Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea: Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death was 11.8% in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)
11.8%
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
21st
of 113 countries
All-time high
18.0%
in 1987
All-time low
8.7%
in 1993
Years of data
38
1985–2022

Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Republic of Korea, 1985–2022

051015201985200320221985: 17.9 %1986: 16.5 %1987: 18 %1988: 17.4 %1989: 14.4 %1990: 13.2 %1991: 14.5 %1992: 11.1 %1993: 8.7 %1994: 10.4 %1995: 15.2 %1996: 16.5 %1997: 18 %1998: 16.4 %1999: 17 %2000: 13.8 %2001: 12.1 %2002: 10 %2003: 11.1 %2004: 12.5 %2005: 13.1 %2006: 13.1 %2007: 11.6 %2008: 11.2 %2009: 10.4 %2010: 10.1 %2011: 9.7 %2012: 9.4 %2013: 9.2 %2014: 8.9 %2015: 8.8 %2016: 8.9 %2017: 8.9 %2018: 9.5 %2019: 9.5 %2020: 11.1 %2021: 11.9 %2022: 11.8 %

Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Republic of Korea recorded 11.8% for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 26.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Republic of Korea peaked at 18.0% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 8.7%, in 1993.

Republic of Korea ranks 21st of 113 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.

Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Republic of Korea, year by year

Annual values for Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Republic of Korea, 1985 to 2022.
Year % Change
1985 17.9%
1986 16.5% -7.8%
1987 18.0% +9.2%
1988 17.4% -3.6%
1989 14.4% -17.0%
1990 13.2% -8.2%
1991 14.5% +9.7%
1992 11.1% -23.7%
1993 8.7% -21.9%
1994 10.4% +20.5%
1995 15.2% +45.6%
1996 16.5% +9.0%
1997 18.0% +8.6%
1998 16.4% -8.6%
1999 17.0% +3.3%
2000 13.8% -18.5%
2001 12.1% -12.5%
2002 10.0% -17.2%
2003 11.1% +11.0%
2004 12.5% +12.5%
2005 13.1% +5.0%
2006 13.1% -0.3%
2007 11.6% -11.6%
2008 11.2% -2.9%
2009 10.4% -7.2%
2010 10.1% -3.2%
2011 9.7% -4.0%
2012 9.4% -3.2%
2013 9.2% -1.8%
2014 8.9% -3.6%
2015 8.8% -0.5%
2016 8.9% +0.7%
2017 8.9% +0.3%
2018 9.5% +6.7%
2019 9.5% +0.4%
2020 11.1% +16.5%
2021 11.9% +7.0%
2022 11.8% -0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 16.8% 14.4% 18.0% 5
1990s 14.1% 8.7% 18.0% 10
2000s 11.9% 10.0% 13.8% 10
2010s 9.3% 8.8% 10.1% 10
2020s 11.6% 11.1% 11.9% 3

Countries ranked near Republic of Korea

  1. 18 Bosnia and Herzegovina 13.1% compare
  2. 19 French Guiana 12.4% compare
  3. 20 Albania 12.2% compare
  4. 22 Martinique 11.1% compare
  5. 23 France 11.1% compare
  6. 24 Qatar 10.5% compare

See the full ranking of 113 places →

More health data for Republic of Korea

All data for Republic of Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Republic of Korea?
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Republic of Korea was 11.8% 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 Republic of Korea?
The highest recorded value was 18.0% in 1987.
What is the lowest share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death recorded in Republic of Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 8.7% in 1993.
How does Republic of Korea rank for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death?
Republic of Korea ranks 21st out of 113 countries with data for 2022.
Is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Republic of Korea 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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Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Republic of Korea. Statizoid, drawing on WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/deaths-registered-with-an-ill-defined-cause-of-death/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death
Unit
%
Source
WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
113 places, 4,964 data points, 1950–2023
Last refreshed

Share of total reported deaths in both sexes in those aged all ages that are from ill-defined diseases.