Causes of death (hlth_cdeath)

1.1. Contact organisation

[SK1] Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic

1.2. Contact organisation unit

Population Statistics Department

1.3. Contact name

Confidential because of GDPR

1.4. Contact person function

Confidential because of GDPR

1.5. Contact mail address

Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic

Lamačská cesta 3/C

840 00 Bratislava 4

SLOVAK REPUBLIC

1.6. Contact email address

Confidential because of GDPR

1.7. Contact phone number

Confidential because of GDPR

1.8. Contact fax number

Confidential because of GDPR

2.1. Metadata last certified

30 June 2026

2.2. Metadata last posted

30 June 2026

2.3. Metadata last update

30 June 2026

3.1. Data description

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, age, underlying cause of death, country/area code of residence of deceased person, country/area code of occurrence of death and by place of occurrence for external causes. Stillbirths and neonatal deaths are additionally broken down by age of mother and parity.

Data are provided to ESTAT at the NUTS 2 level.

 

3.2. Classification system

Eurostat's CoD statistics build on standards set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD).

The regional breakdown is based on the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS 2).

See table 3.2 “Classification and updates applied by years” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_SK_2024_0000_an_1”.

3.3. Coverage - sector

Public Health (mortality and stillbirth statistics are produced by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic as part of demographic statistics).

3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

Concepts and definitions are described in Commission Regulation (EU) No 328/2011, in Articles 2 and 3.

There is no discrepancy between the definitions set out in the Regulation and the definitions used by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic for mortality, cause-of-death and stillbirth statistics.

3.4.1. National definition used for usual residency

According to the national definition, the usual residence means the permanent residence; it complies with the international definition of usual residence in that it is the place of legal or registered residence. Permanent residence is person´s permanent place of abode. It is municipality in which citizen of the Slovak Republic, or foreign citizen stays according to official registration, i.e. signing up for permanent residence (Act. No. 500/2004 Coll. and Act. No. 48/2002 Coll. in wording of later regulations).

3.4.2. Stillbirth definition and characteristics collected

A stillborn child is a child who, after complete expulsion or extraction from the mother, did not show any sign of life. Signs of life include breathing, beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta remains attached.
For stillbirths, data collection is limited to the following groups: 
• birth weight from 500 g to 999 g or when birth weight does not apply gestational age from 22 to 27 completed weeks, or when neither of the two applies crown-heel length from 25 to 34 cm; and
• birth weight of 1 000 g and more or when birth weight does not apply gestational age after 27 completed weeks or when neither of the two applies crown-heel length of 35 cm or more.

3.5. Statistical unit

The statistical unit is the death or stillbirth event.

Mortality statistics produced by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic comprise deaths of residents of the Slovak Republic, occurring in the territory of the Slovak Republic and abroad.
For the purposes of the CoD questionnaire, data on deaths of non-residents occurring in the territory of the Slovak Republic are also available from the internal statistical database on deaths.

Stillbirths are compiled within birth statistics, where births are classified according to vitality (live births and stillbirths). Stillbirth statistics produced by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic comprise stillbirths occurring in the territory of the Slovak Republic to mothers residing in the Slovak Republic. For the purposes of the CoD questionnaire, stillbirths occurring in the territory of the Slovak Republic to both resident and non-resident mothers are included.

3.6. Statistical population

The statistical population comprises the resident population of the Slovak Republic.

Demographic statistics (including mortality and birth statistics) produced by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic cover residents of the Slovak Republic.

Data on non-residents who died or were stillborn in the territory of the Slovak Republic are also collected and are available in the internal statistical databases on deaths and births. These data are provided for the purposes of the CoD questionnaire, but not for the DEM questionnaires.
Deaths of residents of the Slovak Republic that occurred abroad are sourced from the Special Civil Register (the register of births, marriages and deaths of Slovak citizens occurring outside the Slovak Republic).

3.6.1. Neonates of non-resident mothers

Neonatal deaths among children born to non-resident mothers are not considered part of the resident population of the Slovak Republic; they are classified according to the mother’s residence.
Data on such cases are available in the internal statistical database on deaths and are included in the CoD questionnaire, but not in the DEM questionnaires.

3.6.2. Non-residents

Mortality and birth statistics produced by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic are based on the resident population of the Slovak Republic.

Data on non-residents who died in the territory of the Slovak Republic are also collected and stored in the internal statistical database on deaths. These data are provided for the purposes of the CoD questionnaire, but not for the DEM questionnaires.

Deaths of residents and non-residents occurring in the territory of the Slovak Republic are registered via the “Medical Report and the Statistical Report on Death” (OBYV 3-12). Stillbirths occurring in the territory of the Slovak Republic to resident and non-resident mothers are registered via the “Statistical Report on Birth” (eOBYV 2-12).
Stillbirths of non-resident mothers are included in the CoD questionnaire but not in the DEM questionnaires.

