Data Types and Limitations

Vital Records Data File Types

Birth Data Files

The birth files include all state registered births, and births to California residents that occurred out-of-state.  These files contain detailed demographic information related to the child, mother, and father, as well as medical data related to the birth.  CPHS and VSAC approvals are required to obtain the confidential data fields.  

In addition, Public Use and Anti-Fraud data files are available. The public-use and anti-fraud files are non-comprehensive and not intended to be a precise enumeration of birth events in a given year.  Both the public-use and anti-fraud files may contain multiple entries for a single birth event. The public-use and anti-fraud files may also omit some birth events. As a result, the number of records in the public-use and anti-fraud files may differ significantly from the actual number of birth events in a given year.  Data users interested in a precise enumeration of vital events for a given year, may reference the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) public files or complete and submit a research application to CHSI in order to access the comprehensive birth files. If you have any questions regarding the public-use and anti-fraud files, please contact HIRS@cdph.ca.gov.

For information about the data sources available for request, please see the Birth Data Sources Comparison Chart (XLSX).​

Death Data Files

The death files are available with in-state California deaths only, a combination of in-state deaths and deaths of California residents that occurred in other states or jurisdictions, or out-of-state deaths only.  CPHS and the VSAC approvals may be required to obtain the death files. 

In addition, Public Use and Anti-Fraud data files are available. The public-use and anti-fraud files are non-comprehensive and not intended to be a precise enumeration of death events in a given year.  Both the public-use and anti-fraud files may contain multiple entries for a single death event. The public-use and anti-fraud files may also omit some death events. As a result, the number of records in the public-use and anti-fraud files may differ significantly from the actual number of death events in a given year.  Data users interested in a precise enumeration of vital events for a given year, may reference the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) public files or complete and submit a research application to CHSI in order to access the comprehensive death files. If you have any questions regarding the public-use and anti-fraud files, please contact HIRS@cdph.ca.gov.

For information about the data sources available for request, please see the Death Data Sources Comparison Chart (XLSX).​​​​