Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Colombia
Colombia: Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death was 1.0% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
1.0%
Change on year
down 13.6%
World rank
100th
of 113 countries
All-time high
27.5%
in 1953
All-time low
1.0%
in 2021
Years of data
60
1953–2021
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Colombia, 1953–2021
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Colombia recorded 1.0% for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 60 years on record.
That represents a change of down 13.6% on the previous year and down 64.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Colombia peaked at 27.5% in 1953 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 2021.
Colombia ranks 100th of 113 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
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 Colombia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 27.5% | — |
| 1954 | 22.6% | -17.9% |
| 1955 | 21.6% | -4.1% |
| 1956 | 24.0% | +11.1% |
| 1957 | 20.6% | -14.3% |
| 1958 | 19.7% | -4.4% |
| 1959 | 20.1% | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 20.5% | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 19.8% | -3.7% |
| 1962 | 15.7% | -20.5% |
| 1963 | 14.5% | -7.7% |
| 1964 | 14.2% | -2.4% |
| 1965 | 13.5% | -4.9% |
| 1966 | 13.0% | -3.5% |
| 1967 | 11.4% | -12.5% |
| 1968 | 8.6% | -24.2% |
| 1969 | 11.4% | +32.8% |
| 1972 | 10.0% | -12.2% |
| 1974 | 10.2% | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 9.4% | -7.3% |
| 1976 | 9.2% | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 8.6% | -6.3% |
| 1984 | 5.7% | -34.0% |
| 1985 | 5.4% | -5.5% |
| 1986 | 5.1% | -4.6% |
| 1987 | 4.9% | -3.7% |
| 1988 | 4.4% | -10.7% |
| 1989 | 4.0% | -10.0% |
| 1990 | 3.9% | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 4.0% | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 7.4% | +84.9% |
| 1993 | 7.1% | -3.6% |
| 1994 | 6.5% | -9.1% |
| 1995 | 5.7% | -11.6% |
| 1996 | 5.1% | -11.0% |
| 1997 | 4.2% | -16.9% |
| 1998 | 2.9% | -30.7% |
| 1999 | 2.0% | -33.3% |
| 2000 | 1.8% | -8.9% |
| 2001 | 2.4% | +32.8% |
| 2002 | 1.7% | -29.6% |
| 2003 | 1.7% | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 1.6% | -3.5% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 1.7% | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | +14.1% |
| 2009 | 2.1% | +13.9% |
| 2010 | 2.0% | -4.7% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | +37.6% |
| 2012 | 1.9% | -31.2% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 1.9% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 1.8% | -6.4% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | -7.7% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 1.1% | -27.5% |
| 2020 | 1.1% | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 1.0% | -13.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22.3% | 19.7% | 27.5% | 7 |
| 1960s | 14.3% | 8.6% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.5% | 8.6% | 10.2% | 5 |
| 1980s | 4.9% | 4.0% | 5.7% | 6 |
| 1990s | 4.9% | 2.0% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.8% | 1.1% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
- 97 Republic of Moldova 1.1% compare
- 98 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1.1% compare
- 99 Belize 1.0% compare
- 101 Costa Rica 1.0% compare
- 102 New Zealand 0.9% compare
- 103 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0.9% compare
More health data for Colombia
- 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 0.3468 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,505 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 698 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 2.87 % 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 0.0258 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 3.1 % 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 0.0233 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Colombia?
- Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Colombia was 1.0% 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 27.5% in 1953.
- What is the lowest share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 2021.
- How does Colombia rank for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death?
- Colombia ranks 100th out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Colombia 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.