3.6.3. Residents dying abroad

Deaths of residents of the Slovak Republic occurring abroad are included in the mortality statistics. Basic demographic characteristics (sex, age, date and place of death, marital status, and residence in the Slovak Republic) are available.
Data source: Special Civil Register (the register of births, marriages and deaths of citizens of the Slovak Republic occurring outside the Slovak Republic).

3.7. Reference area

The Slovak Republic.

Data refer to the national (NUTS 1) and regional (NUTS 2) levels. The reference area corresponds to the territory of the Slovak Republic; data provided for the CoD questionnaire also include vital events of non-residents occurring in the territory of the Slovak Republic.

3.8. Coverage - Time

Time series according to Commission Regulation (EU) No. 328/2011 are available from 2011 onwards.

National data on residents are available from 1919 onwards.

3.9. Base period

Not applicable.

Number

Data refer to the calendar year (i.e. all deaths and stillbirths occurring within the year).

6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements

Countries submitted data 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. The first data submitted according to the Regulation (EU) No 328/2011 is data with reference year 2011.
A Regulation on Community statistics on public health and health and safety at work (EC) No 1338/2008 was signed by the European Parliament and the Council on 16 December 2008. This Regulation is the framework of the data collection on the domain.
Within the context of this framework Regulation, a Regulation on Community statistics on public health and health and safety at work, as regards statistics on causes of death (EU) No 328/2011 was signed by the European Parliament and the Council on 5 April 2011.

National legislation:

• Act No. 540/2001 Coll., on State Statistics, as amended
• Programme of State Statistical Surveys (Decree of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic No. 425/2023 Coll. issuing the Programme of State Statistical Surveys for the years 2024 to 2026).

These legal acts provide the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic with the mandate to collect, process and disseminate official statistics and establish the framework for statistical surveys, professional independence, and statistical confidentiality.

6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing

Data sharing and coordination between data-producing agencies are governed by Act No. 540/2001 Coll. on State Statistics, as amended, and by the Programme of State Statistical Surveys.

The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic cooperates with ministries, other central government authorities and state institutions in the collection, processing and exchange of statistical data. The Programme of State Statistical Surveys is prepared in cooperation with these institutions and defines the statistical surveys conducted within the National Statistical System. It contains the list of statistical surveys carried out by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, ministries, other central government authorities and state institutions. The Programme is issued as a generally binding legal act in the form of a decree published in the Collection of Legal Acts of the Slovak Republic.

In addition, data sharing is supported by inter-institutional agreements with key administrative data providers, in particular the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic.
The Statistical Office disseminates statistical information in accordance with the Act on State Statistics. Statistical information is provided free of charge to national authorities, Eurostat and, under the conditions laid down by the Act, to international organisations. Other users may obtain statistical information upon request in accordance with the applicable legal provisions.
Confidential statistical data may be made available for scientific and research purposes only under the conditions specified in the Act on State Statistics. Access is granted exclusively to authorised research institutions or researchers in a form that prevents the direct or indirect identification of statistical units, provided that the receiving institution ensures appropriate conditions for the protection of confidential data. Access is provided either by supplying anonymised datasets to authorised research institutions or through the Safe Centre of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. The handling of statistical data must also comply with the legislation governing the protection of personal data and confidential statistical data.

All publicly disseminated statistical outputs are released in aggregated form in accordance with the legislation governing the protection of personal data and confidential statistical data. Statistical data disseminated through the Statistical Office's public database and official dissemination products are available free of charge, while customised statistical outputs and data extractions are provided upon request in accordance with the applicable rules.
For more details, see:

• National Statistical System;
• Policy on Dissemination of Statistical Information of the SO SR;
• Principles of Release and Provision of Statistical Information.

7.1. Confidentiality - policy

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.

Regulation (EU) 2015/759 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 amending Regulation (EC) No. 223/2009 on European statistics.

Statistical confidentiality is ensured through national legislation and internal regulations of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

National legislation:

• Act No. 540/2001 Coll. on State Statistics, as amended, establishes the obligation of statistical confidentiality and the protection of confidential statistical data. Confidential data may not be disclosed, communicated to third parties or used for purposes other than statistical purposes without the consent of the legal or natural persons to whom the data relate
• Act No. 18/2018 Coll. on Personal Data Protection, as amended

Internal regulations of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic:

• Directive of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (SME-10/2023) on the protection and disclosure of confidential statistical data
• Methodological instruction on the protection of confidential statistical data (MET-7/2023)
• Principles of the protection and use of confidential statistical data
• Conditions for granting access to confidential statistical data for scientific purposes.

7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

Authorities responsible for carrying out official statistics are obliged to ensure the protection of confidential statistical data against misuse in the manner prescribed by Sections 25a, 29, and 30 of Act No. 540/2001 Coll. on State Statistics, as amended.
The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic safeguards the confidentiality of statistical data:

• in all statistical outputs disseminated and published as statistical information;
• in microdata provided for scientific research purposes.

