This page gives information about causes of death on the Mortality Trends website.
A drop-down list on the Choose a graph page shows 55 selectable causes of death. The first item in the list, 'All causes', means death from any cause. The next seven items, from 'All vascular disease' to 'All other causes', are broad categories which together add up exactly (or should do) to 'All causes'. The next, and largest, grouping of items is for specific causes of death, each of which belongs to one of the seven broad categories. Each of those categories, however, has only some of its specific component causes listed: the selection is intentionally limited to specific causes of death that have recently or historically been at least moderately common, and for which many years of data are available. The final group of four items are, or prominently feature, ill-defined causes of death, and can be used to assess indirectly the quality of the data for some of the defined specific causes of death.
Cause of death on this website means the underlying cause of death as recorded on civil death certificates. For the 40 selectable countries and territories on the Choose a graph page, most death certificates are completed by an attending medical doctor, although the actual proportion does vary a little: see Mathers et al. in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2005; 83: 171-7.
Definitions of each of the 55 selectable causes of death are given below. 'ICD' refers to the International Classification of Diseases, in its 7th, 8th, 9th or 10th version.
HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted disease. These categories are combined because most (but obviously not all) HIV/AIDS is sexually transmitted. In the 1980s, HIV/AIDS deaths tended to be coded under diagnoses such as pneumonia and skin cancer.
WHO codes: ICD-7 020-035; ICD-8 090-098; ICD-9 090-099, 279.5, 279.6; ICD-10 A50-A64, B20-B24.
All neoplasms, whether malignant, benign, or of an unspecified nature. (Benign neoplasms are not strictly 'cancers', but they form only a tiny proportion of the deaths in this category.) The category includes neoplasms of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues (eg, leukaemias, lymphomas).
WHO codes: ICD-7 140-239; ICD-8 140-239; ICD-9 140-239; ICD-10 C00-D48.
The aggregate of all deaths, irrespective of cause. For the 40 selectable countries and territories on the Choose a graph page, the recording of the fact of death is more-or-less complete: see Mathers et al., Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2005; 83: 171-7.
If space allowed, this diverse category might have been termed 'congenital, perinatal and infant causes of death'. Includes congenital malformations, Down's syndrome, spina bifida, birth injury, birth asphyxia, intrauterine hypoxia, respiratory distress of the newborn, congenital pneumonia, neonatal aspiration syndromes, bacterial sepsis of the newborn, extreme immaturity and low birthweight.
WHO codes: ICD-7 750-776; ICD-8 740-779; ICD-9 740-779; ICD-10 P00-Q999.
Includes tuberculosis (whether pulmonary or extra-pulmonary), influenza, acute respiratory infections (but not pneumonia), acute intestinal infections, malaria, measles, whooping cough, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, septicaemia, meningitis, viral hepatitis and cellulitis. Does not include pneumonia, because this is frequently a complication of other underlying diseases, rather than a primary infective cause of death in its own right.
WHO codes: ICD-7 001-138, 470-483, 500, 690-698; ICD-8 001-136, 460-474, 680-686; ICD-9 001-139, 279.5, 279.6, 466, 487, 680-686; ICD-10 A00-A999, B00-B999, J00-J029, J10-J118, J20-J229, L00-L089.
Encompasses all deaths considered to have resulted from an 'external' cause, such as water (drowning), fire (burns), drugs (unintentional poisoning), a vehicle (motor vehicle crash), a person's own hand (suicide), or the hand of others (murder, state execution, war).
WHO codes: ICD-7 E800-E899; ICD-8 E800-E899; ICD-9 E800-E899; ICD-10 V01-Y899.
Defined as all causes of death other than 'All vascular disease', 'All cancer', 'All respiratory disease', 'All infectious disease', 'All conditions arising near birth', and 'All injury'. Includes pneumonia, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, peptic ulcer, intestinal obstruction, hernia, liver cirrhosis, gallbladder disease, malnutrition, anaemia, obstetric (ie, maternal) causes, and ill-defined causes.
