Outline of selected ones among a number of nationwide surveys related to health and welfare services (90 surveys as of 1995) conducted mainly by the Ministry of Health and Welfare periodically in Japan is described. That is, history, purpose, coverage, date, contents, data collection procedure, tabulation and publication were explained in regard to : (1) Population Census, (2) Vital Statistics, (3) Patient Survey, (4) Infectious Disease Surveillance System, (5) Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions of People on Health and Welfare, (6) Census on Medical Care Institutions, (7) Hospital Report, (8) Survey on Physicians, Dentists and Pharmacists, (9) Statistical Report on Public Health Administration Services, (10) Survey on Social Welfare Institutions, and (11) National Nutrition Survey. On-line data service system of the Ministry of Health and Welfare is also briefly mentioned.