CDC WONDER API Reference

What every parameter
actually does.

A CDC WONDER API request is a flat list of <parameter> elements with cryptic names like B_1 or F_D202.V20. This is a reference for reviewing or building those requests, color-coded by category, with a plain-English explanation for every parameter in every bundled query. WONDER is one of the nine sources pulse covers, and the only one whose requests are written in XML, which is why it gets its own reference.

B_1 = D202.V20 # Group by Year O_age = D202.V1 # Required radio button M_1 = D202.M1 # Measure: Cases

Read the CLI usage guide →

Parameter Structure

Eight kinds of parameter.

Every <parameter> in a WONDER request falls into one of these categories.

Group-ByWhich dimensions appear as rows (B_1 through B_5). Unused slots are *None* and can take any other dimension the dataset supports — hover one in an example to see the options.
Finder FilterFilter select for a hierarchical codelist (e.g. ICD chapters). Paired with an I_* and finder-stage-*.
Finder Text InputEmpty text-input companion to an F_* finder filter.
Finder StageDeclares that a variable uses codeset (hierarchical) filter mode.
MeasureWhat's counted: deaths, births, cases, population, crude rate, age-adjusted rate.
Option / Mode SelectorOutput options and radio-button mode selectors (e.g. O_age picks which age variable is active). Omitting a required one causes HTTP 500.
Value FilterDropdown filter for a specific value (e.g. year, state, sex). *All* means no restriction.
BoilerplateRequired metadata: dataset_code, dataset_label, stage, action-Send.

38 Datasets · 59 Bundled Queries

Dataset overview.

Same summary as pulse source wonder datasets: every WONDER dataset pulse knows about, and whether there's an annotated example to look at.

