What are vital statistics?

• A. Births, deaths, marriages, divorces, fetal death
• B. Hospital admissions only
• C. Disease incidence rates
• D. Number of clinics

Answer: (A)

Vital statistics are the basic demographic events that describe population change. They are the core events used to monitor a population’s health and structure: births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and fetal deaths. These events are typically recorded in civil registration systems and form the data behind measures like birth rates, death rates, fertility trends, and life expectancy. They provide a consistent, population-wide picture over time to guide public health planning and policy.

Other options describe health service use, disease occurrence, or health system capacity, which are not the essential demographic events captured as vital statistics.