Abstract: A brief semitechnical overview describes the various data collection programs of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, covering the collection of vital statistics, and major general population surveys, health resources utilization surveys, and health resources surveys. Nine major surveys are discussed, ranging from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the National Nursing Home Survey, to the National health professions inventories and surveys. Various aspects of each of the survey programs are described (background, purpose, scope, sample design, data collection procedures, context of data collection form, method of data release, and uses of the collected data). A glossary of technical or specialized terms and a tabulation of reports related to specific program surveys are appended. (wz).