Vital Statistics consists of official records for birth, death, fetal death, marriage, and dissolution of marriage (divorce). These records are essential for just administration of our law and for the protection of individual rights. In addition, the statistical data from these records are of great value to public health and other agencies.

The need for accurate statistical data on epidemics and the causes of death was instrumental in establishing our present day vital statistics registration system. Before 1899, some cities enacted city ordinances requiring the recording of vital events and provided their own system for vital statistics. The City of Key West has the oldest known records, dating back to 1865. A law was enacted in 1927 providing for the centralization of marriage and divorce records. Currently, the Office of Vital Statistics maintains approximately 21.5 million vital records.