New York: More New Yorkers are living longer according to the city’s health department.

The Department of Health says just over 57,000 people died in 2004. That is a historic low and about 2,000 fewer deaths then in 2003.

Health department officials say the biggest factor in the decrease in deaths was the reduction in heart attack deaths (down 14 percent), deaths from HIV and AIDS (down 12 percent), colon cancer and homicide (both down 9 percent).

The life expectancy for New Yorkers born in 2003 increased to just over 78 years, more than seven months longer than the national average.