The Office provides access to confidential statistical data for scientific purposes (microdata) in two ways:

•  by transferring a microdata file on a secure technical medium or through secure data transmission;
• by providing access to microdata at the Office’s Research Data Center.

Microdata provided under point (a) are protected in such a way as to minimize the risk of identifying the statistical units to which they relate, while preserving the highest possible informational value of the data in view of the objectives of the research project.
The following methods are most commonly used for this purpose:

• Recoding: combining several categories into a single category;
• Suppression: withholding a value that could lead to the disclosure of confidential statistical data;
• Top and bottom coding: replacing extremely low or high values with an open-ended interval;
• Swapping: exchanging the values of variables between individual statistical units;
• Microaggregation: replacing an actual value with an average value.

Microdata made available under point (b) have direct identifiers removed; no additional microdata protection methods are applied. In this case, the physical and logical protection of the data is ensured through the secure environment of the Research Data Center.
From an analytical perspective and in terms of information loss, these microdata files are more valuable than those provided under point (a). Their disadvantage is that researchers must be physically present at the Office’s premises (often for an extended period of time), and any outputs produced must undergo disclosure control before release.

The Office operates a Research Data Center (RDC) exclusively for the use of confidential statistical data for scientific purposes as defined in an agreement concluded with a research entity (i.e. an entity carrying out research or development activities, an analytical unit, or a higher education institution for the purposes of preparing a final thesis).

The Research Data Center is a physically separated area located at the Office’s headquarters in Bratislava and meets the technical requirements necessary to ensure the physical and logical protection of confidential statistical data. The technical facilities of the Research Data Center enable the research entity to analyse the microdata provided using the necessary equipment, in particular software intended for data analysis (Microsoft Excel, SAS, R, etc.). This equipment is not connected to the internet, does not have operational USB ports or CD drives, and confidential data cannot be exported from it by any other means. An applicant wishing to examine and analyze microdata should follow a special procedure for data disclosure.

8.1. Release calendar

The data are published in accordance with the First Release Calendar, the Publication Release Calendar and the Schedule for Updating the DATAcube Public Database.

Final annual data are released on the website of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic within 90 days after the end of the reference year. Population structures are released within four months after the end of the reference year.

Preliminary monthly data are released within 60 days after the end of the reference month.

Since 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadlines for processing and releasing mortality data have been shortened. The first preliminary numbers of deaths are released in the DATAcube database within 20 days after the end of the reference month, broken down by week of death, age group and sex. Preliminary monthly numbers of deaths are released within 30 days after the end of the reference month and include a more detailed breakdown by age, sex and cause of death.

8.2. Release calendar access

• Release Calendar - Extended Event Calendar
• Information Reports Catalogue
• News
• Publications

8.3. Release policy - user access

The release and dissemination of statistical information are governed by the Policy on Dissemination of Statistical Information and the Principles of Release and Provision of Statistical Information of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

Statistical information is disseminated to all users simultaneously through the website of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, ensuring equal access to official statistics.

Users have free access to:

• news releases;
• indicators;
• publications;
• metadata;
• the DATAcube public database;
• information and consulting services.

Statistical information is released and disseminated through:

• the website of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic;
• printed publications;
• responses to users' requests (by e-mail, post, telephone, electronic services or in person);
• communication with the public and media (press releases, press conferences, articles and discussions).

The dissemination and provision of statistical information comply with Act No. 540/2001 Coll. on State Statistics, as amended, and ensure the protection of confidential statistical data in accordance with the applicable confidentiality rules.

Statistics on causes of death are disseminated at different frequencies depending on the type of output.

Preliminary data are disseminated monthly and quarterly (e.g. numbers of deaths by sex, age and cause of death). Final validated data are disseminated annually and include detailed mortality and demographic statistics (e.g. cross-tabulations with the character of a demographic yearbook).

10.1. Dissemination format - News release

News releases related to mortality and causes of death statistics are published on the website of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

Regular information reports on population stock and population change, as well as ad hoc news releases on mortality and causes of death statistics (e.g. annual reports on mortality and causes of death in the Slovak Republic), are disseminated online.

For example: Demography – deaths and causes of deaths in the SR in the year 2024

10.2. Dissemination format - Publications

Statistics on causes of death are disseminated through regular publications issued by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic and published on its website in accordance with the Catalogue of Publications.

The main publications containing mortality and causes of death data are:

• The Population Change in the Slovak Republic (annual source publication containing detailed tables and methodological notes);
• WE IN NUMBERS – Population Change (annual publication containing tables, graphs and maps);
• STATISTICS IN CONTEXTS publications analysing demographic developments, including mortality trends;
• Information Reports on Population and Migration;
• Statistical Yearbook of the Slovak Republic.

Methodological notes and metadata are included in the relevant publications and population databases.

