Mortality Data
Mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) are a fundamental source of demographic, geographic, and cause-of-death information. This is one of the few sources of health-related data that are comparable for small geographic areas and are available for a long time period in the United States. The data are also used to present the characteristics of those dying in the United States, to determine life expectancy, and to compare mortality trends with other countries.
Standard forms for the collection of the data and model procedures for the uniform registration of the events are developed and recommended for nationwide use through cooperative activities of the jurisdictions and NCHS. Material is available to assist persons in completing the death certificate. NCHS shares the costs incurred by the States in providing vital statistics data for national use. For further information, refer to U.S. Vital Statistics System Major Activities and Developments: 1950-95. Software is available to automate coding of medical information on the death certificate, following World Health Organization rules specified in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
Key Mortality Statistics
Data for United States in 2009
- Number of deaths: 2,437,163
- Death rate: 793.8 deaths per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy: 78.5 years
- Infant Mortality rate: 6.39 deaths per 1,000 live births
Source: Deaths: Final Data for 2009, Tables 1, 7, 10, 20 [PDF - 1.4 MB]
What's New
Publications
- Deaths: Leading Causes for 2009 [PDF- 2.54 MB] (10/2012)
- Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2011 [PDF- 1.68 MB] (10/2012)
- United States Life Tables, 2008 [PDF- 1.26 MB] (9/2012)
- U.S. Decennial Life Tables for 1999–2001: State Life Tables [PDF- 2.2 MB] (9/2012)
- Fetal and Perinatal Mortality, United States, 2006 [PDF - 433 KB] (8/2012)
Data Releases
Contact Us:
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Division of Vital Statistics
National Center for Health Statistics
3311 Toledo Rd
Hyattsville, MD 20782 - 1 (800) 232-4636
- Contact CDC–INFO