Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Spain
Spain: Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death was 2.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Spain, 1951–2023
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 Spain is 2.3%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 8.3% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Spain peaked at 16.5% in 1954 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 1995.
That places Spain 74th out of 113 countries with data for 2023, 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 Spain, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 9.4% | — |
| 1952 | 13.3% | +41.2% |
| 1953 | 16.2% | +21.8% |
| 1954 | 16.5% | +1.9% |
| 1955 | 15.9% | -3.2% |
| 1956 | 16.3% | +2.3% |
| 1957 | 15.6% | -4.6% |
| 1958 | 15.9% | +2.0% |
| 1959 | 15.6% | -1.7% |
| 1960 | 12.7% | -18.4% |
| 1961 | 11.7% | -8.0% |
| 1962 | 11.6% | -0.9% |
| 1963 | 12.1% | +4.3% |
| 1964 | 12.0% | -0.9% |
| 1965 | 11.4% | -4.7% |
| 1966 | 12.4% | +8.6% |
| 1967 | 12.0% | -3.6% |
| 1968 | 8.2% | -31.3% |
| 1969 | 8.1% | -1.8% |
| 1970 | 8.1% | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 8.1% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 6.2% | -23.5% |
| 1973 | 6.0% | -2.4% |
| 1974 | 5.6% | -6.5% |
| 1975 | 4.6% | -17.9% |
| 1976 | 4.6% | -1.2% |
| 1977 | 4.9% | +7.2% |
| 1978 | 4.7% | -3.2% |
| 1979 | 4.2% | -12.0% |
| 1980 | 3.5% | -17.3% |
| 1981 | 3.4% | -2.3% |
| 1982 | 3.5% | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 3.5% | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 3.3% | -5.1% |
| 1985 | 3.1% | -5.9% |
| 1986 | 2.8% | -8.6% |
| 1987 | 2.5% | -12.7% |
| 1988 | 2.4% | -3.5% |
| 1989 | 2.3% | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | -9.3% |
| 1991 | 2.0% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 1.9% | -5.5% |
| 1995 | 1.8% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 1.9% | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 2.0% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 1.9% | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 2.6% | +34.3% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 2.8% | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 2.8% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 2.8% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 2.9% | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 2.7% | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 2.5% | -9.0% |
| 2013 | 2.3% | -7.8% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | -6.6% |
| 2015 | 2.2% | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 1.9% | -13.1% |
| 2017 | 2.2% | +12.4% |
| 2018 | 2.3% | +7.4% |
| 2019 | 2.4% | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | -21.4% |
| 2021 | 2.0% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 2.1% | +6.6% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | +8.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15.0% | 9.4% | 16.5% | 9 |
| 1960s | 11.2% | 8.1% | 12.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.7% | 4.2% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.0% | 2.3% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.0% | 1.8% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.8% | 2.7% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 1.9% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.1% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 4 |
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Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Spain?
- Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Spain was 2.3% in 2023, 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 16.5% in 1954.
- What is the lowest share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 1995.
- How does Spain rank for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death?
- Spain ranks 74th out of 113 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain 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.