10.3. Dissemination format - online database

Statistics on causes of death are available free of charge through the online databases of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. Access to the databases is not subject to registration.
The main online database is DATAcube, which contains multidimensional tables with monthly, quarterly and annual time series. Users can create their own selections and export data in various formats. Methodological notes are available for relevant datasets.

Examples of tables on causes of death include:

• Deaths by Causes of Death, Sex and Permanent Residence – SR, Area, Region, District, Urban Municipality;
• Deaths by Causes of Death, Age and Sex – SR, Region, District;
• Deaths by Month of Death, Age, Sex and Cause of Death – SR, Area, Region.

Data are released in accordance with the Schedule for Updating the DATAcube Public Database.

10.3.1. Data tables - consultations

Not available.

10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

Statistical data on causes of death are disseminated to the public in aggregated form.

For scientific purposes, access to confidential statistical microdata may be granted to eligible research entities, such as universities and research institutions, in accordance with the rules of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic governing access to confidential statistical data for scientific purposes.

Access may be provided either through anonymised microdata files or through the Research Data Centre (Safe Centre), subject to a contract specifying the conditions of access and the measures for ensuring statistical confidentiality.

Microdata provided for research purposes are anonymised and protected in such a way as to minimise the risk of re-identification while preserving the maximum possible analytical value of the data.

For further information, see Section 7.2.

10.5. Dissemination format - other

Graphs and maps, as well as metadata, methodological information and glossary entries, are available on the website of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.
Additional outputs include life tables (mortality tables) and indicators of healthy life years.

10.5.1. Metadata - consultations

Information on the number of consultations of metadata within the causes of death statistical domain is not available.

However, methodological notes and metadata are systematically provided together with all statistical outputs on deaths and causes of death in publications and online databases of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

10.6. Documentation on methodology

Methodological documentation is provided in all publications and databases – tables on population and causes of death statistics of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

Methodological notes describe definitions, data sources, classification rules and changes in methodology. They are published together with statistical outputs and updated when methodological changes are introduced.

Additional methodological information is available in metadata sections, thematic “About theme” page and glossary entries on the website of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate

100%

10.7. Quality management - documentation

Documentation on quality management and quality assessment is publicly available on the website of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. The main documents include:

• Vision and mission, common shared values and Quality objectives of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic;
• Quality policy of the SO SR;
• Quality declaration of the SO SR;
• Strategic map of the SO SR;
• Quality Reports
• Annual Reports

In addition, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic holds a certified Quality Management System in accordance with ISO 9001:2015 and a certified Information Security Management System in accordance with ISO/IEC 27001:2022.

11.1. Quality assurance

The causes of death statistics are produced in accordance with the relevant legislation, which defines the scope of the data collection, variables and data characteristics.

The international standards and coding rules of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) are applied in the processing of causes of death data.

Quality assurance is ensured through a system of validation and consistency checks covering the completeness, accuracy and internal coherence of the data. Data are regularly checked during processing and compilation in order to identify and correct possible errors and inconsistencies.

The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic prepares technical projects describing data processing procedures, including statistical controls and algorithms implemented within the Integrated Statistical Information System. Data collection and processing are supported by validation rules, code-lists and statistical controls to ensure the completeness, accuracy, consistency and comparability of the data.

The production of official statistics is also supported by the Quality Management Framework of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

11.2. Quality management - assessment

The collection and processing of demographic statistics in the Slovak Republic are conducted in accordance with the Quality Management System of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (SO SR).

The quality of causes of death statistics is regularly assessed through validation procedures and quality controls applied during data collection and processing. These procedures support a high level of completeness, consistency and comparability of the data.

Overall, the data are considered to be of high quality and fit for their intended statistical purposes.

12.1. Relevance - User Needs

The requirement to take users’ needs into account is laid down in the Act on State Statistics. User needs are considered in the development of statistical outputs and dissemination products, in particular through feedback collected via the Information Service of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

The main users of the statistics include public administration institutions, regional and local authorities, research and academic institutions, the private sector and international organisations.

User needs typically focus on the availability of timely and reliable data, continuity of time series, detailed breakdowns and territorial disaggregation.

Users may access publicly available data through official databases and publications or request more detailed statistical outputs, subject to applicable confidentiality rules.

The Statistical Council is a permanent advisory body to the President of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. It discusses methodological and conceptual issues of statistical surveys, including the Programme of State Statistical Surveys.

The demand for mortality and causes of death statistics increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

Since 2009, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic has conducted customer satisfaction surveys concerning its products and services at two-year intervals. The purpose of these surveys is to assess user satisfaction, gather information about users' needs and interests, and obtain feedback on the quality and accessibility of statistical products and services. The results serve as an important input for further development and improvement of the Office's activities.

In addition, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic regularly monitors its credibility and public recognition. Credibility surveys are conducted every two years by an independent external organisation to ensure objectivity of the results.

