Each year, thousands of Americans die from preventable causes—yet few realize that the CDC WONDER Database offers free, direct access to the data behind these deaths.
If you’ve ever considered the questions below:
- “How many young adults have died from alcohol-related liver disease, in the previous ten years?”
- “Is there a geographical pattern to asthma-related deaths in the U.S.?”
- “Have Native American suicide rates increased since COVID-19?”
Then you’re already thinking like an epidemiologist! And the CDC WONDER database is there for you.
In this article, we’ll discuss what the CDC WONDER database is, how to use it, and why it’s one of the most poorly utilized public health tools in the USA.
What Is the CDC WONDER Database?
CDC WONDER, or Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research, is an online system developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that provides the public with access to a good deal of health-related datasets.
The WONDER database was created in the mid-1990s for use by researchers, reporters, policy-makers, and even, by engaged citizens looking for accurate, timely, and micro-level health data on things like:
- Mortality and causes of death
- Birth and fertility rates
- Cancer statistics
- Hospital discharge records
- Population estimates
The system allows users to generate customized reports, export data for analysis, and explore trends over time or across geographic regions.
Why It Matters: A Real-World Example Using the CDC WONDER Database
In 2024, researchers used CDC WONDER to analyze trends in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) deaths. Their study, published in JAMA Network Open, found a significant increase in ALD mortality in the U.S. between 2017 and 2022—especially among women, young adults, and American Indian/Alaska Native communities source.
The data came directly from the Multiple Cause of Death (MCD) public use dataset within CDC WONDER. Without this public resource, tracking patterns like this would be nearly impossible to do on a larger scale, and would likely require months of paperwork and datasets that are not accessible to the public.
This is just one of many examples in which CDC WONDER helps provide insight on pressing public health concerns.
Key Features of the CDC WONDER Database
1. Open Access, No Login Required
The CDC WONDER database is fully open to the public—no login, subscription, or government clearance needed. Anyone with internet access can use the CDC WONDER search portal to explore detailed U.S. public health data, from mortality statistics to disease trends, all directly sourced from the CDC.
2. Powerful Search Filters
The system allows deep filtering by:
- Year (from 1999 to most recent)
- Geographic region (state, county)
- Cause of death (ICD-10 codes)
- Demographics: age group, sex, race, and ethnicity
For example, you can search for heart disease deaths among Hispanic men aged 45–64 in Texas between 2010 and 2020.
3. Data Visualization and Export
Users can see the results in tables and charts and export them into CSV format. This allows users to assimilate the results into reports, dashboards or academic work.
4. Up-to-Date and Trustworthy
The data is sourced from official death certificates and curated by the CDC. Updates are frequent and follow strict validation processes.
5. Modular System
WONDER is made up of multiple modules, such as:
- Mortality (Detailed & Compressed)
- Births
- Cancer Statistics
- Environmental data
Each module has its own custom interface and filters.
How to Use CDC WONDER: Step-by-Step
Let’s walk through a basic query:
Scenario: You want to know how many Americans aged 25–34 died from suicide in California in 2021.
Step 1: Navigate to the WONDER Mortality Database
Step 2: Choose “Detailed Mortality Data”
This provides access to more granular data than the “compressed” version.
Step 3: Set your filters:
- Group Results By: Year, Age Group, State
- Location: California
- Year: 2021
- Age: 25–34
- Cause of Death: ICD-10 code X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm)
Step 4: Submit Request
The system will provide a detailed table, the requested output, with the number of deaths, rates per 100,000 population, and confidence intervals.
You can either download the result or create visualizations with external tools such as Tableau, Excel or R.
Use Cases: Who Can Benefit from the CDC WONDER Database?
Researchers & Academics
Use it to validate hypotheses, prepare for grant applications, or support peer-reviewed publications.
Journalists & Data Storytellers
CDC WONDER is a goldmine for health-related investigative pieces, local trend analyses, and nationwide reporting.
Public Health Departments
Local governments can monitor disease outbreaks, track injury trends, and support community health initiatives.
Students
WONDER is often used in epidemiology or public health courses to teach real-world data skills.
Limitations and Caveats of the CDC WONDER Database
While WONDER is a powerful tool, it has some limitations:
- Lag in Data Availability: There’s typically a 1-year delay in finalized data.
- Suppressed Data: Small numbers (e.g., <10 cases) are often suppressed to protect privacy.
- Learning Curve: The interface isn’t as modern or intuitive as newer BI tools.
However, the CDC provides Quick Start Guides and FAQs to help new users get started efficiently.
Final Thoughts: A Tool Hiding in Plain Sight
CDC WONDER is much more than just another government program or tool. It’s a public good that can help shape health policy, support journalism and save lives.
Yet, despite all of the potential benefits, it continues to be vastly underutilized, save for specific professional research activity.
In an environment riddled with misinformation, the availability of stark data like WONDER is vital. Whether you’re a journalist working on a health story in your community, a policy analyst working on efforts to prevent opioid use and harm, or a member of the public trying to make sense of cancer patterns in your state, this data source is at your disposal.
So please don’t let the opportunity to use WONDER go to waste.
For those interested in exploring additional health-related datasets and tools, visit our full Health Databases collection, where we feature expert guides to other publicly available resources for health research, policy analysis, and data journalism.