WHO codes: ICD-10 AAA less all of: D00-D489, J03-J069, I00-I99, C00-C97, J40-J989, V01-Y899, A00-A99, B00-B99, J00-J029, J10-J118, J20-J22, L00-L089 or P00-Q999; ICD-7, ICD-8 and ICD-9 codes defined similarly.
Includes COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma, pleurisy, lung abscess, bronchiectasis and pulmonary fibrosis. Does not include lung cancer, pneumonia, influenza or pulmonary tuberculosis.
WHO codes: ICD-7 501-527; ICD-8 490-519; ICD-9 490-519; ICD-10 J03-J069, J40-J989 .
Sometimes called 'cardiovascular disease' or 'circulatory disease'. Is dominated by coronary heart disease and stroke, but also includes aortic aneurysm, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, hypertensive heart disease, pericarditis, peripheral vascular disease and pulmonary embolism.
WHO codes: ICD-7 330-334, 400-468; ICD-8 390-458; ICD-9 390-459; ICD-10 I00-I999.
Includes nutritional anaemias, haemolytic anaemias, aplastic anaemias and unspecified anaemias.
WHO codes: ICD-7 290-293; ICD-8 280-285; ICD-9 280-285; ICD-10 D50-D649.
See 'COPD'.
WHO codes: ICD-7 181.0; ICD-8 188; ICD-9 188; ICD-10 C67.
Includes cancers of the small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus.
WHO codes: ICD-7 152-154; ICD-8 152-154; ICD-9 152-154; ICD-10 C17-C21.8.
WHO codes: ICD-7 193; ICD-8 191; ICD-9 191; ICD-10 C71.
Includes male breast cancer.
WHO codes: ICD-7 170; ICD-8 174; ICD-9 174; ICD-10 C50.
See 'All cancer' and site-specific cancers (eg, 'Lung cancer'). Note that all site-specific cancers are for cancers considered to have arisen at the specified site (ie, primary cancers), and not for cancers that metastasized to it (ie, secondary cancers).
See 'All vascular disease'.
Cancer of the uterine cervix.
WHO codes: ICD-7 171; ICD-8 180; ICD-9 180; ICD-10 C53.
See 'COPD'.
See 'COPD'.
See 'All vascular disease'.
Includes alcoholic cirrhosis, alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatic failure, alcoholic hepatitis, chronic hepatitis not otherwise specified, and biliary cirrhosis. Several of these diagnoses are explicitly alcohol-related, but chronic hepatitis is not: in some countries (eg, Japan) this chronic condition is commonly due to viral hepatitis.
WHO codes: ICD-7 581; ICD-8 571; ICD-9 571; ICD-10 K70, K73-K74.6.
See 'All conditions arising near birth'.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sometimes also called chronic obstructive lung disease. Includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, but not bronchiectasis. WHO data for the ICD-8 era inextricably mix COPD with asthma, so, for historical continuity, the ICD-9 and ICD-10 definitions used here include asthma as well; however, the ICD-7 data do not allow this to be done, so the definition for that era does not include asthma.
WHO codes: ICD-7 501, 502; ICD-8 490-493; ICD-9 490-493, 495, 496; ICD-10 J40-J46.
Also called ischaemic heart disease. Includes myocardial infarction ('heart attack') and angina. Generally the most common cause of death in Europe, North and South America, Oceania and South Asia.
WHO codes: ICD-7 420-422; ICD-8 410-414; ICD-9 410-414; ICD-10 I20-I249, I25 and I251-I259.
Diabetes mellitus, irrespective of the type (eg, type 1, type 2). Note that in Mexico there is a strong tendency for diabetes to be recorded as as the underlying cause of death if there is any evidence at all that it contributed to a death, whereas in some northern European countries there is a definite tendency for it not to be. Diabetes mortality rates consequently depend enormously on the coding practices in the particular country. Complicating the interpretation even further, the coding practices in several countries have changed substantially over time. Diabetes can result in death from coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, liver disease, infectious diseases, and a few types of cancer.
WHO codes: ICD-7 260; ICD-8 250; ICD-9 250; ICD-10 E10-E14.