12.3. Completeness

Cause-of-death (CoD) data transmitted by the Slovak Republic to Eurostat fully comply with the content requirements laid down in the relevant European legislation.

All available CoD data relating to residents and non-residents who died in the Slovak Republic are transmitted to Eurostat.

The underlying cause of death is not available for deaths of residents of the Slovak Republic that occurred abroad; in such cases, code R99 is assigned. Such deaths are registered through the Special Registry Office of the Slovak Republic.

Unidentified dead bodies are not included in statistical processing.

Information on the mother's age and parity is not available for neonatal deaths, as the source document („Medical Report and Statistical Report on Death“) does not contain these variables.

12.3.1. Data completeness - rate

For mandatory variables, the data completeness rate is 100%.

For voluntary variables, the data completeness rate is 100%.

For additional variables:

• External cause of death: 100%
• Place of occurrence for external cause of death: 84.4% (2024)

13.1. Accuracy - overall

Overall, cause-of-death statistics are of high accuracy, supported by established data collection and validation procedures. 

13.2. Sampling error

Not applicable.

13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators

Not applicable.

13.3. Non-sampling error

Not applicable.

13.3.1. Coverage error

Not applicable.

13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate

Not applicable.

13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion

Not applicable because no sample survey exists.

Cause-of-death statistics are produced from a fully exhaustive system based on data collected via individual statistical reports (OBYV 3-12 – Medical Report and Statistical Report on Death); no sample survey is used.

13.3.2. Measurement error

Validation and consistency checks are applied throughout the data collection and processing to minimise potential measurement errors.

13.3.3. Non response error

Non-response errors are minimised, as data are based on a legal obligation to complete and submit the OBYV 3-12 form for each death and eOBYV 2-12 form for each birth including stillbirth. Remaining missing values are addressed through validation and data processing procedures.

13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate

Not applicable. Cause-of-death statistics are based on a fully exhaustive system of mandatory death reporting and registration. Unidentified bodies are not statistically processed.

13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate

Item non-response is minimised through mandatory reporting, validation and consistency checks. Missing values may occur for specific variables where the information is unavailable or not collected (see, for example, Sections 12.3 and 12.3.1).

13.3.4. Processing error

Potential processing errors are minimised through automated validation rules, consistency checks, controlled codelists and built-in safeguards applied throughout the data processing chain. The system is comprehensive and regularly maintained, with new checks introduced when needed. The system also performs automated derivations of variables based on predefined rules (e.g. geographical variables and age at death are derived from source data).

13.3.5. Model assumption error

Not applicable.

14.1. Timeliness

See table 14.1 “Timeliness” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_SK_2024_0000_an_1”.

14.1.1. Time lag - first result

Not applicable.

For statistics at national level: see 8.1. Release calendar.

14.1.2. Time lag - final result

Not applicable.

For statistics at national level: see 8.1. Release calendar.

14.2. Punctuality

The data were transmitted (i.e. actually delivered) before 30 June 2026.

14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication

See table 14.2.1 “Punctuality - delivery and publication” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_SK_2024_0000_an_1”.

15.1. Comparability - geographical

Geographical comparability is ensured through the use of the harmonised NUTS classification system (Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003), which is applied for regional breakdowns in cause-of-death statistics.

At national level, this classification is implemented by Decree No. 438/2004 Coll. of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient

Not applicable.

15.2. Comparability - over time

Cause-of-death statistics are comparable over time due to the continuous use of ICD-10 since 1994 and harmonised reporting requirements. Although a transition from 3-character to 4-character coding occurred in 2010, comparability is maintained through aggregation to ICD chapters and standardised Eurostat transmission codes (defined valid cause-of-death codes used for data transmission).

15.2.1. Length of comparable time series

The comparable time series is continuous since 1994, when ICD-10 coding was introduced. No structural breaks affecting comparability of cause-of-death statistics have occurred.

15.3. Coherence - cross domain

Cause-of-death statistics are coherent with demographic statistics. Both domains are based on the same source data, use the same reference population (i.e. residents of the Slovak Republic), and are produced within the same statistical system of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. Therefore, there are no discrepancies between mortality statistics and cause-of-death statistics in terms of the total number of deaths, and the data are fully reconcilable with other demographic statistics.

Stillbirths are part of national birth statistics; however, they are included in the Eurostat Causes of Death (CoD) data collection. The CoD data collection includes stillbirths to both resident and non-resident mothers.

15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics

Not applicable.

Monthly (provisional) and annual (final) demographic statistics are fully reconcilable. Both are based on the same underlying data sources and statistical reporting system. Monthly data are subject to routine updates due to late or revised reporting, while annual data represent the final validated results after the completion of the annual processing cycle.

Annual statistics are published within three months after the end of the reference year (March – final basic data).

See also 8.1 Release calendar.

