Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Sweden
Sweden: Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death was 3.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.9%
Change on year
up 4.0%
World rank
58th
of 113 countries
All-time high
8.8%
in 1951
All-time low
0.4%
in 1976
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Sweden, 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 Sweden is 3.9%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Sweden peaked at 8.8% in 1951 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1976.
That places Sweden 58th 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 Sweden, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 8.8% | — |
| 1952 | 7.2% | -18.0% |
| 1953 | 5.3% | -25.9% |
| 1954 | 4.7% | -11.6% |
| 1955 | 4.3% | -9.2% |
| 1956 | 3.9% | -9.8% |
| 1957 | 3.5% | -8.8% |
| 1958 | 3.2% | -9.5% |
| 1959 | 2.6% | -17.9% |
| 1960 | 1.9% | -27.0% |
| 1961 | 1.4% | -25.1% |
| 1962 | 1.3% | -6.1% |
| 1963 | 1.2% | -12.5% |
| 1964 | 1.1% | -10.6% |
| 1965 | 1.0% | -4.4% |
| 1966 | 1.0% | -5.0% |
| 1967 | 0.9% | -1.6% |
| 1968 | 0.7% | -20.2% |
| 1969 | 0.7% | -4.0% |
| 1970 | 0.6% | -12.9% |
| 1971 | 0.5% | -23.2% |
| 1972 | 0.5% | +8.8% |
| 1973 | 0.5% | -5.6% |
| 1974 | 0.4% | -17.2% |
| 1975 | 0.5% | +11.4% |
| 1976 | 0.4% | -10.7% |
| 1977 | 0.4% | +9.5% |
| 1978 | 0.4% | -4.2% |
| 1979 | 0.5% | +7.2% |
| 1980 | 0.5% | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 0.5% | +12.3% |
| 1982 | 0.6% | +8.8% |
| 1983 | 0.6% | +14.0% |
| 1984 | 0.8% | +24.4% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 0.8% | +6.2% |
| 1987 | 0.9% | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 1.0% | +11.7% |
| 1989 | 1.2% | +17.9% |
| 1990 | 1.4% | +17.6% |
| 1991 | 1.4% | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 1.5% | +6.3% |
| 1993 | 1.4% | -4.9% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | +7.8% |
| 1995 | 1.6% | +6.3% |
| 1996 | 1.7% | +8.1% |
| 1997 | 2.2% | +24.2% |
| 1998 | 2.5% | +13.6% |
| 1999 | 2.4% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | +9.7% |
| 2001 | 2.6% | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 2.8% | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 3.1% | +12.2% |
| 2006 | 3.1% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 3.2% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | +13.6% |
| 2010 | 4.6% | +28.2% |
| 2011 | 4.0% | -14.3% |
| 2012 | 3.7% | -7.5% |
| 2013 | 3.4% | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 3.3% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 3.4% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | -11.3% |
| 2018 | 3.1% | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | +17.8% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | -15.9% |
| 2021 | 3.7% | +19.5% |
| 2022 | 3.8% | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | +4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.8% | 2.6% | 8.8% | 9 |
| 1960s | 1.1% | 0.7% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.5% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 3.0% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 3.1% | 3.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
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Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Sweden?
- Share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death in Sweden was 3.9% 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 8.8% in 1951.
- What is the lowest share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1976.
- How does Sweden rank for share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death?
- Sweden ranks 58th out of 113 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of deaths registered with an ill-defined cause of death rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden 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.