Objectives-This report describes the methodology used in the preparation of the 2009-2011 decennial life tables for the United States by race, Hispanic origin, and sex based on the age-specific death rates for the period 2009-2011, appearing in the report, "U.S. Decennial Life Tables for 2009-2011, United States Life Tables" (1). Methods-Data used to prepare these life tables include population data by age on the census date April 1, 2010; deaths occurring in the 3-year period 2009-2011 classified by age at death; births for each of the years 2007-2011; and Medicare data for ages 66-99 for the 3 years 2009-2011. The methods used differ from those applied to the 1999-2001 decennial life tables in the estimation of mortality for ages 66 and over. For the total, white, black, non-Hispanic white, and non-Hispanic black populations, the method developed for the U.S. annual life tables beginning with data year 2008 was used. It consists of the application of the Kannisto logistic model to smooth death rates in the age range 85-99 and predict death rates for ages 100-120 (2,3). For the Hispanic population, which is added to the decennial series for the first time with the 2009-2011 set, the method developed for the U.S. annual life tables beginning with data year 2006 was used. This method consists of using the Brass relational logit model to estimate mortality for ages 80-120 (4).
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