Monthly Vital Statistics Reports

Advance Report of Final Mortality, 1994

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 2,278, 994 deaths occurred in the United States in 1994. This figure was 10,441 larger than that reported for 1993, and 103,381 more than the total for 1992. Although the number of deaths increased, the crude and age-adjusted death rates for 1994 suggest an overall improvement in the general mortality experienced by those in the U.S.

The report, "Advance Report of Final Mortality, 1994" presents trends and patterns in general mortality, life expectancy, and infant and maternal mortality. Also included are descriptive data on U.S. deaths and death rates, according to such demographic and medical characteristics as age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, marital status, educational attainment, State of residence, and causes of death. Data contained in this report are based on information from death certificates filed in the 50 States and the District of Columbia.

Data Highlights:

• The crude death rate for 1994 was 875.4 deaths per 100,000 population.
• Life expectancy at birth increased for the total population to 75.7 years; still, women are expected to outlive men by an average of 6.6 years.
• Mortality from drug-induced and alcohol-induced causes increased significantly between 1993 and 1994. However, the age-adjusted death rate for firearm injuries decreased by 3 percent in the same time interval.
• The infant mortality rate (8.0 infant deaths per 1,000 live births) reached a record low in 1994, continuing the long term downward trend in infant mortality.

Keywords: death certificate, mortality dynamics, health status, infant and maternal health