The National Center for Health Statistics has published a new set of life expectancy tables.
The new U.S. Life Tables, based on 2006 final mortality statistics, replace tables released in 2005.
The new tables show the overall U.S. expectation of life at birth increased to 77.7 years, from 77.4 years in 2005.
Life expectancy increased 0.2 years for males and 0.3 years for females.
Compared with the tables published in 2004, the new tables appear to show that the life expectancy of U.S. residents ages 100 and older is declining.