15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts

Cause of death statistics are coherent with National Accounts demographic inputs. The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic is the sole provider of population stock data for official statistics, ensuring consistency of mortality and population inputs used in National Accounts. Differences, if any, arise from ESA methodological adjustments.

15.4. Coherence - internal

There are no inconsistencies between the General Mortality dataset and the Stillbirths and Neonates dataset. Both datasets are fully consistent in terms of recorded neonatal events and their classification.

The cost and burden of data collection are kept low, as mortality and cause-of-death statistics are based on an integrated reporting system using the form OBYV 3-12, which serves for the purposes of the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Health and the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. Introduced in 1998, the reporting system provides a long-term solution for the production of mortality and cause-of-death statistics.

Reporting obligations are assigned to institutional reporting units (civil registry offices and physicians). Data on deaths are collected using standardised reporting forms (OBYV 3-12; fully electronic eOBYV 3-12 from 2025 onwards), combining medical information with relevant administrative, civil registration and socio-demographic information. Validation and dissemination processes are supported by IT tools, further improving efficiency.

17.1. Data revision - policy

Monthly mortality statistics are provisional when first published (i.e. they may be updated during the reference year to incorporate late statistical reports or to complete and correct information in previously recorded OBYV 3-12 records). Final monthly data are released following the completion of annual processing and validation procedures, i.e. within three months after the end of the reference year. Annual mortality data are final when first released and are not subject to revision.
The distinction between provisional and final data is communicated through dissemination outputs and the release calendar.

17.2. Data revision - practice

Monthly mortality statistics may be revised until the completion of annual processing and validation procedures. Annual mortality data are final when first released and are not subject to revision.

17.2.1. Data revision - average size

Not applicable, as final annual mortality data are not revised after publication, and revisions are limited to updates of provisional monthly data during the reference year, up to the completion of annual processing and validation procedures.

18.1. Source data

The source data are derived from exhaustive statistical surveys on vital events conducted by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

Data on deaths, including causes of death, are based on the “Medical Report and the Statistical Report on Death” (OBYV 3-12), while data on stillbirths are based on the “Statistical Report on Birth” (eOBYV 2-12).

Civil registry offices are the reporting units for these surveys; they verify the completeness and consistency of the information provided by reporting physicians and health institutions and complete the records with relevant administrative, civil registration and socio-demographic information before transmitting the reports to the Statistical Office.

18.2. Frequency of data collection

Monthly.

18.3. Data collection

The state statistical survey on deaths and births (including stillbirths) is organised and conducted by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic under the Programme of State Statistical Surveys. The Programme of State Statistical Surveys is a legislative document establishing the reporting obligations for statistical surveys and reporting units in accordance with § 18(3) of Act No. 540/2001 Coll. on Official Statistics, as amended. The aim of the survey is to collect and process data for the purposes of demographic statistics in accordance with the standards of the European Statistical System.

In terms of the survey method, it is an exhaustive survey. The reporting units comprise registry offices (i.e. municipal and city authorities responsible for the civil registration of vital events, including birth, marriage and death registers) and the Special Registry Office responsible for the registration of vital events occurring abroad to residents of the Slovak Republic.

Data on deaths are collected using the Medical Report and the Statistical Report on Death (OBYV 3-12). For each death, a separate OBYV 3-12 report is completed. The examining physician is primarily responsible for completing the medical information, including the cause of death and the corresponding ICD-10 code. Since the reference year 2010, causes of death have been coded using four-character ICD-10 codes. Where an autopsy is performed, the medical information is completed or revised by the pathologist. Before transmitting the reports to the Statistical Office, registry offices verify their completeness and consistency and supplement them with the information required for statistical purposes.

The medical examination of a deceased person is performed by a physician authorised by the Health Care Surveillance Authority (HCSA). Authorisation is granted upon successful completion of specialised training delivered by forensic and pathological specialists of the HCSA.
The OBYV 3-12 report collects information on the date and municipality of death and location of death (e.g. hospital, home, on the street, or other location), characteristics of the deceased (including date of birth, personal identification number, sex, education, employment status, marital status, nationality, citizenship, place of birth and address of residence, personal identification number of the surviving spouse), cause of death and autopsy information, as well as selected information on deaths of children under one year of age (duration of life, location of death, birth weight, whether the father of the child was husband of the child´s mother).

Data on stillbirths are collected through the Statistical Report on Birth (eOBYV 2-12). For each child, including stillbirths, a separate eOBYV 2-12 report is completed. The eOBYV 2-12 report collects information on the child (including date of birth, personal identification number, sex and citizenship), characteristics of the birth (including vitality, plurality, birth weight, birth length and gestational age), and socio-demographic characteristics of both parents (including date and place of birth, citizenship, personal identification number, education, nationality and address of residence), together with selected information on the mother's reproductive history (e.g. total number of children ever born and children born during the present marriage, and date of birth of the previous child) and marital status.

