Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Data on causes of death (CoD) provide information on mortality patterns and form a major element of public health information.
CoD data refer to the underlying cause which - according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) - is "the disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury".
CoD data are derived from death certificates. The information provided in the medical certificate of cause of death is mapped to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD).
Data on causes of death (CoD) provide information on mortality patterns and form a major element of public health information.
CoD data refer to the underlying cause which - according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) - is "the disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury".
Causes of death are classified by the 86 causes of the "European shortlist" of causes of death. This shortlist is based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD).
CoD data are derived from death certificates. The information provided in the medical certificate of cause of death is mapped to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD).
Data are broken down by sex, 5-year age groups, cause of death and country of occurrence. For stillbirths and neonatal deaths additional breakdows might include age of mother.
Data are available for EU-27, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Regional data (NUTS level 2) are not available for Iceland.
Annual national data are provided in absolute number, crude death rates and standardised death rates.
See table 3.2 “Classification system” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_2024_Annex”.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Public Health
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Concepts and definitions are described in the Commission regulation (EU) No 328/2011 in articles 2 and 3.
3.4.1. National definition used for usual residency
Those persons who according to the Population Information System had a legal domicile in Iceland belong to the permanent resident population in the country regardless of their nationality. Persons are domiciled in Iceland if their stay is intended to last or has lasted at least six months.
3.4.2. Stillbirth definition and characteristics collected
Stillbirths include a fetus or a newborn who shows no signs of life at the time of birth and the duration of pregnancy is at least 28 weeks or the weight at least 1000 grams. Miscarriages that occurred at an earlier stage of the pregnancy are not regarded as stillbirths and are not included in cause of death statistics.
Characteristics collected: gestational age and weight.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical units are the deceased persons and the stillborns, respectively.
3.6. Statistical population
Residents and stillbirths.
3.6.1. Neonates of non-resident mothers
Not considered residents.
3.6.2. Non-residents
Non-residents dying in Iceland are not covered but data on non-residents are collected.
3.6.3. Residents dying abroad
Included. If residents died abroad, deaths are registered to the Population Information System and medical death certificates should be sent to Directorate of Health of Iceland.
3.7. Reference area
Iceland
3.8. Coverage - Time
Time series available from 1996 onwards.
Numbers for causes of death in Iceland are available for the years 1981-1995 according to the classification based on the 9th edition of the classification system of the World Health Organization (ICD-9) and its 10th edition (ICD-10) from 1996 onwards.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The unit is number.
2024
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
CoD data was submitted to Eurostat on the basis of a gentleman's agreement established in the framework Eurostat's Working Group on "Public Health Statistics" until data with reference year 2010.
CoD data according to this regulation is submitted to Eurostat since reference year 2011.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
COD-data are shared with researchers, students, health authorities, WHO, Eurostat and media.
Data may be released for purposes of scientific research and statistical surveys on society. The releasing of unit-level data is subject to a user licence, see Data for scientific research.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
All users have equal access to anonymous statistical releases from The Cause of Death Registry at the same time, according to the European statistics code of practice. Access to confidential microdata for scientific purposes may only be granted based on approval by the data controller and the National Bioethics Committee. It is also subject to notification to the Data Protection Authority.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Data are handled only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Iceland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Researchers handling Statistics Iceland's data also sign a pledge of secrecy.
8.1. Release calendar
The Icelandic cause of death statistics is released annually, at the end of the following year of the reference year.
In line with the Code of Practice, The Icelandic Cause of Death Register provides equal access for all users to statistics. The principles for production of Icelandic statistics are elaborated through guidelines for European statistics (the European Statistics Code of Practice, generally referred to as the Code of Practice).
