS

Data used to prepare the 2008 life tables are 2008 final mortality statistics; July 1, 2008, population estimates based on the 2000 decennial census; and 2008 Medicare data for persons aged 66-99. The methodology used to estimate the 2008 life tables has been revised from that used for data years 2000-2007. The methodology was refined in two important ways. First, a logistic model rather than a nonlinear least squares model was used to smooth and extrapolate the vital statistics and Medicare blended death rates at the oldest ages. Second, the age at which smoothing is begun was raised from 66 to 85 or so, depending on the population. This modification applies to the life tables for the total population and for the white, black, non-Hispanic white, and non-Hispanic black populations. 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.

RESULTS

In 2008, the overall expectation of life at birth was 78.1 years. Between 2007 and 2008, life expectancy at birth increased for all groups considered, although approximately 0.1 years of the increase is due to the change in methodology. Life expectancy increased for both males (from 75.4 to 75.6) and females (80.4 to 80.6) and for the white population (78.4 to 78.5), the black population (73.6 to 74.0), the Hispanic population (80.9 to 81.0), the non-Hispanic white population (78.2 to 78.4), and the non-Hispanic black population (73.2 to 73.7).