Dataset	Topic	Years	Subject	Queries	AAR
`D205`	Cancer	1999–2022	Cancer incidence (new case counts and rates) for all cancer sites from 1999 to 2022, covering all US states pl…	2 →	✓
`D207`	Cancer	2018–2023	Cancer mortality (deaths and rates) for 2018-2023 with single-race classification. Covers all cancer sites bro…	2 →	✓
`D104`	Environment	1981–2010	Annual count of heat wave days (May-September) by county from 1981-2010. Derived from NLDAS climate data. Use …	1 →	—
`D60`	Environment	1979–2011	Daily minimum, mean, and maximum temperature plus heat index by county, 1979-2011, from the North American Lan…	—	—
`D61`	Environment	2003–2008	Satellite-derived land surface temperature by county, 2003-2008, from MODIS Terra. Use for urban heat island s…	—	—
`D73`	Environment	2003–2011	Annual county-level fine particulate matter (PM2.5 µg/m³) concentrations, 2003-2011. PM2.5 is the key air poll…	2 →	—
`D80`	Environment	1979–2011	Daily solar radiation (KJ/m²) by county, 1979-2011. From NLDAS. Useful for vitamin D research, seasonal affect…	—	—
`D81`	Environment	1979–2011	Daily precipitation (mm) by county, 1979-2011. From NLDAS. Use for climate-health linkage, flooding risk analy…	—	—
`D133`	Fetal Deaths	2005–2024	Fetal death (stillbirth) records for 2005-2024, covering 20+ weeks gestation. Track stillbirths by state, caus…	3 →	—
`D150`	Fetal Deaths	2014–2024	Expanded fetal death (stillbirth) data for 2014-2024 with additional variables: maternal education, tobacco us…	1 →	—
`D12`	HIV/AIDS	1981–1999	AIDS case surveillance data from the early HIV epidemic, covering diagnoses through 1999. Demographic characte…	5 →	—
`D159`	Infant Mortality	2017–2023	Like D69 but with expanded race/ethnicity detail and additional demographic variables. Best for detailed analy…	—	—
`D18`	Infant Mortality	1999–2002	Linked birth/infant death data for 1999-2002.	—	—
`D23`	Infant Mortality	1995–1998	Linked birth/infant death data for 1995-1998.	—	—
`D31`	Infant Mortality	2003–2006	Linked birth/infant death data for 2003-2006. Same concept as D69 but for earlier years. Use for historical in…	—	—
`D69`	Infant Mortality	2007–2023	Links birth certificates to infant death records to track neonatal and post-neonatal mortality. Covers causes …	1 →	—
`D130`	Infectious Disease	2016–2023	Nationally Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS) data on reportable infectious diseases including tic…	5 →	—
`D140`	Mortality	1999–2016	Compressed mortality data using ICD-10 codes for 1999-2016. Fewer variables than D77 but covers the same perio…	—	—
`D141`	Mortality	1999–2020	Like D77 (MCD 1999-2020) but adds US-Mexico border region and metropolitan geography. Useful for border health…	—	✓
`D157`	Mortality	2018–2023	Final (non-provisional) mortality statistics with single-race classification for 2018-2023. Includes both unde…	1 →	✓
`D158`	Mortality	2018–2023	Final mortality data for 2018-2023 focused on underlying cause of death with single-race classification. Best …	3 →	✓
`D16`	Mortality	1979–1998	Mortality using ICD-9 codes from 1979-1998. Essential for long-term trends — heart disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, …	1 →	—
`D176`	Mortality	2018–present	Track deaths by all causes with weekly updates. Covers COVID-19, opioid overdoses, heart disease, cancer, suic…	17 →	✓
`D74`	Mortality	1968–1978	Pre-ICD-9 mortality data from 1968-1978 using ICD-8 codes. For historical context: the polio era's tail, early…	—	—
`D76`	Mortality	1999–2020	Historical mortality by single underlying cause of death for 1999-2020. Useful for suicide, cancer, heart dise…	1 →	✓
`D77`	Mortality	1999–2020	Historical mortality with both underlying and multiple causes of death for 1999-2020. Standard dataset for dru…	5 →	✓
`D10`	Natality	1995–2002	Live birth data for 1995-2002. Use for historical birth trends predating D27.	1 →	—
`D149`	Natality	2016–2024	Like D66 but with detailed single-race classification and additional demographic variables. Best for analyzing…	—	—
`D192`	Natality	2023–present	Provisional (preliminary) birth data updated monthly. Use for the most current birth trend data — national fer…	1 →	—
`D27`	Natality	2003–2006	Live birth data for 2003-2006. Use for historical birth trends.	1 →	—
`D66`	Natality	2007–2024	Live births data covering birth rates, fertility rates, maternal age, prenatal care, gestational age, birth we…	3 →	—
`D117`	Population	2014–2060	Census Bureau national population projections by age, sex, race, and ethnicity from 2014 to 2060. Useful for u…	—	—
`D178`	Population	1990–2020	Annual population estimates using the legacy bridged-race classification (4 race categories: White, Black, AIA…	—	—
`D204`	Population	2020–2024	Annual population estimates by state and county, 2020-2024, using single-race classification. Useful as a popu…	—	—
`D127`	STI / Sexual Health	1984–2014	National surveillance data on sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis (all st…	2 →	—
`D128`	STI / Sexual Health	1996–2014	Sexually transmitted infections stratified by age group, race/ethnicity, and sex for 1996-2014. More detailed …	—	—
`D202`	Tuberculosis	1993–2023	TB case surveillance from the Online Tuberculosis Information System (OTIS), 1993-2023. Track new TB cases by …	1 →	—
`D8`	Vaccine Safety	1990–present	Reports of adverse events following vaccination from 1990 to present. Counts include deaths, hospitalizations,…	—	—

Cancer

Tick-borne disease cases (Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis) broken down by state, 2016-2023

NNDSS Annual Summary Data · 2016-2023

Medium Explore → Infectious Disease

Tick-borne disease cases (Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis) broken down by age group, 2016-2023

NNDSS Annual Summary Data · 2016-2023

Medium Explore → Infectious Disease

All-cause deaths by month and place of death (hospital, home, nursing home, ER/outpatient), 2018-2024 — shows the April 2020 hospital death spike

Provisional Mortality Statistics · 2018-2024

Complex Explore → Mortality

What every parameteractually does.

Eight kinds of parameter.

Dataset overview.