It is possible to apply for access to microdata from Directorate of Health. There you will find guidelines, electronic application forms and other information, see: Adgangur ad gognum til visindarannsokna. Access to microdata may only be granted based on approval by the Directorate of Health and the National Bioethics Committee. It is also subject to notification to the Data Protection Authority.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
WHO - tabular data.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not applicable
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Documents for CoD are available in the Directorate of health
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Documents for COD are available in CIRCABC, Causes of Death section.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Quality standards for death registration in Iceland are based on the international ICD framework, and there is a group in which we participate for harmonized registration of causes of death (Nordic Baltic Mortality Group).
11.1. Quality assurance
See 18.4.1. Coding
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Not available.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Users of the Icelandic Cause of Death Registry mainly need access to data, information and knowledge for the following purposes:
Monitoring causes of death over time;
Preparation of national, regional and local statistics related to causes of death;
Research;
Planning, quality assurance and quality impovement in the Health and Care Services.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
Criterias are fully met in the mandatory variables.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
1. For mandatory variables:
Complete since 2011.
2. For voluntary variables:
Not provided.
3. For additional variables:
External CoD
Complete.
Place of occurrence for external CoD
Not provided.
Activity for external CoD
Not provided.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Data on deaths are verified from the Directorate of Health. In case the information on the death certificate is deficient, inconsistent or difficult to classify, the information about the event recorded on the death certificate will be reviewed, a medical expert will be consulted or more information is requested from the issuer of the death certificate.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable. Data collection is from administrative sources.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Iceland is not reporting the non-residents who dies in Icelandic territory.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable. Data collection is from administrative sources.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not applicable.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not applicable.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not applicable.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
See table 14.1 “Timeliness” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_2024_Annex”.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
From data collection with reference year 2011 onwards, Eurostat asks for the submission of final data at national and regional level and related metadata for the year N at N+24 months, according to the Implementing Regulation (EC) No. 328/2011, Article 4.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
See table 14.2.1 “Punctuality - delivery and publication” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_2024_Annex”.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
All the geographical regions in Iceland use the same death certificate, and all the death certificates are coded by the same group of coders at the Directorate of Health. Over all, the degree of geographical comparability in the Icelandic Causes of Death Register is high.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Iceland has used ICD9 1981-1995 and ICD10 1996 onwards. Electronic death certificates started to be used from 2022 onwards but paper version of death certificates are still optional.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
In the Icelandic Causes of Death Register timeseries are available from 1981-2021. Different ICD-versions causes breaks in series. ICD-9, 1981-1995 and ICD-10, 1996-.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
COD data are matched with The population registry mortality data. If there are any discrepancy Statistics Icelands sends requst for an explanation to the Directorate of Health.
For residents dying in Iceland, the coverage is more than 99%.
Residents dying abroad: About 2.3% of residents die abroad. The cause of death is missing for nearly 70% of those individuals.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable, only annual data are available.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
No inconsistency between GEN and SBN files.
The cost and burden of the data collection is reduced by using validation and dissemination IT tools.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not applicable.
17.2. Data revision - practice
If data in the death registry changes, then the data to Eurostat is revised.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
The statistics are compiled on the basis of death certificates.The statistics on stillbirths is supplemented with data from the birth register which originates from the Directorate of Health.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
Information provided in the sub-concepts.
18.3.1. Certification
See table 18.3.1 “Certification” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_2024_Annex”.
18.3.2. Automated Coding
See table 18.3.2 “Automated Coding” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_2024_Annex”.
18.3.3. Underlying cause of death
See table 18.3.3 “Underlying cause of death” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_2024_Annex”.
18.3.4. Availability of multiple cause
See table 18.3.4 “Availability of multiple cause” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_2024_Annex”.
18.3.5. Stillbirths and Neonatal certificates
We use the same death certificate for the neonates as we do for other deaths. In addition, the Cause of Death Registry and the Medical Birth Registry cooperate and exchange data. Additional infromation found in the Birth registry are the following:
birth and death time (hhmm) for deaths aged 0-6 days;
gestational age and weight;
multiple pregnancy;
birth order in case of multiple pregnancy;
age, gender and home municipality of mother, country if not resident.
18.4. Data validation
What are the criteria (external source, local registers, …) used for the validation of the coverage?
