Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Australia
Australia: Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death was 2.0% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.0%
Change on year
up 15.0%
World rank
79th
of 113 countries
All-time high
3.0%
in 1950
All-time low
0.2%
in 1983
Years of data
73
1950–2023
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Australia, 1950–2023
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Australia is 2.0%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 15.0% on the previous year and up 126.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Australia peaked at 3.0% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1983.
Australia ranks 79th of 113 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Australia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.0% | — |
| 1951 | 2.5% | -14.9% |
| 1952 | 2.1% | -16.1% |
| 1953 | 1.9% | -9.5% |
| 1954 | 1.6% | -14.7% |
| 1955 | 1.5% | -10.6% |
| 1956 | 1.5% | +2.0% |
| 1957 | 1.4% | -9.3% |
| 1958 | 1.2% | -8.2% |
| 1959 | 1.2% | -1.4% |
| 1960 | 1.0% | -17.5% |
| 1961 | 1.0% | +2.2% |
| 1962 | 0.9% | -15.2% |
| 1963 | 0.7% | -15.7% |
| 1964 | 0.6% | -16.8% |
| 1965 | 0.5% | -15.3% |
| 1966 | 0.5% | +1.9% |
| 1967 | 0.6% | +13.7% |
| 1968 | 0.6% | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 0.7% | +9.3% |
| 1970 | 0.7% | +3.7% |
| 1971 | 0.6% | -13.8% |
| 1972 | 0.6% | +5.6% |
| 1973 | 0.8% | +37.4% |
| 1974 | 0.8% | -4.7% |
| 1975 | 0.7% | -12.0% |
| 1976 | 0.7% | -0.6% |
| 1977 | 0.8% | +14.0% |
| 1978 | 0.8% | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 0.3% | -59.1% |
| 1980 | 0.3% | -12.5% |
| 1981 | 0.7% | +138.6% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | -63.0% |
| 1983 | 0.2% | -17.3% |
| 1984 | 0.2% | +13.0% |
| 1985 | 0.2% | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 0.2% | -5.5% |
| 1987 | 0.2% | +11.3% |
| 1988 | 0.2% | -7.8% |
| 1989 | 0.3% | +17.8% |
| 1990 | 0.3% | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | -9.8% |
| 1992 | 0.3% | +28.0% |
| 1993 | 0.3% | -11.1% |
| 1994 | 0.3% | -7.4% |
| 1995 | 1.8% | +601.3% |
| 1996 | 0.3% | -86.1% |
| 1997 | 0.3% | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 0.4% | +41.9% |
| 1999 | 0.4% | -7.6% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | +14.3% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | -17.6% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | +42.4% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | +31.1% |
| 2004 | 0.7% | +10.6% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | -9.5% |
| 2007 | 0.7% | +9.7% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | -20.4% |
| 2009 | 0.5% | -15.9% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | +15.5% |
| 2011 | 0.6% | +20.3% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | +38.1% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 1.0% | +9.1% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | -18.7% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 0.9% | +10.5% |
| 2018 | 0.9% | +9.3% |
| 2019 | 1.2% | +24.9% |
| 2020 | 1.3% | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | +21.7% |
| 2022 | 1.8% | +14.0% |
| 2023 | 2.0% | +15.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.8% | 1.2% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.2% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 9 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.5% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.6% | 1.3% | 2.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 906.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 4.81 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0198 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 4.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.018 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Australia?
- Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Australia was 2.0% in 2023, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.0% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1983.
- How does Australia rank for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death?
- Australia ranks 79th out of 113 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 126.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of total reported deaths in both sexes in those aged all ages that are from ill-defined diseases.