U.S. life expectancy hits all-time high of 78 years, 2 months

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By Douglas Stanglin, USA TODAY

Updated

U.S. life expectancy has hit another all-time high, rising to 78 years and two months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates.

The CDC says the estimate applies to a baby born in 2009 and is based on nearly all the death certificates for that year.

About 2.4 million people died in the USA in 2009 — roughly 36,000 fewer than the year before.

The CDC reports that the infant mortality rate hit a record low of 6.42 deaths per 1,000 live births, a drop of nearly 3% from 2008.

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About Doug Stanglin

Doug is an unrepentant news junkie who loves breaking news and has been known to watch C-SPAN even on vacation. He has covered a wide range of domestic and international news stories, from prison riots in Oklahoma to the Moscow coup against Mikhail Gorbachev. Doug previously served as foreign editor at USA TODAY. More about Doug

About Michael Winter

Michael Winter has been a daily contributor to On Deadline since its debut in January 2006. His journalism career began in the prehistoric Ink Era, and he was an early adapter at the dawn of the Digital Age. His varied experience includes editing at the San Jose Mercury News and The Philadelphia Inquirer.