Objectives-This report presents preliminary U.S. data on deaths, death rates, life expectancy, leading causes of death, and infant mortality for 2009 by selected characteristics such as age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. Methods-Data in this report are based on death records comprising more than 96 percent of the demographic and medical files for all deaths in the United States in 2009. The records are weighted to independent control counts for 2009. Comparisons are made with 2008 preliminary data. Results-The age-adjusted death rate decreased from 758.7 deaths per 100,000 population in 2008 to 741.0 deaths per 100,000 population in 2009. From 2008 to 2009, age-adjusted death rates decreased significantly for 10 of the 15 leading causes of death: Diseases of heart, Malignant neoplasms, Chronic lower respiratory diseases, Cerebrovascular diseases, Accidents (unintentional injuries), Alzheimer's disease, Diabetes mellitus, Influenza and pneumonia, Septicemia, and Assault (homicide). Life expectancy increased by 0.2 year, from 78.0 in 2008 to 78.2 in 2009.