Deaths: Final Data for 2015

Objectives-This report presents final 2015 data on U.S. deaths, death rates, life expectancy, infant mortality, and trends, by selected characteristics such as age, sex, Hispanic origin and race, state of residence, and cause of death. Methods-Information reported on death certificates, which are completed by funeral directors, attending physicians, medical examiners, and coroners, is presented in descriptive tabulations. The original records are filed in state registration offices. Statistical information is compiled in a national database through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program of the National Center for Health Statistics. Causes of death are processed in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision. Results-In 2015, a total of 2,712,630 deaths were reported in the United States. The age-adjusted death rate was 733.1 deaths per 100,000 U.S. standard population, an increase of 1.2% from the 2014 rate. Life expectancy at birth was 78.8 years, a decrease of 0.1 year from 2014. Life expectancy decreased from 2014 to 2015 for non-Hispanic white males (0.2 year), non-Hispanic white females (0.1), non-Hispanic black males (0.4), non-Hispanic black females (0.1), Hispanic males (0.1), and Hispanic females (0.2). Age-specific death rates increased in 2015 from 2014 for age groups 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 55-64, 65-74, and 85 and over. The 15 leading causes of death in 2015 remained the same as in 2014. The infant mortality rate, 5.90 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2015, did not change significantly from the rate of 5.82 in 2014. Conclusions-The age-adjusted death rate increased for the first time since 2005. Life expectancy for the total population decreased for the first time since 1993.