STATCAST - Week of July 22, 2019

NCHS Releases Reports on Mortality by Race and Ethnicity and 2018 Birth Data

TRANSCRIPT

A new publicationpdf icon this week from NCHS looks at mortality trends since the year 2000 for American adults ages 25 and up by race and ethnicity.  During the first half of the years studied, death rates declined for nearly all groups. However, in the more recent period death rates have increased for young adults ages 25-44 for all race/ethnic groups and for non-Hispanic white and black adults ages 45-64.  Death rates for those age 65 and up declined during the period for all race/ethnic groups.  Between 2000 and 2017, the mortality gap between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites grew, while the gap between white and black adults who were not Hispanic decreased.

NCHS also released a new Data Briefpdf icon this week along with the 2018 public-use data file on births, marking the official release of final 2018 birth data for the United States.  The report shows declines in the general fertility rate in America overall and for the three largest race and Hispanic origin groups between 2017 and 2018. The general fertility rate is defined as the number of live births to females ages 15-44.  The report also documented a number of other measures, such as a continued decline in childbearing among teenagers in the U.S. of all major race and Hispanic groups, as well as an increase in vaginal deliveries after a previous cesarean, and an increase in preterm and early term birth rates for all groups.