CDC WONDER

CDC WONDER

CDC WONDER provides mortality statistics — deaths by cause, age, race, gender, state, county. Primary endpoint uses XML POST to /controller/datarequest/{database_id} but key datasets are also on data.cdc.gov via SODA API. Key datasets: D76 (underlying cause of death 1999-2020), D77 (multiple cause), D176 (provisional mortality). SODA alternative: bi63-dtpu (NCHS leading causes of death). Data includes crude rate, age-adjusted rate, death count, and population.

Data Model

• Mortality records — cause of death (ICD-10 codes), age group, race, gender, state, county, year.
• Rates — crude death rate, age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population.
• Databases — D76 (underlying cause 1999-2020), D77 (multiple cause), D176 (provisional).
• SODA datasets — bi63-dtpu (leading causes), other CDC open data endpoints.

Gotchas

• Primary API uses XML POST: the WONDER data request API requires XML-formatted POST bodies to /controller/datarequest/{database_id}. Complex to construct.
• SODA alternative: key datasets are mirrored on data.cdc.gov with simpler REST/JSON access.
• Suppressed data: counts between 1-9 may be suppressed for privacy. Shown as "Suppressed" or null.
• Rate calculation: age-adjusted rates use the 2000 US standard population.
• ICD-10 codes: causes of death use ICD-10 classification (e.g. I25 for chronic ischemic heart disease).