Documentation for U.S. and Puerto Rico Data (2005–2020)

U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Database

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Two United States Cancer Statistics public use databases are available for researchers: the U.S. and Puerto Rico (2005–2020) database, described in this section, and the U.S. (2001–2020) database.

The U.S. and Puerto Rico (2005–2020) database—

  • Does not include race and ethnicity variables.
  • Includes Puerto Rico data.
  • The population denominators are race-specific, ethnicity-specific, and sex-specific county population estimates from the U.S. Census (July 1, 2010–2020 bridged-race vintage 2020 population estimates), modified by SEER and aggregated to the state and national levels.

Population Coverage by Diagnosis Year

For cases diagnosed from 2005 through 2017, 100% of the population is covered for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Cases that were diagnosed in Nevada in 2018 and 2019 are not available, so 99% of the U.S. population is covered those years. In 2020, cases that were diagnosed in Indiana and Nevada are not available. The U.S. population coverage for 2005 through 2020 is 99.8%.

Puerto Rico’s 2017 incidence counts are restricted to the first six months of reported data (January to June 2017). Data from July to December 2017 are excluded to account for the population shift that occurred due to Hurricane Maria. The population denominators were adjusted by dividing the U.S. Bureau of the Census’s July 1, 2017 (vintage 2021) Puerto Rico population estimate in half.

Change History
2005–2020 Analyses Checklist
Variable Definitions

Suggested Citations

Please use these standard citations for tables and figures when presented in presentations or publications.

For population coverage: Data are from population-based registries that participate in CDC’s National Program of Cancer Registries and/or NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program and meet high-quality data criteria. These registries cover approximately [XX]% of the U.S. population.

For age-adjusted rates: Rates are per 100,000 persons and are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population (19 age groups – Census P25–1130).

For the database: National Program of Cancer Registries and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program SEER*Stat Database: NPCR and SEER Incidence – U.S. Cancer Statistics 2005–2020 Public Use Research Database, 2022 submission (2005–2020), United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute. Released June 2023. Available at www.cdc.gov/cancer/uscs/public-use.

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