Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Ireland
Ireland: Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death was 0.8% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.8%
Change on year
up 5.9%
World rank
105th
of 113 countries
All-time high
15.5%
in 1950
All-time low
0.2%
in 2009
Years of data
73
1950–2022
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Ireland, 1950–2022
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 0.8% for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in 2022.
The figure is up 5.9% on the previous year and up 240.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Ireland peaked at 15.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2009.
That places Ireland 105th out of 113 countries with data for 2022, putting it 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 15.5% | — |
| 1951 | 14.4% | -6.8% |
| 1952 | 12.7% | -11.8% |
| 1953 | 12.3% | -3.8% |
| 1954 | 11.6% | -5.3% |
| 1955 | 9.8% | -15.4% |
| 1956 | 9.4% | -4.2% |
| 1957 | 8.7% | -7.8% |
| 1958 | 9.2% | +6.5% |
| 1959 | 8.3% | -10.5% |
| 1960 | 7.8% | -5.5% |
| 1961 | 7.2% | -7.7% |
| 1962 | 6.7% | -7.4% |
| 1963 | 6.5% | -3.0% |
| 1964 | 5.9% | -8.7% |
| 1965 | 5.4% | -8.5% |
| 1966 | 4.8% | -12.2% |
| 1967 | 3.9% | -17.7% |
| 1968 | 2.5% | -35.5% |
| 1969 | 2.3% | -9.6% |
| 1970 | 2.0% | -13.8% |
| 1971 | 2.0% | +1.5% |
| 1972 | 1.7% | -13.8% |
| 1973 | 1.5% | -14.1% |
| 1974 | 1.6% | +9.7% |
| 1975 | 1.2% | -29.1% |
| 1976 | 1.1% | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 1.1% | -5.0% |
| 1978 | 0.9% | -13.2% |
| 1979 | 0.5% | -45.0% |
| 1980 | 0.4% | -18.0% |
| 1981 | 0.5% | +9.5% |
| 1982 | 0.4% | -22.9% |
| 1983 | 0.4% | +7.7% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | -26.1% |
| 1985 | 0.4% | +22.8% |
| 1986 | 0.5% | +42.3% |
| 1987 | 0.4% | -25.1% |
| 1988 | 0.3% | -8.1% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | +5.6% |
| 1990 | 0.4% | +15.5% |
| 1991 | 0.5% | +30.6% |
| 1992 | 0.4% | -20.6% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | -8.8% |
| 1994 | 0.5% | +37.2% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | +6.2% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 0.6% | -7.8% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | -10.6% |
| 1999 | 0.5% | +6.5% |
| 2000 | 0.5% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | +30.3% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | +10.4% |
| 2003 | 0.9% | +19.9% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | -32.0% |
| 2005 | 0.4% | -32.2% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | -33.6% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | -14.6% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | -9.5% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | +42.2% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | -24.7% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | +25.1% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | -9.7% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | +23.6% |
| 2016 | 0.5% | +49.4% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | +10.3% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | -29.9% |
| 2019 | 0.6% | +57.0% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | +27.4% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | +5.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11.2% | 8.3% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.3% | 2.3% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.4% | 0.5% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More health data for Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -4.76 % change on previous year (2100)
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- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0284 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 2.51 % change on previous year (2025)
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- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0272 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Ireland?
- Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Ireland was 0.8% 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 15.5% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2009.
- How does Ireland rank for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death?
- Ireland ranks 105th out of 113 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 240.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.