The Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health provides an easy to use Interactive Data Query for all years of the NSCH and a Guide to NSCH changes across survey years.
Guidance for data users
How-to instructions for using the NSCH data.
Attention
Historically enhanced 2016-2020 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) data files were released in April 2024 and are available on the NSCH datasets page. This data release is a continuation of the improvements that were made to the 2021 NSCH data set released in October 2023. These revised datasets should be used when combining or comparing with the 2022 NSCH. Please read the weighting revisions technical document (PDF).
2024
- 2024 Household Screener (PDF - 1 MB) | 2024 Household Screener Spanish (PDF - 2 MB)
- 2024 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) (PDF - 7 MB) | 2024 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) Spanish (PDF - 4 MB)
- 2024 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) (PDF - 6 MB) | 2024 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) Spanish (PDF - 3 MB)
- 2024 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) (PDF - 7 MB) | 2024 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) Spanish (PDF - 4 MB)
2023
- 2023 Household Screener (PDF - 3 MB) | 2023 Household Screener Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2023 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) (PDF - 7 MB) | 2023 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) Spanish (PDF - 4 MB)
- 2023 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) (PDF - 6 MB) | 2023 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) Spanish (PDF - 3 MB)
- 2023 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) (PDF - 6 MB) | 2023 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) Spanish (PDF - 4 MB)
2022
- 2022 Household Screener (PDF - 3 MB) | 2022 Household Screener Spanish (PDF - 2 MB)
- 2022 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) (PDF - 8 MB) | 2022 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) Spanish (PDF - 5 MB)
- 2022 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) (PDF - 4 MB) | 2022 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) Spanish (PDF - 4 MB)
- 2022 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) (PDF - 4 MB) | 2022 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) Spanish (PDF - 4 MB)
Methodology and data user FAQs
- 2022 FAQs (PDF)
- 2022 Source and Accuracy Statement (PDF)
- 2022 Survey and Sampling Administration Map (PDF - 620 KB)
- 2022 Methodology Report (PDF)
Variable lists and frequencies
- 2022 Screener Variable List (PDF)
- 2022 Topical Variable List (PDF)
- 2022 Screener PUF Frequencies (PDF)
- 2022 Topical PUF Frequencies (PDF)
Data guide
- 2022 Guide to Topics and Questions Asked (PDF - 645 KB)
2021
- 2021 Household Screener (PDF - 1 MB) | 2021 Household Screener Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2021 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) (PDF - 1 MB) | 2021 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2021 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) (PDF - 771 KB) | 2021 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years Spanish (PDF - 873 KB)
- 2021 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) (PDF - 742 KB) | 2021 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) Spanish (PDF - 858 KB)
Methodology and data user FAQs
- 2021 FAQs (PDF)
- 2021 Source and Accuracy Statement (PDF)
- 2021 Survey and Sampling Administration (PDF - 624 KB)
- 2021 Methodology Report (PDF)
- 2021 Non-Response Bias Analysis (PDF)
Variable lists and frequencies
- 2021 Screener Variable List (PDF)
- 2021 Topical Variable List (PDF)
- 2021 Screener PUF Frequencies (PDF)
- 2021 Topical PUF Frequencies (PDF)
Data guide
Note: See Sample Size footnote
Attention
Revised 2021 NSCH data files were released on October 2, 2023, and are available now on the 2021 Data Release page. Please read: weighting revisions technical document (PDF)
2020
- 2020 Household Screener (PDF - 1 MB) | 2020 Household Screener Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2020 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) (PDF - 1 MB) | 2020 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) Spanish (PDF - 2 MB)
- 2020 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) (PDF - 800 KB) | 2020 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) Spanish (PDF - 998 KB)
- 2020 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) (PDF - 761 KB) | 2020 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
Methodology and data user FAQs
- 2020 FAQs (PDF)
- 2020 Source and Accuracy Statement (PDF)
- 2020 Survey and Sampling Administration Map (PDF - 600 KB)
- 2020 Methodology Report (PDF)
- 2020 Non-Response Bias Analysis (PDF)
Variable lists and frequencies
- 2020 Screener Variable List (PDF)
- 2020 Topical Variable List (PDF)
- 2020 Screener PUF Frequencies (PDF)
- 2020 Topical PUF Frequencies (PDF)
Data guide
- 2020 Guide to Topics and Questions Asked (PDF - 495 KB)
2019
- 2019 Household Screener (PDF - 1 MB) | 2020 Household Screener Spanish (PDF - 622 KB)
- 2019 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) (PDF - 724 KB) | 2019 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years)Spanish (PDF - 759 KB)