Registry offices transmit completed statistical reports to the Statistical Office for processing within the Integrated Statistical Information System (ISIS). Statistical processing includes data validation, consistency checks, loading data into the source database and the production of statistical outputs, including official publications, dissemination databases and demographic indicators (e.g. life tables). Statistical processing is carried out on a monthly and annual basis. Monthly processing produces preliminary statistics disseminated through the public DATAcube database, while annual processing results in final statistics, which are first released within three months after the end of the reference year. As part of the annual processing, preliminary monthly data are reprocessed and finalised to produce definitive statistical results for the reference year.

18.3.1. Certification

See table 18.3.1 “Certification” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_SK_2024_0000_an_1”.

18.3.2. Automated Coding

See table 18.3.2 “Automated Coding” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_SK_2024_0000_an_1”.

18.3.3. Underlying cause of death

See table 18.3.3 “Underlying cause of death” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_SK_2024_0000_an_1”.

18.3.4. Availability of multiple cause

See table 18.3.4 “Availability of multiple cause” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_SK_2024_0000_an_1”.

18.3.5. Stillbirths and Neonatal certificates

Stillbirths
The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (SO SR) collects data on stillbirths by means of the “Statistical Report on Birth (eOBYV 2-12)”. It is an individual form (i.e. a separate form is completed for each child born). It comprises information on the child, the birth itself and the child’s parents. The SO SR maintains data on stillbirths in the statistical database of births, where births are classified according to the variable VITALITY.

Neonatal deaths
The SO SR collects data on deaths, including neonatal deaths, by means of the “Medical Report and the Statistical Report on Death (OBYV 3-12)”. It is an individual form (i.e. a separate form is completed for each deceased person). It includes information on the deceased, details on the deceased child under one year of age, indication of autopsy performance and information on cause of death. The SO SR maintains data on neonatal deaths in the statistical database of deaths.

18.4. Data validation

Within the Integrated Statistical Information System (ISIS), automated checks of accuracy, consistency and completeness of collected data are performed (e.g. cross-checks focused on logical relations among particular variables according to the detailed technical specification of the statistical processing, such as checks of causes of death (CoD) in relation to sex and age and against injury codes; reported ICD codes must be valid codes that can be used as the underlying cause of death, etc.).
Verified data are stored in the internal statistical database (microdata).

18.4.1. Coding

Description of coding procedure (central level, distributed among other bodies, etc.):
Determination and coding of causes of death are performed by certifying physicians trained in death certification and, where applicable, in post-mortem examination (autopsy). The OBYV 3-12 report contains fields for both textual diagnoses and ICD-10 codes.

Description of the procedures to detect errors (i.e. errors such as potential inconsistencies in the death certificate or errors due to incorrect completion of death certificates):
• If inconsistencies are detected, the system generates a warning message. In case of serious errors, the electronic form cannot be saved until the data are corrected. Depending on the type of error, corrections are made by statisticians, or additional information is obtained in consultation with the respective registry office (e.g. completion of missing administrative, civil registration or socio-demographic information) or with a specialist from the National Health Information Centre (NCZI) or the Health Care Surveillance Authority (HCSA). NCZI administers the National Health Information System and is responsible for the standardisation and maintenance of the Slovak version of ICD-10 (MKCH-10).
• See also 18.4. Data validation.

Description of the measures taken in order to solve detected errors:
Errors or uncertainties in medical information are resolved, for example, through consultation with a specialist from the National Health Information Centre (NCZI) or the Health Care Surveillance Authority (HCSA).

Coding performed by a certifier:
Deaths must be coded only by a certifying physician. Coding is performed on the basis of ICD-10.

Estimated percentage of autopsies for which information is available for coding:
100%

Description of double coding exercises and rate of coding errors for underlying cause of death:
Not available.

18.4.2. Unspecified CoD code

See table 18.4.2 “Unspecified CoD code” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_SK_2024_0000_an_1”.

18.4.3. Unknown country or region

See table 18.4.3 “Unknown country or region” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_SK_2024_0000_an_1”.

18.4.4. Validation of the coverage

The demographic survey on deaths is an exhaustive survey. The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic processes all deaths occurring in the territory of the Slovak Republic and deaths of residents of the Slovak Republic that occurred abroad. Unidentified dead bodies are not statistically processed. If a statistical report on death is received after the deadline for the annual data processing, it is included in the data for the following year.

18.5. Data compilation

The compilation of statistics (i.e. processing of output tables) is based on the date of occurrence of deaths and stillbirths, not on the date of their statistical processing.

In the case of neonatal deaths (source of data: “Medical Report and the Statistical Report on Death (OBYV 3-12)”), information on maternal parity and age is not available.

In the case of stillbirths (source of data: “Statistical Report on Birth (eOBYV 2-12)”), information on the cause of death is not available; the code P95 (Fetal death of unspecified cause) is assigned to all stillbirths.

