National Center for Health Statistics

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is a key component of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It serves as the primary source of health statistics for the United States, collecting and analyzing data on a wide range of health-related issues. The NCHS is newsworthy due to the recent release of provisional data regarding U.S. births in 2025 and U.S. life expectancy in 2024. The data indicates a slight decrease in births compared to 2024, suggesting the previous year's uptick was not sustained. Simultaneously, the NCHS reported that U.S. life expectancy reached a record high of 79 years in 2024. These statistics are crucial for policymakers, researchers, and public health officials to understand population trends, identify health challenges, and develop effective interventions and strategies to improve public health outcomes.