National Vital Statistics System
The National Vital Statistics System is the oldest and most successful example of inter-governmental data sharing in Public Health and the shared relationships, standards, and procedures form the mechanism by which NCHS collects and disseminates the Nation’s official vital statistics. These data are provided through contracts between NCHS and vital registration systems operated in the various jurisdictions legally responsible for the registration of vital events – births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and fetal deaths.
How to get a birth, death, marriage, or divorce certificate
Need a birth, death, marriage, or divorce certificate? Use our state and territory specific information to find out where to write.
What's New
Restricted-Use Data for Research
- A new application process is in place for researchers who need access to confidential micro-data files
Publications
- Mortality Patterns Between the Five States With The Highest Death Rates and the Five States With Lowest Death Rates in the United States, 2017 (09/05/2019)
- Infant Mortality in the United States, 2017: Data From the Period Linked Birth/Infant Death File pdf icon[PDF – 475 KB] Supplemental Tables pdf icon[PDF – 447 KB] (08/01/2019)
- Births in the United States, 2018 (07/24/2019)
- Mortality Trends by Race and Ethnicity Among Adults Aged 25 and over: United States, 2000–2017 (07/23/2019)
- Unintentional Injury Death Rates in Rural and Urban Areas: United States, 1999–2017 (07/16/2019)
- Deaths: Leading Causes for 2017 pdf icon[PDF – 2 MB] (06/24/2019)
- United States Life Tables, 2017 pdf icon[PDF – 2 MB] (06/24/2019)
- Deaths: Final Data for 2017 pdf icon[PDF – 2 MB] Supplemental Tables pdf icon[PDF – 2 MB] (06/24/2019)
- Suicide Rates for Females and Males by Race and Ethnicity: United States, 1999 and 2017 (06/20/2019)
- Assessing the Quality of Medical and Health Data From the 2003 Birth Certificate Revision: Results From New York City pdf icon[PDF – 944 KB] (06/10/2019)
- Trends in Cancer and Heart Disease Death Rates Among Adults Aged 45–64: United States, 1999–2017 pdf icon[PDF – 231 KB] (05/22/2019)
- United States Life Tables, 2016 pdf icon[PDF – 2 MB] (05/07/2019)
- Dementia Mortality in the United States, 2000–2017 pdf icon[PDF – 611 KB] (03/14/2019)
- Educational Attainment of Mothers Aged 25 and Over: United States, 2017 (02/21/2019)
- Total Fertility Rates by State and Race and Hispanic Origin: United States, 2017 pdf icon[PDF – 922 KB] (01/10/2019)
- Suicide Mortality in the United States, 1999–2017 (11/29/2018)
- Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 1999–2017 (11/29/2018)
- Mortality in the United States, 2017 (11/29/2018)
- Infant Mortality by Age at Death in the United States, 2016 (11/16/2018)
- United States Life Tables, 2015 pdf icon[PDF – 2 MB] (11/13/2018)
- Births: Final Data for 2017 pdf icon[PDF – 985 KB] (11/7/2018)
- Trends in Fertility and Mother’s Age at First Birth Among Rural and Metropolitan Counties: United States, 2007–2017 (10/17/2018)
- U.S. Small-area Life Expectancy Estimates Project: Methodology and Results Summary pdf icon[PDF – 8 MB] (9/10/2018)
Public Use Data
- 2018 Birth Data Files (7/24/2019)
Training
Page last reviewed: September 5, 2019
Content source: CDC/National Center for Health Statistics