NVSS - National Vital Statistics System Homepage

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

NCHS is responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) with new resources to help monitor and report deaths. Please visit our COVID-19 Death Data and Reporting Guidance page to stay up to date on the latest information.

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Death Data and Reporting Guidance

Image of CDC Wonder announcement of new provisional mortality data

The National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) provides the most complete data on births and deaths in the United States

What's New

Identification of Deaths With Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19 From Death Certificate Literal Text: United States, January 1, 2020–June 30, 2022
(12/14/2022)
Changes in Twin Births in the United States, 2019–2021
(12/6/2022)
Drug Overdose Deaths in Adults Aged 65 and Over: United States, 2000–2020
(11/30/2022)
Unintentional Fall Deaths Among Adults Aged 65 and Over: United States, 2020
(11/30/2022)
Alcohol-induced Deaths in Adults Aged 65 and Over: United States, 2019 and 2020
(11/30/2022)

Births

Birth data track important demographic and health trends, such as pregnancy risk factors, teen pregnancy, and preterm birth

Deaths

Data from death certificates are the most comprehensive source of information on mortality, including cause of death

Fetal Deaths

Fetal death data can help identify pregnancy risks and improve the health of mothers and infants

Linked Birth/Infant Death

Linked birth/infant death data are used to explore relationships between infant death and risk factors present during pregnancy and at birth

Life Expectancy

Life expectancy data provide a snapshot of population health and mortality in the United States

Marriages and Divorces

Information on the total numbers and rates of marriages and divorces is collected at the national and state levels

Data for Action

Vital Statistics Rapid Release

Find our latest provisional (preliminary) estimates on births and deaths, including deaths from drug overdoses and flu.

Modernizing Vital Statistics

Explore our projects and initiatives to improve data timeliness and quality

Data Quick Links

Connections and Resources

Training and Instruction

Online trainings, mobile apps, guidance, and handbooks for those working with vital records

Medical Examiners and Coroners

Resources for medical examiners and coroners, including guidance on writing cause-of-death statements

U.S. Standard Certificates

Information for jurisdictions about certificates of birth, death, and fetal death

Where to Write

Where to write for birth, death, marriage, or divorce certificates by state and territory

National Death Index

Resources to link death certificate information, including cause of death, to research datasets

Read Our Newsletter!

Stay up to date on the latest happenings across our nation’s vital statistics community

View All

Project Links

Related Surveys

National Survey of Family Growth

Past Surveys:

About Us

National Vital Statistics System

Explore Our Topics

Data for Action

Connections and Resources