Parity represents the number of previous live births and stillbirths a woman has had before the birth of the child in question. (Information on parity based on previous live births only is not available).

Population data used as denominators for mortality indicators are based on the results of the 2021 Population and Housing Census and are updated annually through the demographic balancing process, taking into account births, deaths and migration.

18.5.1. Imputation - rate

Not applicable.

18.6. Adjustment

Not applicable.

18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment

Not applicable.

COD_CODNSI_A_2024_Annex

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, age, underlying cause of death, country/area code of residence of deceased person, country/area code of occurrence of death and by place of occurrence for external causes. Stillbirths and neonatal deaths are additionally broken down by age of mother and parity.

Data are provided to ESTAT at the NUTS 2 level.

 

30 June 2026

Concepts and definitions are described in Commission Regulation (EU) No 328/2011, in Articles 2 and 3.

There is no discrepancy between the definitions set out in the Regulation and the definitions used by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic for mortality, cause-of-death and stillbirth statistics.

The statistical unit is the death or stillbirth event.

Mortality statistics produced by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic comprise deaths of residents of the Slovak Republic, occurring in the territory of the Slovak Republic and abroad.
For the purposes of the CoD questionnaire, data on deaths of non-residents occurring in the territory of the Slovak Republic are also available from the internal statistical database on deaths.

Stillbirths are compiled within birth statistics, where births are classified according to vitality (live births and stillbirths). Stillbirth statistics produced by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic comprise stillbirths occurring in the territory of the Slovak Republic to mothers residing in the Slovak Republic. For the purposes of the CoD questionnaire, stillbirths occurring in the territory of the Slovak Republic to both resident and non-resident mothers are included.

The statistical population comprises the resident population of the Slovak Republic.

Demographic statistics (including mortality and birth statistics) produced by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic cover residents of the Slovak Republic.

Data on non-residents who died or were stillborn in the territory of the Slovak Republic are also collected and are available in the internal statistical databases on deaths and births. These data are provided for the purposes of the CoD questionnaire, but not for the DEM questionnaires.
Deaths of residents of the Slovak Republic that occurred abroad are sourced from the Special Civil Register (the register of births, marriages and deaths of Slovak citizens occurring outside the Slovak Republic).

The Slovak Republic.

Data refer to the national (NUTS 1) and regional (NUTS 2) levels. The reference area corresponds to the territory of the Slovak Republic; data provided for the CoD questionnaire also include vital events of non-residents occurring in the territory of the Slovak Republic.

Data refer to the calendar year (i.e. all deaths and stillbirths occurring within the year).

Overall, cause-of-death statistics are of high accuracy, supported by established data collection and validation procedures. 

Number

The compilation of statistics (i.e. processing of output tables) is based on the date of occurrence of deaths and stillbirths, not on the date of their statistical processing.

In the case of neonatal deaths (source of data: “Medical Report and the Statistical Report on Death (OBYV 3-12)”), information on maternal parity and age is not available.

In the case of stillbirths (source of data: “Statistical Report on Birth (eOBYV 2-12)”), information on the cause of death is not available; the code P95 (Fetal death of unspecified cause) is assigned to all stillbirths.

Parity represents the number of previous live births and stillbirths a woman has had before the birth of the child in question. (Information on parity based on previous live births only is not available).

Population data used as denominators for mortality indicators are based on the results of the 2021 Population and Housing Census and are updated annually through the demographic balancing process, taking into account births, deaths and migration.

The source data are derived from exhaustive statistical surveys on vital events conducted by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

Data on deaths, including causes of death, are based on the “Medical Report and the Statistical Report on Death” (OBYV 3-12), while data on stillbirths are based on the “Statistical Report on Birth” (eOBYV 2-12).

Civil registry offices are the reporting units for these surveys; they verify the completeness and consistency of the information provided by reporting physicians and health institutions and complete the records with relevant administrative, civil registration and socio-demographic information before transmitting the reports to the Statistical Office.

Statistics on causes of death are disseminated at different frequencies depending on the type of output.

Preliminary data are disseminated monthly and quarterly (e.g. numbers of deaths by sex, age and cause of death). Final validated data are disseminated annually and include detailed mortality and demographic statistics (e.g. cross-tabulations with the character of a demographic yearbook).

See table 14.1 “Timeliness” in annex “COD_CODNSI_A_SK_2024_0000_an_1”.

Geographical comparability is ensured through the use of the harmonised NUTS classification system (Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003), which is applied for regional breakdowns in cause-of-death statistics.

At national level, this classification is implemented by Decree No. 438/2004 Coll. of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

Cause-of-death statistics are comparable over time due to the continuous use of ICD-10 since 1994 and harmonised reporting requirements. Although a transition from 3-character to 4-character coding occurred in 2010, comparability is maintained through aggregation to ICD chapters and standardised Eurostat transmission codes (defined valid cause-of-death codes used for data transmission).