Health Status > Health Behaviors
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Life Expectancy
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A baby girl born in the United States
in 2004 could expect to live 80.4 years, 5.2 years longer
than her male counterpart, whose life expectancy would be
75.2 years. The life expectancy at birth for White females
was 80.8 years; for Black females, the life expectancy at
birth was 76.3 years. The differential between male and
female life expectancy was greater among Blacks than Whites;
Black males could expect to live 69.5 years, 6.8 years fewer
than Black females, while the difference between White males
and females was 5.1 years. The lower life expectancy among
Blacks may be partly accounted for by higher infant mortality
rates.
Life expectancy has steadily increased
since 1970 for males and females in both racial groups.
Between 1970 and 2004, White males’ life expectancy increased
from 68.0 to 75.7 years (11.3 percent), while White females’
life expectancy increased from 75.6 to 80.8 years (6.9 percent).
Black males’ life expectancy increased from 60.0 to 69.5
years (15.8 percent) during the same period, while Black
females’ life expectancy increased from 68.3 to 76.3 years
(11.7 percent).
Life expectancy data have not been reported
for American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Islanders,
Hispanics alone, and persons of more than one race.
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Line Chart: Life Expectancy at Birth, by Race and Sex, 1970-2004
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