- 2019 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) (PDF - 801 KB) | 2019 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) Spanish (PDF - 811 KB)
- 2019 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) (PDF - 760 KB) | 2019 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) Spanish (PDF - 784 KB)
Methodology and data user FAQs
- 2019 FAQs (PDF)
- 2019 Source and Accuracy Statement (PDF)
- 2019 Survey and Sampling Administration Map (PDF - 626 KB)
- 2019 Methodology Report (PDF)
- 2019 Non-Response Bias Analysis (PDF)
Variable lists and frequencies
- 2019 Screener Variable List (PDF)
- 2019 Topical Variable List (PDF)
- NSCH Crosswalk 2016-2019 (XLSX)
- 2019 Screener PUF Frequencies (PDF)
- 2019 Topical PUF Frequencies (PDF)
Data guide
- 2019 Guide to Topics and Questions Asked (PDF - 595 KB)
2018
- 2018 Household Screener (PDF - 1 MB) | 2018 Household Screener Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2018 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) (PDF - 1 MB) | 2018 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2018 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) (PDF - 1 MB) | 2018 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2018 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) (PDF - 1 MB) | 2018 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
Methodology and data user FAQs
- 2018 FAQs (PDF)
- 2018 Source and Accuracy Statement (PDF)
- 2018 Survey and Sampling Administration Map (PDF - 944 KB)
- 2018 Methodology Report (PDF)
- 2018 Non-Response Bias Analysis (PDF)
Variable lists and frequencies
- 2018 Screener Variable List (PDF)
- 2018 Topical Variable List (PDF)
- 2016-2018 NSCH Crosswalk (XLSX)
- 2018 Screener PUF Frequencies (PDF)
- 2018 Topical PUF Frequencies (PDF)
Data guide
- 2018 Guide to Topics & Questions Asked (PDF - 572 KB)
2017
- 2017 Household Screener (PDF - 1 MB) | 2017 Household Screener Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2017 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) (PDF - 1 MB) | 2017 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2017 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) (PDF - 1 MB) | 2017 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2017 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) (PDF - 1 MB) | 2017 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
Methodology and data user FAQs
- 2017 FAQs (PDF)
- 2017 Source and Accuracy Statement (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2017 Survey and Sampling Administration Map (PDF - 804 KB)
- 2017 Methodology Report (PDF - 9 MB)
- 2017 Multiple Imputation Data Guide (PDF - 80 KB)
- 2017 Non-Response Bias Analysis (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2017 Multi-Year Analysis Guide (PDF - 811 KB)
Variable lists and frequencies
- 2017 Screener Variable List (PDF)
- 2017 Topical Variable List (PDF)
- 2016-2018 NSCH Crosswalk (XLSX)
- 2017 Screener PUF Frequencies (PDF)
- 2017 Topical PUF Frequencies (PDF)
Data guide
- 2017 Guide to Topics & Questions Asked (PDF - 966 KB)
2016
- 2016 Household Screener (PDF - 1 MB) | 2016 Household Screener Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2016 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) (PDF - 1 MB) | 2016 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 0-5 years) Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2016 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years) (PDF - 1 MB) | 2016 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 6-11 years)Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
- 2016 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years) (PDF - 1 MB) | 2016 Topical Questionnaire (Children, 12-17 years Spanish (PDF - 1 MB)
Methodology and data user FAQs
- 2016 FAQs (PDF - 720 KB)
- 2016 Source and Accuracy Statement (PDF - 480 KB)
- 2016 Survey and Sampling Administration Map (PDF - 771 KB)
- 2016 Methodology Report (PDF - 8 MB)
- 2016 NSCH Guide to Analysis with Multiple Imputed Data (PDF - 539 KB)
- 2016 Non-Response Bias Analysis (PDF - 1 MB)
Variable lists and frequencies
- 2016 Screener Variable List (PDF)
- 2016 Topical Variable List (PDF)
- 2016 Screener PUF Frequencies (PDF)
- 2016 Topical PUF Frequencies (PDF)
Supplemental documents
- 2016 Insurance (PDF - 180 KB)
- 2016 Geography (PDF - 98 KB)
Data guide
Title V changes
- NPM and NOM Content Changes in 2016 (PDF - 201 KB)
A note on sample size
In both individual year and multi-year analyses, the NSCH sample size may be limited for smaller populations (e.g., American Indian (AI) /Alaska Native (AN)) and state-level subgroups or rare outcomes (e.g., adolescent children with special health care needs (CSHCN) or autism in a particular state).
Small sample sizes may produce unstable estimates.
To minimize misinterpretation, we recommend only presenting statistics with a sample size or unweighted denominator of 30 or more.
Additionally, if the 95% confidence interval width exceeds 20 percentage points or 1.2 times the estimate (≈ relative standard error>30%), we recommend flagging for poor reliability and/or presenting a measure of statistical reliability (e.g., confidence intervals or statistical significance testing) to promote appropriate interpretation.
Date Last Reviewed: