Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Iceland
Iceland: Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death was 2.0% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
2.0%
Change on year
up 14.8%
World rank
81st
of 113 countries
All-time high
6.4%
in 1952
All-time low
0.3%
in 1976
Years of data
72
1951–2022
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Iceland, 1951–2022
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 2.0% for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.8% on the previous year and up 156.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Iceland peaked at 6.4% in 1952 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1976.
Iceland ranks 81st 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 Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 5.5% | — |
| 1952 | 6.4% | +15.9% |
| 1953 | 5.1% | -20.1% |
| 1954 | 3.4% | -33.6% |
| 1955 | 3.4% | -0.5% |
| 1956 | 4.7% | +39.1% |
| 1957 | 3.0% | -35.4% |
| 1958 | 2.7% | -9.2% |
| 1959 | 3.5% | +29.0% |
| 1960 | 2.3% | -34.7% |
| 1961 | 2.4% | +3.9% |
| 1962 | 1.5% | -39.4% |
| 1963 | 1.8% | +24.2% |
| 1964 | 1.8% | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 1.8% | -2.9% |
| 1966 | 2.2% | +21.1% |
| 1967 | 1.6% | -26.3% |
| 1968 | 1.4% | -13.8% |
| 1969 | 1.6% | +15.8% |
| 1970 | 1.2% | -26.4% |
| 1971 | 1.1% | -8.6% |
| 1972 | 1.4% | +29.7% |
| 1973 | 1.6% | +17.7% |
| 1974 | 1.5% | -9.6% |
| 1975 | 1.1% | -27.8% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | -72.0% |
| 1977 | 0.9% | +204.2% |
| 1978 | 0.4% | -53.4% |
| 1979 | 1.1% | +155.7% |
| 1980 | 1.2% | +14.4% |
| 1981 | 1.2% | -2.2% |
| 1982 | 0.6% | -47.7% |
| 1983 | 0.5% | -13.8% |
| 1984 | 1.3% | +131.9% |
| 1985 | 1.2% | -4.2% |
| 1986 | 0.6% | -48.2% |
| 1987 | 0.8% | +29.8% |
| 1988 | 0.7% | -18.7% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | +41.3% |
| 1990 | 1.2% | +25.8% |
| 1991 | 1.5% | +28.1% |
| 1992 | 1.1% | -26.5% |
| 1993 | 0.7% | -32.9% |
| 1994 | 0.6% | -21.5% |
| 1995 | 0.5% | -10.7% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | +22.8% |
| 1997 | 1.0% | +52.9% |
| 1998 | 0.9% | -10.0% |
| 1999 | 0.7% | -22.2% |
| 2000 | 0.9% | +28.0% |
| 2001 | 0.5% | -40.4% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 0.4% | -11.3% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | -12.4% |
| 2005 | 0.5% | +27.7% |
| 2006 | 0.7% | +50.2% |
| 2007 | 0.7% | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | -37.1% |
| 2009 | 0.7% | +65.4% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | -27.3% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | +57.0% |
| 2012 | 0.8% | -10.3% |
| 2013 | 1.3% | +75.1% |
| 2014 | 1.0% | -27.3% |
| 2015 | 1.3% | +31.4% |
| 2016 | 1.2% | -8.9% |
| 2017 | 1.0% | -12.0% |
| 2018 | 2.0% | +93.7% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | +8.0% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | -13.3% |
| 2021 | 1.7% | -8.1% |
| 2022 | 2.0% | +14.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.2% | 2.7% | 6.4% | 9 |
| 1960s | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.0% | 0.3% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.5% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.9% | 0.5% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.2% | 0.5% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.8% | 1.7% | 2.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
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Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Iceland?
- Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Iceland was 2.0% 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 6.4% in 1952.
- What is the lowest share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1976.
- How does Iceland rank for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death?
- Iceland ranks 81st out of 113 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 156.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland 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.