Linked pedigree databases for genealogists are compared below, with indications of their present size, growth rate, and cost.  This report clarifies exaggerated claims by some of the vendors.   Only in AF (Ancestral File) is there an attempt to remove duplicates.

We make no attempt to compare the quality of the databases.  For a review, see Ref.a, below.  A few large non-pedigree databases are also listed here.   Additions and corrections, especially historical growth statistics, will be appreciated and will be included here.

estimating the size of a database

Linked pedigree databases:

AF (Ancestral File), not counting duplicates, with over 29 million names as of December 1997, grew by 1.5% monthly during the previous eight years (see below).  AF is free but not Web-accessible.

WFT (World Family Tree), with 48.5 million names (17 CDs) as of 5/1/98, grew by 4% monthly during the previous 6 months. (We exclude Vol. E1, which duplicates names on Vols. 1-13).   The 17 CDs can be purchased individually for $40 each.

KKN (Kindred Konnections), with 16 million names as of 5/1/98, grew by 5% monthly during the previous 6 months.  A KKN subscription is $100 per year.

GENSERV, with 12.7 million names as of 5/1/98, grew by 4% monthly during the previous 6 months.  GENSERV access costs $12 per year.   Online graphics track (a) databases added each month and (b) cumulative persons in the GENSERV database.

OLS (Everton's Online Search), with about 5 million names as of 12/97, costs $50 per year.  As of 5/1/98, the Web documentation states that OLS has "tens of millions" of names and, on another page, "60 million" names.

GENDEX, with 5.6 million names as of 5/1/98, grew by 6% monthly during the previous 6 months.  Guest access to GENDEX is free.

AWT (Ancestry's World Tree), a new database with 6.6 million names as of 5/1/98, grew by 17% monthly during the previous 5 months.  Access is free.

GO (the Genealogy Online GEDCOM collection) had about 3 million names as of 3/98.  Access is free.  There is no search engine; index files must be downloaded and searched manually.

FT (Family Tracer) had over 1 million names as of 12/97.  There is a $4 charge for each download.

Some non-pedigree databases:

FFI, The Family Treemaker (FTM) Family Finder Index, increased from 147 million names as of 2/1/98 to 153 million as of 3/1/98.  There was no change between 3/1/98 and 5/1/98.  Access to FFI (but not to the actual data files) is free.  See WFT, above.  The CD version ©1998 (created 1/98, released with FTM 4.4) and the version ©1997 (created 4/97, released with FTM 4.0) have an unknown number of names.

Ancestry.com had 90 million names in "all databases" as of 4/1/98.  There was no change between 4/1/98 and 5/1/98.

Residential telephone phone listings:

FOUR11 and WhoWhere and Switchboard have an unknown number of residential household telephone and address listings as of 4/98;  all three are free.  ProCD's Home Phone (1997 edition 1) had "85 million" listings as of 9/96; until 3/15/98 (now discontinued), it was included in FTM's $50 Starter  Bundle II.  As of 5/1/98,  ProCD's SelectPhone (PRCD102), including 100 million home and business listings, is available from Provantage for $90 (it was $82 as of 4/1/98).   As of 5/1/98, SelectPhone Deluxe 98 (PRCD122) is $124, and SelectPhone Deluxe 97 (PRCD119) is $118.

Social Security Death Index:

SSDI, the Social Security Death Index, with 60 million names as of 3/98, is available, free, through Everton's Genealogical Helper.   SSDI  with 56 million names is available, free, through ancestry.com.
SSDI with 54.4 million names (3/97 version) is available, free, through Kindred Konnections. FTM CD #110, SSDI "1937-1996", ©1998 Broderbund Software Inc, with "approximately 54 million" names, is $40.  (The "1937-1996" version, discontinued, ©1997, created 4/97, had "approximately 55 million" names.The "1937-1993" version, discontinued, ©1995, created 2/95, had "approximately 55 million" names.  The reason for the decrease in FTM's 1998 release is unknown.)

Internet links:

FTM's IFF (Internet Family Finder) has an unknown number of links.

FTM's GSF (Genealogy Site Finder) had approximately 40,500 links as of 4/1/98 (35,300 as of 2/15/98; 34,600 as of 2/1/98).   There was no change between 4/1/98 and 5/1/98.

Cyndi's List had approximately 28,300 links as of 4/1/98, (27,600 as of 3/16/98).  There was no change between 4/1/98 and 5/1/98.

millions of names and monthly growth rate, previous 6 months

millions of names and monthly growth rate, previous 2 months

AF is available for free in about two thousand Family History Centers of the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS).  AF is not Web-accessible.  According to various (conflicting) sources, AF had in:
January 1990: 7 million names
July/August 1990 (1st edition): 7 million names
Spring 1991 (2nd edition): 9.6 million names
December 1991 (3rd edition): 13 million names
August 1993: 10 million names
August 1993: 10 million names
September 1996: 15 million names
February 1997 (last edition): 21 million names
February 1997 (next edition): 30 million names
September 1997: 20 million names.
December 1997: 29 million names.

References:

a. Alan Mann (alanm@credible.com): Searchable Lineage Linked Databases, Genealogical Computing, Vol. 17, No. 3, Winter 1998.  Not Web-accessible.  Most of the databases listed here were surveyed by Alan Mann in December 1997.

b. "Ancestral File: This well-known collection of over 29 million names is available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, in nearly 2000 family history centers worldwide, and at various other locations as part of the FamilySearch® suite... One unique thing about Ancestral File is that the publisher, the LDS church, attempts to merge duplications.  If duplications had not been merged, the file would be at least 50% larger."  From Ref. a, above.   According to Genealogical Computing, Vol. 17, No. 4 (Spring 1998), the LDS church in April 1998 will release, for the first time ever, a small amount of data on CD-ROM.  (The first release will include the 1851 British Census for three counties, and the Australian Vital Records Index of 1788-1905).

back to Deane Merrill's Genealogy Page
estimating the size of a database

Deane Merrill, merrill@crocker.com