The association between perceived health ratings ("excellent," "good," "fair," and "poor") and mortality was assessed using the 1965 Human Population Laboratory survey of a random sample of 6928 adults in Alameda County, California, and a subsequent nine-year follow-up. Risk of death during this period was significantly associated with perceived health rating in 1965. The age-adjusted relative risk for mortality from all causes for those who perceived their health as poor as compared to excellent was 2.33 for men and 5.10 for women. The association between level of perceived health and mortality persisted in multiple logistic analyses with controls for age, sex, 1965 physical health status, health practices, social network participation, income, education, health relative to age peers, anomy, morale, depression, and happiness.