Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Italy
Italy: Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death was 4.2% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
4.2%
Change on year
up 15.4%
World rank
56th
of 113 countries
All-time high
9.8%
in 1951
All-time low
1.2%
in 2002
Years of data
72
1951–2022
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Italy, 1951–2022
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Italy stood at 4.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.4% on the previous year and up 129.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Italy peaked at 9.8% in 1951 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 2002.
Italy ranks 56th 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 Italy, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 9.8% | — |
| 1952 | 9.5% | -3.2% |
| 1953 | 8.4% | -11.6% |
| 1954 | 7.4% | -11.3% |
| 1955 | 6.7% | -9.9% |
| 1956 | 6.4% | -4.0% |
| 1957 | 5.7% | -10.7% |
| 1958 | 5.4% | -5.6% |
| 1959 | 5.0% | -7.3% |
| 1960 | 5.0% | -0.2% |
| 1961 | 4.7% | -5.5% |
| 1962 | 4.5% | -4.4% |
| 1963 | 4.3% | -5.4% |
| 1964 | 3.9% | -8.1% |
| 1965 | 3.9% | +0.2% |
| 1966 | 3.7% | -6.9% |
| 1967 | 3.7% | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 3.7% | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 3.2% | -15.3% |
| 1970 | 3.3% | +5.2% |
| 1971 | 3.4% | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 3.3% | -2.7% |
| 1973 | 3.3% | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 3.2% | -4.0% |
| 1975 | 3.4% | +6.0% |
| 1976 | 3.3% | -2.8% |
| 1977 | 3.2% | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 3.2% | -1.8% |
| 1979 | 2.7% | -13.3% |
| 1980 | 2.6% | -4.1% |
| 1981 | 2.6% | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 2.6% | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 2.6% | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 2.4% | -7.2% |
| 1985 | 2.7% | +11.8% |
| 1986 | 2.9% | +5.9% |
| 1987 | 2.5% | -11.5% |
| 1988 | 2.5% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 2.3% | -8.7% |
| 1990 | 2.2% | -3.9% |
| 1991 | 2.2% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | -7.2% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | -2.7% |
| 1994 | 1.7% | -12.8% |
| 1995 | 1.5% | -13.5% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | -5.0% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 1.2% | -15.0% |
| 1999 | 1.3% | +9.1% |
| 2000 | 1.3% | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 1.2% | -7.0% |
| 2002 | 1.2% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 1.8% | +53.4% |
| 2004 | 1.7% | -8.3% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 1.7% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 1.6% | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 1.6% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 1.7% | +8.6% |
| 2012 | 1.8% | +7.0% |
| 2013 | 1.8% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 1.9% | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 2.1% | +8.8% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 2.2% | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 2.3% | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 3.4% | +47.9% |
| 2020 | 3.3% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | +8.5% |
| 2022 | 4.2% | +15.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7.1% | 5.0% | 9.8% | 9 |
| 1960s | 4.1% | 3.2% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.2% | 2.7% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.7% | 1.2% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.1% | 1.6% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.7% | 3.3% | 4.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More health data for Italy
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1206 % change on previous year (2090)
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- Number of infants who die before age 1 80 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate -0.3468 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0395 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate -0.3634 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0413 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Italy?
- Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Italy was 4.2% 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 9.8% in 1951.
- What is the lowest share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 2002.
- How does Italy rank for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death?
- Italy ranks 56th out of 113 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 129.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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.