In the United States, what age has the highest death rate for males
and females? In other words, what birthday is the most to be fearful
of?

Hello  monroe22 and thank you for your question.

If you are male 74 years old, and if you are female 79 years old.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, life
expectancy for men is 74 years and 4 months, and life expectancy for
women is 79 years and 8 months.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3225/is_10_68/ai_110488878

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm
Definition of Life Expectancy:
"The average number of years people in a given population can expect
to live; the mean age at death."
http://www.crab.rutgers.edu/~deppen/448glossary.htm

Also see:
"Leading Causes of Death in the United States"
http://www.the-eggman.com/writings/death_stats.html

Thank you for your question, and if you need any clarification of my
answer, do not hesitate to ask prior to rating my answer.

Very best regards

THX1138

Search strategy included:
"life expectancy in the united states" 
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&as_qdr=m3&q=+%22life+expectancy+in+the+united+states%22+&as_qdr=m3&btnG=Search

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Clarification of Answer by thx1138-ga on 21 Feb 2005 08:15 PST

Hello again monroe22

Yes, time for me eat humble pie!  I'm sorry but having read your
comment and that of research_help-ga I agree my answer was off the
mark.

I have the relevant document and am sifting through it for you now,
and should be able to post  the information in half an hour or so...

Once again, I'm really very sorry.

Very best regards

THX1138

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Clarification of Answer by thx1138-ga on 21 Feb 2005 08:49 PST

Hello again monroe22.

The latest data is from 2001 and here it is:

"DEATHS BY SINGLE YEARS OF AGE, RACE, AND SEX: UNITED STATES, 2001"

White Male: 79 years   White Female: 87 years

Black Male: 81 years   Black Female: 81 years 

Extracted from:

http://www.cdc.gov/NCHS/data/statab/mortfinal2001_work310.pdf


Apologies once again for my misunderstanding.

Very best regards

THX1138

thx: Thanks...I thought there might be some difference between life
expectancy and actual data. Don't know why I thought that. Probably
confused L.E. at birth versus current data.

Perhaps it is not birthdays we should fear, but days of the week:  

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/100/105584.htm?action=related_link

Of course, getting past these ages doesn't make you safe.

The Grim Reaper will be watching and waiting.

That is, if you are a mere mortal.

Us vampires, we only have to worry about getting a stake plunged into our heart.

Be careful on Monday mornings too!

"More people die at 9 a.m. Monday morning than at any other time of
the day or the week, according to mind/body expert Dr. Deepak Chopra."
http://www.smmirror.com/Volume1/issue5/word_magic.html

monroe22 . with you now live in mortal terror of your 74th birthday?

Oooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh ........ I'm scared ....... It's Monday
here in the UK.

I feel great at the moment but will a jealous husband turn up with his shotgun?

(A case of Mistaken Identity, of course.)

I disagree with the answer given.  Life expectancy at birth is simply
an average number of years that a person born today is expected to
live.  It does not necessarily equate to the age when the greatest
number of people die.  The average includes all the people who died at
age 1, 2, 3, etc.  I would suspect that the year when the greatest
number of people actually die is somewhat higher than the life
expectancy average.

research_help-ga: Your comment is more in line with what I was
seeking. Childhood deaths should not be in the equation. Perhaps I
should have worded it: What is the most common age at death for those
who are 21 or older?
Thanks,
monroe22

willh-ga:  I'm past 74 and don't fear any particular day...yet
monroe22

thx1138-ga: That is what I sought, and do not apologize. I didn't
phrase the question precisely.  It is truly surprising that black
males, if they survive, live longer than white males. If the slaughter
of young blacks could be checked, they could look forward to long
lives. Many thanks.
monroe22

Hello again monroe22,

You said:
"thx1138-ga: That is what I sought, and do not apologize. I didn't
phrase the question precisely."

You are being too kind! In hindsight I think you did phrase the
question correctly and I misunderstood your question. However I`m glad
we were able to arrive at the correct answer in the end.

Very best regards

THX1138