The aggregate of all deaths attributed either to 'Diabetes' or 'All vascular disease' (see definitions above). This combined endpoint may be particularly useful for countries where a large proportion of vascular deaths are recorded as diabetes deaths, most notably Mexico.
Unintentional drowning.
WHO codes: ICD-7 E929; ICD-8 E910; ICD-9 E910; ICD-10 W65-W74.
See 'COPD'.
Cancer of the uterus other than cancer of the uterine cervix. Mostly endometrial cancer.
WHO codes: ICD-7 172-174; ICD-8 181, 182; ICD-9 179, 182; ICD-10 C54, C55.
WHO codes: ICD-7 353; ICD-8 345; ICD-9 345; ICD-10 G40, G41.
See 'Oesophageal cancer'.
Unintentional injuries due to falls.
WHO codes: ICD-7 E900-E904; ICD-8 E880-E887; ICD-9 E880-E888; ICD-10 W00-W19.
Unintentional injuries due to fire.
WHO codes: ICD-7 E916; ICD-8 E890-E899; ICD-9 E890-E899; ICD-10 X00-X09.
Includes cancer of the extrahepatic bile ducts.
WHO codes: ICD-7 155.1; ICD-8 156; ICD-9 156; ICD-10 C23-C24.
Gallbladder disease other than gallbladder cancer. Includes gallstones (cholelithiasis) and inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis).
WHO codes: ICD-7 584, 585; ICD-8 574, 575; ICD-9 574-575.1; ICD-10 K80-K82.
See 'Peptic ulcer'.
Cause of death not known (eg, 'sudden death') or known only imprecisely (eg, because just symptoms or laboratory test results were recorded).
WHO codes: ICD-7 780-795; ICD-8 780-796; ICD-9 780-799; ICD-10 R00-R99.
See 'All infectious disease'.
See 'All injury'.
Injury where the underlying intent was not determined.
WHO codes: ICD-7, unavailable; ICD-8 E980-E989; ICD-9 E980-E989; ICD-10 Y10-Y349, Y872.
Includes hernia of the abdominal cavity.
WHO codes: ICD-7 560, 561, 570; ICD-8 550-553, 560 ; ICD-9 550-553, 560; ICD-10 K40-K46, K56.
Includes cancer of the renal pelvis.
WHO codes: ICD-7 180; ICD-8 1890, 1891; ICD-9 1890-1891; ICD-10 C64 C65.
Includes acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia, chronic leukaemia, monocytic leukaemia and unspecified leukaemia.
WHO codes: ICD-7 204; ICD-8 204-207; ICD-9 204-208; ICD-10 C91-C95.
Includes cancer of the bronchi and trachea. Does not include mesothelioma.
WHO codes: ICD-7 162, 163; ICD-8 162; ICD-9 162; ICD-10 C33, C34.
Includes all haematopoietic and lymphoid neoplasms other than leukaemia, notably Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
WHO codes: ICD-7 200-203, 205; ICD-8 200-203, 208, 209; ICD-9 200-203; ICD-10 C81-C90, C96.
Injury resulting from a motor vehicle crash. Motor vehicles include cars, trucks and motorcycles, and the injured individuals include drivers, riders and passengers, as well as pedal cyclists or pedestrians affected by motor vehicles. The ICD-7, -8 and -10 codes include 'nontraffic' injuries (which would always have been few in number), whereas the ICD-9 codes do not.
WHO codes: ICD-7 E810-E835; ICD-8 E810-E823; ICD-9 E810-E819; ICD-10 V020-V049, V120-V149, V200-V799, V892.
See 'Oral or pharyngeal cancer'.
WHO codes: ICD-7 345; ICD-8 340; ICD-9 340; ICD-10 G35.
See 'Cancer'.
Includes pregnancy-related toxaemia, haemorrhage and sepsis, and legal abortion.
WHO codes: ICD-7 601, 603, 605-609, 611-617, 622-637, 640-652, 660, 670-689; ICD-8 630-645, 650-662, 670-678; ICD-9 630-648, 650-676; ICD-10 O00-O99.
WHO codes: ICD-7 150; ICD-8 150; ICD-9 150; ICD-10 C15.
