Highlights of a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)

Advance Report of Final Mortality Statistics, 1992

Monthly Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 43, No. 6, Supplement

For Release December 8, 1994 (Corrected and reprinted March 22, 1995)

The Advance Report of Final Mortality Statistics, 1992 was released by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Data highlights

• Life expectancy in the U.S. reached an all-time high in 1992 of 75.8 years.
• Infant mortality fell to an all-time low of 8.5 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 1992, although the rate for black infants was 2.4 times the rate for white infants.
• Age-adjusted death rates for the six leading causes of death in the U.S. (heart disease, cancer, stroke, lung disease, accidents, and pneumonia/influenza) fell in 1992.
• Death rates for most age groups declined in 1992, except for the age group 35-44 years. Increased death rates for this population were mainly attributable to deaths from HIV infection, which killed 33,566 Americans in 1992.
• Drug-induced mortality increased sharply between 1991 and 1992, while death rates for alcohol-induced causes remained unchanged.
• The number of homicides in the country declined in 1992 to 25,488, down from 26,513 in 1991.
• The number of firearm deaths also declined, from 38,317 in 1991 to 37,776 in 1992. Firearm suicide and homicide together accounted for 95 percent of all firearm deaths.

For more information, please contact NCHS, Office of Public Affairs (301) 458-4800, or via e-mail at paoquery@cdc.gov.

Advance Report of Final Mortality Statistics, 1992 (corrected and reprinted). Vol. 43, No. 6 supplement. 76 pp. (PHS) 95-1120 pdf icon[PDF – 697 KB]