Guides: Philadelphia Studies: Health

Births and Deaths

Births and deaths are recorded by the local authorities and reported as "vital statistics." They are compiled and made available by local, state, and federal agencies.

Vital Statistics Reports, Philadelphia Dept. of Public Health (Online)
Births and deaths in Philadelphia County as a whole from 2000-2016. Some tables have cross-tabulations by race or age.
Vital Statistics Reports Supplemental Tables : Vital Status Events by Census Tract and by ZIP Code / Philadelphia Dept of Public Health (Online).
(Preserved by Internet Archive, 11/7/2018).
Detailed MS Excel tables of births, deaths, and leading causes of deaths by census tracts and ZIP Codes, 2003-2014. Some tables have crosstabulations by race and age.
Vital Statistics Report, Philadelphia Dept. of Public Health (Print)
Births and deaths for Philadelphia County as a whole, 1982-2005. Preceded by:
• Annual statistical report. 1973-1981.
Philadelphia resident birth, death, disease and population data by health district, by neighborhood, and by census tract.
Vital statistics for small areas, 1991-2002, in print. Earlier editions available as:
• Selected resident birth and death data by health district, by census tract, and by neighborhood. 1978-1990..
Pennsylvania Vital Statistics, Annual Report
Births, deaths, abortions and pregnancies for the state and counties, from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health. Available online from 1996-present, in print from 1979-2005.
EDDIE - Enterprise Data Dissemination Informatics Exchange
Pennsylvania Department of Health vital statistics and health statistics data for custom tabulations for counties and municipalities, by race and age group. Can also calculate rates/percents such as fertility rate, standard mortality ratio, etc. 1990-present. Replaces EpiQMS.
VitalStats
Federal compilation of birth and perinatal mortality data by county. Requires free registration. Includes some more detailed categories than the Philadelphia or Pennsylvania health department vital statistics, such as mother's place of birth and father's race.
County Health Rankings
Compare Philadelphia County (coterminous with the City of Philadelphia) with counties around the country on a variety of health metrics.

Health Statistics

Aside from vital statistics, much of the detailed information about the health of Philadelphia residents since 1983 comes from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey from the Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC). The data is part of the Community Health Data Base (CHDB). Some CHDB products are listed below, among other sources.

Community Health Explorer
Data visualization tool from Philadelphia Department of Public Health, providing citywide and Planning Analysis Section data on health conditions, attitudes, and services. Draws heavily upon the Community Health Data Base.
Community Health Data Base Online Data Analysis
Online Data Analysis retrieves statistics from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey, 2000-2012, on health status, behaviors, access & barriers, screening, and communities, by ZIP code, age, sex, race, insurance or poverty status. Works in Internet Explorer only.
Community Health Data Base Microdata
For Penn community members doing their own statistical analysis, Penn Libraries has acquired the CHDB microdata for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey in SPSS format for 1994-2010.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey reports
A number of earlier PHMC reports are available in print.
Health Status Reports
The Philadelphia Dept. of Public Health releases a number of statistical reports on health problems in the city; most are current years only. Special sections include:
- Disease Control
- HIV and AIDS
Health Statistics / Pennsylvania Department of Health
Index to available health statistics, some of which are available at the county or health district level. Includes EDDIE (the Health Department's chief statistical data resource) and Community Health Assessment resources.
Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
The PHC4 is "an independent state agency responsible for addressing the problem of escalating health costs, ensuring the quality of health care, and increasing access for all citizens regardless of ability to pay." They maintain county profiles on hospitalizations and ambulatory surgery.