FLORIDA VITAL STATISTICS ANNUAL REPORT 2013
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INTRODUCTION
This report summarizes data compiled from the original records/reports that were filed with the Bureau of Vital
Statistics (VS) as required by law. These include records/reports of live births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages,
and dissolutions of marriage. Standard forms recommended by the US Public Health Conference on Records and
Statistics are for the most part used for records of live birth, death, and fetal death.
Responsibility for filing birth records lies with the physician, midwife, or other attendant. Funeral directors, or other
persons acting as such, are legally charged with filing death and fetal death (20 or more weeks of gestation)
records. These documents are then submitted to local registrars who, in turn, forward them to VS. Marriage and
dissolution records are received by VS directly from the various courts.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
This marks the 95th year this annual publication has been produced which began in 1919. The earliest birth on
file with the Bureau of Vital Statistics is from 1865. The earliest death on file with the Bureau of Vital Statistics is
from 1877. Statewide collection of birth and death records first began in 1917 and the mandate to collect these
data statewide was addressed again in 1927.
Having met all United States Bureau of the Census criteria, Florida became a nationally recognized death
registration jurisdiction in 1919 and a nationally recognized birth registration jurisdiction in 1924. Marriage and
dissolution records have been filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics since June 1927.
COMPLETENESS AND QUALITY OF DATA:
Tabulation of data for this annual report was begun after allowing a reasonable time for receipt of late documents.
A few records/reports are received after tabulation and thus are not included. These records/reports represent a
very small fraction of the total, and their omission does not materially alter the facts presented. The quality of data
presented in this Annual Report is directly related to the completeness, accuracy, and processing associated with
the source documents, registration procedures, and statistical reporting systems.
AVAILABILITY OF DATA:
This publication can be accessed at
In addition to these
published tables, charts, and graphs additional supplemental tables showing selected data in greater detail are
also included on this website. Special statistical data files are available upon request on a fee-for-service basis.
RESIDENT AND RECORDED EVENTS:
Data on births and deaths are tabulated according to both the usual ?place of residence? (events occurring to
Florida residents regardless of the place of occurrence) and the ?place of occurrence? (events occurring in Florida
regardless of the usual place of residence). The former are referred to as ?resident? events and the latter as
?recorded? events. Prior to 1933 only recorded data are available.
Varying interpretations of the ?usual place of residence? by Florida?s many seasonal visitors and military families
may influence the accuracy of resident tabulations to some extent, since the residence shown on the record is
normally accepted without question. For births and fetal deaths, the mother?s residence is always used.
Data on marriages are based on county of marriage record issuance. Data on dissolution of marriage records are
by place of occurrence only; there is no interstate exchange of these records. However, Florida dissolutions of
marriage are granted only to legal residents.
