Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Brazil
Brazil: Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death was 5.1% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Brazil, 1979–2021
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 Brazil is 5.1%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 43 years on record.
That represents a change of down 11.5% on the previous year and down 23.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Brazil peaked at 22.5% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 5.1%, in 2021.
Brazil ranks 49th of 113 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Brazil, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 20.1% | — |
| 1980 | 21.5% | +6.9% |
| 1981 | 21.1% | -1.9% |
| 1982 | 20.6% | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 21.5% | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 22.5% | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 21.1% | -6.1% |
| 1986 | 20.4% | -3.5% |
| 1987 | 19.8% | -2.9% |
| 1988 | 19.2% | -3.3% |
| 1989 | 18.4% | -4.2% |
| 1990 | 18.2% | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 18.2% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 17.8% | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 17.9% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 17.0% | -5.2% |
| 1995 | 16.2% | -5.0% |
| 1996 | 15.1% | -6.8% |
| 1997 | 14.7% | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 14.9% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 15.1% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 14.3% | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 14.1% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 13.6% | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 13.3% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 12.4% | -6.9% |
| 2005 | 10.4% | -16.3% |
| 2006 | 8.3% | -20.1% |
| 2007 | 7.6% | -7.7% |
| 2008 | 7.4% | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 7.1% | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 7.0% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 6.7% | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 6.3% | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 5.9% | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 5.8% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 5.7% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 5.8% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 5.5% | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 5.3% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 5.5% | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 5.8% | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 5.1% | -11.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 20.1% | 20.1% | 20.1% | 1 |
| 1980s | 20.6% | 18.4% | 22.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.5% | 14.7% | 18.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.9% | 7.1% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.9% | 5.3% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.5% | 5.1% | 5.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More health data for Brazil
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.86 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1539 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,496 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,476 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 1.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0271 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 1.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0244 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Brazil?
- Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Brazil was 5.1% in 2021, 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 Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 22.5% in 1984.
- What is the lowest share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.1% in 2021.
- How does Brazil rank for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death?
- Brazil ranks 49th out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Brazil 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.
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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.