Cancer incidence by site (cancer type) and year, 1999-2022

Cancer incidence (all sites combined) broken down by state, 1999-2022

Cancer deaths by site (cancer type) and year, 2018-2023

Cancer deaths (all sites combined) broken down by state, 2018-2023

Average number of heat wave days by county, 1981-2010

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) annual average by year, 2003-2011

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) annual average by year and state, 2003-2011

Fetal death counts by year, 2005-2024

Fetal death counts by year and mother's race, 2005-2024

Fetal death counts by year and age of mother, 2005-2024

Fetal deaths by year and ICD chapter cause of death, 2014-2024

AIDS cases by year diagnosed, 1981-1999 — tracks the US AIDS epidemic

AIDS cases by year diagnosed and metro area/region of residence, 1981-1999

AIDS cases by year diagnosed and age at diagnosis, 1981-1999

AIDS cases by year diagnosed and sex/sexual orientation, 1981-1999

AIDS cases by year diagnosed and race/ethnicity, 1981-1999

Infant mortality by cause of death and year, 2007-2023 — linked birth/death records

Tick-borne disease cases (Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis) by year, 2016-2023

Tick-borne disease cases (Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis) broken down by state, 2016-2023

Tick-borne disease cases (Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis) broken down by age group, 2016-2023

Tick-borne disease cases (Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis) broken down by sex, 2016-2023

Tick-borne disease cases (Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis) broken down by race, 2016-2023

All-cause mortality by year and single race, 2018-2023 — final death statistics

Maternal mortality (pregnancy-related deaths) by year, 1999-2020

Maternal mortality (pregnancy-related deaths) by year, 2018-2024

Maternal mortality (pregnancy-related deaths) by race, 2018-2024 — the Black-white maternal mortality gap

All-cause mortality by year and ICD-9 cause of death, 1979-1998

COVID-19 deaths broken down by race and ethnicity, 2020-2023

COVID-19 deaths broken down by age group, 2020-2023

COVID-19 deaths broken down by sex, 2020-2023

COVID-19 deaths broken down by age group and sex, 2020-2023

Drug overdose deaths by month and substance type (opioids, cocaine, meth), 2018-2024

Drug overdose deaths by year and substance (opioids, cocaine, meth, psychostimulants), 2018-2024

Fentanyl and synthetic opioid overdose deaths by month, 2018-2024

Heart disease vs. cancer deaths compared by sex, 2018-2023 — America's top two killers

Infant mortality (deaths under age 1) by year, 2018-2023

All-cause mortality by year and ICD-10 cause of death, 2021-2024

Opioid overdose deaths (all types) by year, 2018-2024

Opioid overdose deaths (all types) broken down by age group, 2018-2024

Opioid overdose deaths (all types) broken down by sex, 2018-2024

All-cause deaths by month and place of death (hospital, home, nursing home, ER/outpatient), 2018-2024 — shows the April 2020 hospital death spike

Racial mortality gap — deaths by race and ethnicity, 2018-2023

Suicide deaths by sex and year, 2021-2024

Unintentional injury deaths by age group, 2018-2023 — includes falls, poisoning, motor vehicle crashes

Underlying cause of death by ICD chapter and year, 1999-2020

Drug overdose deaths by month and substance type (opioids, cocaine, meth), 1999-2020

Drug overdose deaths by year and substance (opioids, cocaine, meth, psychostimulants), 1999-2020

Fentanyl and synthetic opioid overdose deaths by month, 1999-2020

All-cause mortality by year and ICD-10 cause of death, 1999-2020

Suicide deaths by sex and year, 1999-2020

Annual live birth counts by year, 1995-2002

Provisional birth counts by year and month, 2023-present

Annual live birth counts by year, 2003-2006

Annual live birth counts by year, 2007-2024

Annual live birth counts by year and age of mother, 2007-2024

Annual live birth counts by year and mother's race, 2007-2024

STD morbidity by disease type and year, 1984-2014 — chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, chancroid

STD morbidity by disease type and state, 1984-2014 — chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, chancroid

Tuberculosis cases and incidence rate per 100,000 by year, 1993-2023

What every parameter
actually does.