FLORIDA VITAL STATISTICS ANNUAL REPORT 2013
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POPULATION:
The resident midyear July 1 population estimates for 2001-2013 used in this Annual Report were developed by
the Department of Health, Division of Public Health Statistics and Performance Management in consultation with
the Florida Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research (s. 216.135, Florida Statutes). Following
a census, it is customary to revise population projections for the intercensal years based on information from the
latest census. Replacing the projected population data with actual estimates ensures accurate accounting of the
racial, ethnic, gender, and age distribution of the population. Without these revisions, rates would appear to
dramatically change between 2001 and 2013 for no reason other than incomparable population estimates.
RACE:
Since 1989, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has classified live births and fetal deaths according
to the race of the mother only. As a result of this change and for purposes of comparability, vital statistics data in
this report have been modified and are based on the race of the mother for all live birth and fetal death data. In
examining trends for related indicators such as infant deaths, low birthweight, and unwed births, it is important to
use the same race methodology throughout the time period being analyzed. As a result of the change in
methodology from the use of the race of the child/fetus to the use of the race of the mother, some of the black and
other race births or fetal deaths (based on the race of child/fetus) will now be classified as white births (based on
the race of the mother). This change may result in a slight decrease in the white infant death rate and an increase
in the black and other race infant death rate.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, "Race and ethnic questions are among the most technically complex and
publicly controversial questions asked in the decennial census." Over the past three decades, the Census
Bureau's definitions and coding procedures have changed. The 1970 Census for Florida showed a population that
was 84.3 percent white, 15.3 percent black, and 0.4 percent for all other races. The 1980 Census showed 84.0
percent white, 13.8 percent black, and 2.2 percent for all other races. This increase in the races other than white
and black results mainly from changes in the Census Bureau's definitions. After 1980, the Census Bureau
corrected its data and many persons, primarily white Hispanics who had been listed as "others", were reclassified
to white. Revised 1980 data for Florida had 85.4 percent white, 13.8 percent black, and 0.8 percent for all other
races.
Race entries usually are tabulated as stated on the birth, death, fetal death and marriage certificates. However,
designations such as "Hispanic" are generally classified as "white." Designations such as "bi-racial," "black and
other race," or "mixed" are classified as "other entries." The 2000 Census permitted multiple responses to be
made for the question regarding race. When the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics revised its birth certificate for the
2004 data year, its death certificate for the 2005 data year and its fetal death certificate for the 2006 data year, the
new certificates also permitted multiple responses to be made for the race question. There are 15 race
designations from which any number may be chosen. For tabulation purposes, frequency counts for each of the
15 designations indicate that only a single selection was made. When the single category "other" was selected
and a black Hispanic designation was specified, the race was classified as "black." Otherwise, "other" with a
Hispanic designation was classified as "white." When ?white? and ?black? are displayed in the data tables, they
represent ?only white race? and ?only black race?, respectively. When ?other? is displayed in the data tables it
represents ?only a race other than white or black? or ?multiple races.?
UNKNOWNS:
Data in this publication may include persons whose age, race, gender, or resident county/city may be unknown
or not reported. As a result, the totals for these data may be greater than the sum of the components.
