The report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics found that in 2005, a total of 2,448,017 deaths were reported in the United States. The age-adjusted death rate was 798.8 deaths per 100,000 standard population, representing a decrease of 0.2 percent from the 2004 rate and a record low historical figure, the report said.

The report used data tabulated by information reported on death certificates.

The leading causes of death in 2005 were heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases, accidents, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, influenza and pneumonia.

The difference between male and female life expectancy remained at 5.2 years in 2005.

The age-adjusted death rate was 1.3 times greater, the infant mortality rate 2.4 times greater and maternal mortality rate 3.3 times greater for the African-American population than that for the white population. Life expectancy for the white population exceeded that for the black population by 5.1 years.