Includes cancer of lip, tongue, gum, palate, salivary glands, tonsil, oropharynx, nasopharynx and hypopharynx.
WHO codes: ICD-7 140-148; ICD-8 140-149; ICD-9 140-149; ICD-10C00-C14.
See 'All other causes'.
The ICD-7, -8 and -9 (but not ICD-10) definitions below include cancer of the Fallopian tubes, broad ligament, and other uterine adnexa.
WHO codes: ICD-7 175; ICD-8 183; ICD-9 183; ICD-10 C56.
WHO codes: ICD-7 157; ICD-8 157; ICD-9 157; ICD-10 C25.
Includes gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.
WHO codes: ICD-7 540, 541; ICD-8 531-533; ICD-9 531-533; ICD-10 K25-K27.
See 'Oral or pharyngeal cancer'.
Includes bacterial pneumonia, viral pneumonia, and pneumonia due to unspecified type of organism.
WHO codes: ICD-7 490-493; ICD-8 480-486; ICD-9 480-486; ICD-10 J12-J18.
See 'Unintentional poisoning'.
WHO codes: ICD-7 177; ICD-8 185; ICD-9 185; ICD-10 C61.
See 'All respiratory disease'.
Mostly malignant melanoma, but also includes squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.
WHO codes: ICD-7 190, 191; ICD-8 172, 173; ICD-9 172, 173; ICD-10 C43, C44.
WHO codes: ICD-7 151; ICD-8 151; ICD-9 151; ICD-10 C16.
See 'Peptic ulcer'.
Sometimes called cerebrovascular disease. Generally the most common cause of death in East Asia.
WHO codes: ICD-7 330-334; ICD-8 430-438; ICD-9 430-438; ICD-10 I60-I69.
Deaths resulting from any form of self-inflicted injury.
WHO codes: ICD-7 E963, E970-E979; ICD-8 E950-E959; ICD-9 E950-E959; ICD-10 X60-X84.
WHO codes: ICD-7 178; ICD-8186; ICD-9 186; ICD-10 C62.
WHO codes: ICD-7 194; ICD-8 193; ICD-9 193; ICD-10 C73.
Includes pulmonary tuberculosis, extra-pulmonary tuberculosis and late effects of tuberculosis.
WHO codes: ICD-7 001-019; ICD-8 010-019; ICD-9 010-018, 137; ICD-10 A15-A19, B90.
Also called accidental poisoning. Includes unintentional poisoning by medication, alcohol, illicit drugs.
WHO codes: ICD-7 E870-E895; ICD-8 E850-E877; ICD-9 E850-E869; ICD-10 X400-X499.
Comprises neoplasms of an unspecified nature (typically about 90% of the deaths in this category) and neoplasms recorded as benign (about 10%).
WHO codes: ICD-7 210-239; ICD-8 210-239; ICD-9 210-239; ICD-10 D00-D489.
See 'All vascular disease'.
All vascular disease besides coronary heart disease and stroke. Includes diseases such as aortic aneurysm, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, hypertensive heart disease, pericarditis, peripheral vascular disease and pulmonary embolism. Also includes ill-defined vascular causes of death such as 'heart disease' and 'atherosclerosis'.
WHO codes: ICD-7 400-402, 410-416, 430-434, 440-447, 450-456, 460-468; ICD-8 390-398, 400-404, 420-429, 440-448, 450-458; ICD-9 390-398, 401-405, 415-429, 440-459; ICD-10 I00-I199, I250, I26-I59, I70-I999.
Defined here as death resulting from an injury intentionally inflicted by another person or persons. Includes homicide, murder, manslaughter, assault, war, and state execution. The number of deaths from this cause in a given year may differ somewhat from that determined subsequently by judicial authorities.
WHO codes: ICD-7 E964, E965, E980-E985, E990-E999; ICD-8 E960-E978, E990-E999; ICD-9 E960-E969, E990-E999; ICD-10 X85-Y099, Y35-Y369.
'Much of what we call diseases are a kaleidoscope of conditions, with distinct origins,
prognoses, risk factors, genetic susceptibilities, and
responses to therapy.'
—Anonymous, Nature (2001), Visionary experimental designs