Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in France
France: Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death was 11.1% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
11.1%
Change on year
up 6.7%
World rank
23rd
of 113 countries
All-time high
19.3%
in 1950
All-time low
5.5%
in 1993
Years of data
73
1950–2022
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in France, 1950–2022
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
France recorded 11.1% for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in 2022.
The figure is up 6.7% on the previous year and up 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in France peaked at 19.3% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 5.5%, in 1993.
That places France 23rd out of 113 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 73 years of available data.
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in France, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 19.3% | — |
| 1951 | 19.3% | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 18.4% | -4.6% |
| 1953 | 17.9% | -2.7% |
| 1954 | 17.7% | -1.2% |
| 1955 | 17.5% | -1.4% |
| 1956 | 16.8% | -3.8% |
| 1957 | 15.6% | -7.2% |
| 1958 | 15.2% | -2.7% |
| 1959 | 14.9% | -1.5% |
| 1960 | 14.6% | -2.6% |
| 1961 | 14.2% | -2.7% |
| 1962 | 14.5% | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 14.2% | -2.2% |
| 1964 | 13.8% | -2.5% |
| 1965 | 13.7% | -0.5% |
| 1966 | 13.0% | -5.2% |
| 1967 | 12.9% | -1.4% |
| 1968 | 11.2% | -13.1% |
| 1969 | 10.6% | -4.9% |
| 1970 | 10.4% | -1.9% |
| 1971 | 10.0% | -4.2% |
| 1972 | 8.8% | -12.1% |
| 1973 | 7.6% | -13.0% |
| 1974 | 8.0% | +5.4% |
| 1975 | 8.2% | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 7.6% | -7.3% |
| 1977 | 7.4% | -1.8% |
| 1978 | 7.6% | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 6.2% | -19.4% |
| 1980 | 6.1% | -1.3% |
| 1981 | 6.4% | +4.6% |
| 1982 | 6.5% | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 6.5% | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 6.1% | -6.0% |
| 1985 | 6.2% | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 6.2% | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 6.2% | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 5.9% | -6.2% |
| 1989 | 6.0% | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 5.7% | -4.5% |
| 1991 | 5.6% | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 5.7% | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 5.5% | -3.2% |
| 1994 | 5.8% | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 5.9% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 6.0% | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 6.1% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 6.3% | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 6.2% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 6.1% | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 6.5% | +7.6% |
| 2002 | 6.6% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 6.9% | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | -8.4% |
| 2005 | 6.6% | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 6.5% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 6.7% | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 6.9% | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 7.1% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 8.3% | +17.7% |
| 2011 | 8.3% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 9.2% | +10.8% |
| 2013 | 10.0% | +9.5% |
| 2014 | 9.0% | -10.6% |
| 2015 | 9.2% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 9.3% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 9.7% | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 10.0% | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 11.0% | +9.3% |
| 2020 | 10.1% | -8.1% |
| 2021 | 10.4% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 11.1% | +6.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 17.3% | 14.9% | 19.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 13.3% | 10.6% | 14.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.2% | 6.2% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.2% | 5.9% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.9% | 5.5% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.6% | 6.1% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.4% | 8.3% | 11.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.5% | 10.1% | 11.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near France
More health data for France
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.31 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0689 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,016 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 603 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 0.918 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate -0.1141 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0296 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in France?
- Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in France was 11.1% in 2022, 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 19.3% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.5% in 1993.
- How does France rank for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death?
- France ranks 23rd out of 113 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France 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.