CDC: Life expectancy up, mortality down in 2019

U.S. life expectancy rose an average 0.1 year in 2019, to 81.4 for females and 76.3 for males, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

The overall death rate declined by 1.2%, falling 1.4% for white females, 1.2% for Black females, 1% for white males and 0.9% for Black males.

The 10 leading causes of death were unchanged from 2018. Among the leading causes of death, mortality rates decreased 17.4% for flu and pneumonia, 3.8% for chronic lower respiratory diseases, 2.3% for Alzheimer disease, 2.1% for suicide, 1.9% for cancer, 1.6% for kidney disease and 1.3% for heart disease, while the death rate for unintentional injuries increased 2.7%.