Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong, China: Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death was 2.5% in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2017)
2.5%
Change on year
down 14.1%
World rank
71st
of 113 countries
All-time high
11.4%
in 1962
All-time low
0.9%
in 2001
Years of data
63
1955–2017
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Hong Kong, China, 1955–2017
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 Hong Kong, China is 2.5%, measured in 2017.
The figure is down 14.1% on the previous year and up 60.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Hong Kong, China peaked at 11.4% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2001.
That places Hong Kong, China 71st out of 113 countries with data for 2017, putting it 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 Hong Kong, China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 7.8% | — |
| 1956 | 7.5% | -4.1% |
| 1957 | 8.1% | +9.0% |
| 1958 | 7.9% | -2.3% |
| 1959 | 8.7% | +9.1% |
| 1960 | 9.5% | +9.2% |
| 1961 | 10.4% | +9.7% |
| 1962 | 11.4% | +9.5% |
| 1963 | 9.8% | -13.7% |
| 1964 | 10.0% | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 9.3% | -7.5% |
| 1966 | 8.9% | -3.6% |
| 1967 | 8.8% | -1.7% |
| 1968 | 9.3% | +5.9% |
| 1969 | 10.0% | +7.8% |
| 1970 | 9.5% | -5.5% |
| 1971 | 8.8% | -6.9% |
| 1972 | 8.6% | -2.7% |
| 1973 | 8.3% | -2.9% |
| 1974 | 8.7% | +4.6% |
| 1975 | 7.9% | -8.9% |
| 1976 | 8.0% | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 7.5% | -6.6% |
| 1978 | 7.4% | -1.1% |
| 1979 | 7.0% | -5.2% |
| 1980 | 6.1% | -12.4% |
| 1981 | 4.7% | -23.1% |
| 1982 | 4.1% | -13.4% |
| 1983 | 3.9% | -5.6% |
| 1984 | 3.3% | -14.3% |
| 1985 | 2.5% | -23.9% |
| 1986 | 2.4% | -6.2% |
| 1987 | 2.4% | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 2.5% | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 2.4% | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 2.8% | +14.8% |
| 1991 | 2.5% | -11.1% |
| 1992 | 2.7% | +7.1% |
| 1993 | 1.9% | -29.2% |
| 1994 | 1.4% | -23.2% |
| 1995 | 1.3% | -9.9% |
| 1996 | 1.3% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 1.1% | -17.5% |
| 1998 | 1.1% | -3.2% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | +13.2% |
| 2000 | 1.1% | -12.1% |
| 2001 | 0.9% | -14.2% |
| 2002 | 1.0% | +15.5% |
| 2003 | 0.9% | -8.7% |
| 2004 | 1.3% | +34.8% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 1.8% | +27.9% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | -9.6% |
| 2008 | 1.7% | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 2.0% | +22.0% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | +17.9% |
| 2011 | 2.6% | +9.0% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | +19.9% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | +7.1% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | -6.4% |
| 2016 | 3.0% | -9.9% |
| 2017 | 2.5% | -14.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8.0% | 7.5% | 8.7% | 5 |
| 1960s | 9.7% | 8.8% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.2% | 7.0% | 9.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.4% | 2.4% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.7% | 1.1% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.4% | 0.9% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 2.4% | 3.5% | 8 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong, China
- 68 Kyrgyzstan 2.7% compare
- 69 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.7% compare
- 70 Slovenia 2.6% compare
- 72 Trinidad and Tobago 2.5% compare
- 73 Chile 2.4% compare
- 74 Spain 2.3% compare
More health data for Hong Kong, China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0171 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,924 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0137 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Hong Kong, China?
- Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Hong Kong, China was 2.5% in 2017, 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 Hong Kong, China?
- The highest recorded value was 11.4% in 1962.
- What is the lowest share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death recorded in Hong Kong, China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2001.
- How does Hong Kong, China rank for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death?
- Hong Kong, China ranks 71st out of 113 countries with data for 2017.
- Is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death rising or falling in Hong Kong, China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong, China 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.