Monday, June 06, 2016

Change in Life Expectancy, 2000 to 2014

The life expectancy at birth of non-Hispanic Whites increased by 1.4 years between 2000 and 2014, according to the National Center for Health Statistics—well below the increase for Hispanics or non-Hispanic Blacks.

Life expectancy at birth in 2014 (and change since 2000)
Blacks, non-Hispanic: 75.2 years (+3.6)
Hispanics: 81.8 years (+2.6)
Whites, non-Hispanic: 78.8 years (+1.4)

What explains the smaller increase in the life expectancy of non-Hispanic Whites? Rising death rates from unintentional poisoning, suicide, and chronic liver disease, reports NCHS. Between 2000 and 2014, the overall death rate rose among non-Hispanic Whites in three age groups: 25 to 34, 35 to 44, and 45 to 54. "Increases in death rates due to unintentional poisonings (mostly drug and alcohol poisoning) for these three age groups had the single greatest negative effect on the change in life expectancy," concludes the report.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Mortality Data, The Effect of Changes in Selected Age-Specific Causes of Death on Non-Hispanic White Life Expectancy between 2000 and 2014

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