dödsstatistik

Dödsstatistik, or mortality statistics, are the systematic collection and analysis of data on deaths within a defined population and period. They are derived from civil registration systems, death certificates, hospital records, and national registries. Core variables include the number of deaths, age and sex of the deceased, date and place of death, and, where available, the underlying and contributing causes of death, often coded with international standards such as ICD.

Common indicators are the crude mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 population), age- and sex-specific mortality rates, life expectancy, infant mortality, and standardized mortality ratios. Causes of death are categorized using ICD codes, and analyses may examine leading causes, temporal trends, geographic distribution, and age-at-death patterns. Data are typically adjusted through age standardization to enable fair comparisons across populations with different age structures.

Uses include public health surveillance, epidemiological research, health service planning, and policy evaluation. Mortality statistics help monitor the impact of risk factors, diseases, and interventions, and they are essential during health emergencies such as outbreaks or natural disasters. Internationally, mortality data are compiled and compared by organizations such as the WHO, OECD, and Eurostat, though comparability can be affected by differences in registration, coding, and timeliness.

Limitations and ethical considerations include delays in registration, underreporting, misclassification of cause of death, and privacy concerns. Researchers must account for data quality, harmonization of coding, and access restrictions. In Sweden, dödsstatistik is produced from national registries and coded by ICD, with detailed mortality statistics published by Statistics Sweden (SCB) and the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen).