Request Vital Records Data

The Office of Vital Records offers reports with compiled public birth and death data, including both standard data reports and custom reports. You can request information from records registered since April 1, 2011, for specific counties, zip codes, or the entire state and for specific time periods (up to 12 months per report). You can also get recurring reports at a frequency you choose.

The nonrefundable fee for each data report is $15 and due at the time of request. Email us for more information and to request data: health.dataquality@state.mn.us

Standard data reports

The standard public birth file provides information from public birth records for a calendar year  (April 2011 to the present) in a sortable Excel spreadsheet. A report includes data for the full calendar year, except reports for 2011 and the current calendar year. For each birth, it includes:

• Child’s name, sex, and date and time of birth.
• Birth plurality (single, twin, etc.) and birth order.
• Place of birth and address, including county.
• Birth attendant’s name, title, and license number.
• Parents’ name(s), date and place of birth, address, education, marital status, and race.

Birth data files only include public information from public birth records. Not all birth records are public. For instance, the records for births to unmarried parents are confidential unless they specifically make them public. All death records are public information.

The standard death file provides information about all Minnesota deaths for a calendar year  (April 2011 to the present) in a sortable Excel spreadsheet. A report includes data for the full calendar year, except reports for 2011 and the current calendar year.  For each death, it includes:

• Decedent’s name, sex, race, residence address, birth and death dates and locations, marital status, education, occupation, and cause and manner of death.
• Spouse’s name, parents’ names, and informant’s name and address.
• Disposition method and location, funeral home name and location.
• Medical certifier’s name and location.

A school district file lists data from public birth records by zip code for specific time periods (up to 12 months), to help school boards estimate enrollment numbers and create mailing lists. For each birth, it includes:

• Child’s name, sex, and date of birth.
• Parents’ name, date of birth, and mailing address.

Custom data reports

Requesters can work with staff in the Office of Vital Records to create a custom report to meet their needs. Email health.dataquality@state.mn.us for more information about custom reports.

Statistical and trend data

The Minnesota Department of Health offers statistical and trend data through the Minnesota Center for Health Statistics. The center uses vital event data from birth, death, and fetal death records to compile statistical data and monitor trends such as pregnancy risk factors, birth outcomes, and causes of death for the state overall and for different subgroups. The center publishes annual reports with de-identified vital statistics. Explore the available data on the Vital statistics webpage and the Center for Health Statistics pages.

Research requests

Vital records may be available for authorized research purposes. The Center for Health Statistics works with researchers to provide individual-level data from vital records. To request data, researchers must complete an application that describes the project and how they will use and protect the data. The requests require a legal review, research oversight, and approval.

Email the Center for Health Statistics with questions about research requests and statistical and trend data: health.healthstats@state.mn.us.

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