This report provides an overview of the estimated and projected trends in mortality at the world level, for development groups and major areas; the analysis also focuses on country and regional data for selected mortality indicators. In addition to examining the summary indicator of life expectancy at birth, the report analyzes levels and trends in mortality for key age groups in childhood and provides a snapshot of adult and "old age" mortality levels. It examines the socio-economic determinants of child hood mortality at the aggregate level across countries, and on disparities within countries in 50 low-and middle-income countries based on Demographic and Health Surveys data.