AT A GLANCE
National death rates and life expectancy at birth from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Covers mortality trends and leading causes of death across the United States over multiple years.
Key Highlights:
- Source: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
- Content: Two tables — Death Rates & Life Expectancy, and Leading Causes of Death
- Coverage: National and state-level U.S. mortality data
- Utility: Public health research, epidemiological studies, policy analysis
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This dataset supports analysis of temporal trends in life expectancy, comparisons of mortality rates across demographic groups, and investigations into the relative burden of different causes of death. It is suitable for public health research, health economics, and policy evaluation on health system performance and equity.
Research Applications:
- Temporal trends in U.S. life expectancy
- Demographic disparities in mortality rates
- Leading cause-of-death burden analysis
- Health system performance and equity evaluation
Subject Terms: mortality, life expectancy, death rates, leading causes of death, NCHS, public health, United States
SCOPE & METHODOLOGY
- Geographic Coverage: United States
- Smallest Geographic Unit: National / State-level
- Time Period: Multi-year NCHS series (see data for specific range)
- Universe: Resident population of the United States (vital statistics records)
- Unit of Observation: National/state-level aggregate (annual)
- Data Type: Administrative records — vital statistics
Data Collection: Primary source is the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Data is hosted on the BSOS Data Repository platform in two tables: Death Rates & Life Expectancy, and Leading Causes of Death.
CITATION
University of Maryland, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences [distributor]. Death Rates and Life Expectancy. Originally from NCHS. BSOS Social Science Data Repository, 2026. https://bsos-data.umd.edu/dataset/death-rates-and-life-expectancy
FILES & DOCUMENTATION
Available:
- Death Rates & Life Expectancy (DataStore)
- Leading Causes of Death (DataStore)
Planned Additions:
- Data Dictionary — ICD codes for causes of death, age-adjustment methodology, demographic breakdowns
- Technical Documentation — NCHS data collection and estimation methods