About
Access the CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability (CDC/ATSDR or SVI) data, documentation, and other helpful data-related information below.
Suggested citation
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry/ Geospatial Research, Analysis, and Services Program. CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index [Insert 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2010, or 2000] Database [Insert U.S. or State]. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/svi/data_documentation_download.html Accessed on [Insert date].
Data changes over time
The CDC/ATSDR SVI databases have changed over time, so we caution against comparing the different versions of our databases for several reasons:
- We created the percentile scores included in each database by ranking census tracts relative to other census tracts in the same year. Therefore, percentile scores of different tracts in different years are not comparable.
- Starting in 2010, we use the 5-year ACS data, so the databases may have data sampled from overlapping years.
- We have made some changes to the CDC/ATSDR SVI over time because data from the U.S. Census Bureau changed or because we decided updates were needed to keep up with the latest research on the topic.
- The U.S. Census Bureau redraws many census tract boundaries in each decennial year, meaning that census tracts included in the 2000 CDC/ATSDR SVI database are not equivalent to the census tracts included in the 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018 CDC/ATSDR SVI databases (2020 and 2022 CDC/ATSDR SVI databases also contain different tracts). Even in cases where the census tract does not undergo a name change, modifications to the census tract geographic boundary may impact comparability over time.
Comparison of source data and variables
The table below provides information on the U.S. Census Bureau source data and variables used to create each version of the CDC/ATSDR SVI database. This information can help in determining which dataset might be best for your use.
| Data Source | 2000 Census | 2010 Census ACS | 2014 ACS | 2016 ACS | 2018 ACS | 2020 ACS | 2022 ACS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theme 1: Socioeconomic | Individuals below poverty level | x* | x | x | x | x | - | - |
| Civilian unemployment 61+ years | x* | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Per capita income | x* | x | x | x | x | - | - | |
| No high school diploma 25+ years | x* | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Below 150% of poverty | - | - | - | - | - | x | x | |
| Housing cost burden (households spending >=30% of annual income on housing) | - | - | - | - | - | x | x | |
| No health insurance | - | - | - | - | - | x | x | |
| Theme 2: Household Composition/ Disability** | Persons 65+ years | x* | x* | x | x | x | x | x |
| Persons 17 years and younger | x* | x* | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Persons 5+ years with a disability | x* | - | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Single-parent households with children under 18 years | x* | x* | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Persons 5+ years who speak English less than well | - | - | - | - | - | x | x | |
| Theme 3: Minority status and language*** | Persons who are racial and/or ethnic minorities (Total population minus non-Hispanic white) | x* | x* | x | x | x | x | x |
| Persons 5+ years who speak English less than well | x* | x | x | x | x | - | - | |
| Theme 4: Housing Type and Transportation | Housing with 10+ units | x* | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| Mobile homes | x* | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Households with more people than rooms | x* | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Households with no vehicle access | x* | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Persons who are in institutional and non- institutional group homes | x* | x* | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Adjunct variables | Persons without health insurance | - | - | x | x | x | - | - |
| Daytime population (LandScan) | - | - | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Households without an internet subscription | - | - | - | - | - | x | x | |
| Hispanic / Latino persons | - | - | - | - | - | x | x | |
| Not Hispanic or Latino Black/African American persons | - | - | - | - | - | x | x | |
| Not Hispanic or Latino Asian persons | - | - | - | - | - | x | x | |
| Not Hispanic or Latino American Indian and Alaska Native persons | - | - | - | - | - | x | x | |
| Not Hispanic or Latino Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander persons | - | - | - | - | - | x | x | |
| Not Hispanic or Latino persons of two or more races | - | - | - | - | - | x | x | |
| Not Hispanic or Latino persons of some other race | - | - | - | - | - | x | x | |
*Data are derived from the decennial census 100% count data (SF1)**Theme is titled "Household Characteristics" in 2020 and 2022***Theme is titled: "Racial & Ethnic Minority Status" in 2020 and 2022
CSV of table available here: CSV
Data correction
Data values for MP_CROWD (Percentage of occupied housing units with more people than rooms estimate MOE) in the 2022 SVI dataset were updated on 12/11/24. This update does not impact the SVI rankings, interactive map, or the county map series and those remain correct and unchanged. The MP_CROWD variable was previously using Housing Units in the denominator instead of Occupied Housing Units and thus the values after release on 5/21/24 and before 12/11/24 were incorrect.
Data values for Housing Burden and Overall SVI in the 2020 SVI dataset have been updated. These variables were previously using E_HBURD instead of EP_HBURD in the calculation and thus the values after release on 10/27/22 and before 12/22/22 were incorrect.