The statistics cover all persons registered by the The National Population Register of Iceland as inhabitants of Iceland (residents) at their death, regardless of whether the death took place in Iceland or abroad. Non-residents dying in Iceland are not included.
18.4.1. Coding
The Icelandic Cause of Death Registry has fully implemented the IRIS system, with its associated rules and guidelines for selection of underlying cause of death, for routine coding. IRIS detects inconsistencies in the sequence in the death certificate and also rejects codes that cannot be the underlying cause of death. If the medical data is incomplete on the death certificate, additional information is requested from the institution where the certificate was issued. The processing also includes reviewing and correcting the individual variables, including that the certificate is completed and that the above values are reasonable considering, among other things, the deceased's age and gender. Coding performed by a certifier: Although the physician records the cause of death on the death certificate as a code and as text specifying the diagnosis, the final coding is done at the Directorate of Health where the causes of death is coded on the basis of the diagnosis text and rearranged if necessary according to WHO's selection and modification rules. Estimation of the percentage of autopsy from which information is available for coding: Approximately 10 percent of the deceased in Iceland are autopsied. Description of double coding exercises and rate of codification errors for underlying cause of death: None.
18.4.2. Unspecified CoD code
See table 18.4.2 “Unspecified CoD code” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_2024_Annex”.
18.4.3. Unknown country or region
See table 18.4.3 “Unknown country or region” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_2024_Annex”.
18.4.4. Validation of the coverage
The statistics cover all persons registered by the Population Information System as residents of Iceland at their death, regardless of whether the death took place in Iceland or abroad. Stillbirths are cross-checked with the Medical Birth Register.
18.5. Data compilation
The coding of diagnoses is according to ICD-10, and the underlying cause of death is identified by IRIS. The UC codes are further aggregated to the European Shortlist of causes of death (COD-SL-2012).
Data on causes of death (CoD) provide information on mortality patterns and form a major element of public health information.
CoD data refer to the underlying cause which - according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) - is "the disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury".
CoD data are derived from death certificates. The information provided in the medical certificate of cause of death is mapped to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD).
Data on causes of death (CoD) provide information on mortality patterns and form a major element of public health information.
CoD data refer to the underlying cause which - according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) - is "the disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury".
Causes of death are classified by the 86 causes of the "European shortlist" of causes of death. This shortlist is based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD).
CoD data are derived from death certificates. The information provided in the medical certificate of cause of death is mapped to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD).
Data are broken down by sex, 5-year age groups, cause of death and country of occurrence. For stillbirths and neonatal deaths additional breakdows might include age of mother.
Data are available for EU-27, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Regional data (NUTS level 2) are not available for Iceland.
Annual national data are provided in absolute number, crude death rates and standardised death rates.
21 February 2026
Concepts and definitions are described in the Commission regulation (EU) No 328/2011 in articles 2 and 3.
The statistical units are the deceased persons and the stillborns, respectively.
Residents and stillbirths.
Iceland
2024
Data on deaths are verified from the Directorate of Health. In case the information on the death certificate is deficient, inconsistent or difficult to classify, the information about the event recorded on the death certificate will be reviewed, a medical expert will be consulted or more information is requested from the issuer of the death certificate.
The unit is number.
The coding of diagnoses is according to ICD-10, and the underlying cause of death is identified by IRIS. The UC codes are further aggregated to the European Shortlist of causes of death (COD-SL-2012).
The statistics are compiled on the basis of death certificates.The statistics on stillbirths is supplemented with data from the birth register which originates from the Directorate of Health.
Annual.
See table 14.1 “Timeliness” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_2024_Annex”.
All the geographical regions in Iceland use the same death certificate, and all the death certificates are coded by the same group of coders at the Directorate of Health. Over all, the degree of geographical comparability in the Icelandic Causes of Death Register is high.
Iceland has used ICD9 1981-1995 and ICD10 1996 onwards. Electronic death certificates started to be used from 2022 onwards but paper version of death certificates are still optional.
