1.1. Contact organisation
Federal Statistical Office, Germany
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Health Statistics
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Graurheindorfer Straße 198, 53117 Bonn
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
2.1. Metadata last certified
25 April 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
25 April 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
16 April 2025
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".
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).
3.2. Classification system
Eurostat's CoD statistics build on standards set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO)
The regional breakdown is based on the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS 2).
Classification and updates applied by years
| Data year | ICD revision used (ICD-8, ICD-9, ICD-10) | For ICD-10: updates used |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ICD-9 | |
| 1991 | ICD-9 | |
| 1992 | ICD-9 | |
| 1993 | ICD-9 | |
| 1994 | ICD-9 | |
| 1995 | ICD-9 | |
| 1996 | ICD-9 | |
| 1997 | ICD-9 | |
| 1998 | ICD-10 | 1998 |
| 1999 | ICD-10 | 1999 |
| 2000 | ICD-10 | 2000 |
| 2001 | ICD-10 | 2001 |
| 2002 | ICD-10 | 2002 |
| 2003 | ICD-10 | 2003 |
| 2004 | ICD-10 | 2004 |
| 2005 | ICD-10 | 2005 |
| 2006 | ICD-10 | 2006 |
| 2007 | ICD-10 | 2007 |
| 2008 | ICD-10 | 2008 |
| 2009 | ICD-10 | 2009 |
| 2010 | ICD-10 | 2010 |
| 2011 | ICD-10 | 2011 |
| 2012 | ICD-10 | 2012 |
| 2013 | ICD-10 | 2013 |
| 2014 | ICD-10 | 2014 |
| 2015 | ICD-10 | 2015 |
| 2016 | ICD-10 | 2016 |
| 2017 | ICD-10 | 2017 |
| 2018 | ICD-10 | 2018 |
| 2019 | ICD-10 | 2019 |
| 2020 | ICD-10 | 2020 |
| 2021 | ICD-10 | 2021 |
| 2022 | ICD-10 | 2021 |
| 2023 | ICD-10 | 2021 |
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
Person at place of single or main housing, registered according to the population registration regulations (obligation to register after stay of 2 months in Germany).
3.4.2. Stillbirth definition and characteristics collected
Child showed no sign of life and its weight is at least 500g.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical units are the deceased persons and the stillborns, respectively.
3.6. Statistical population
The average population of the reference year.
3.6.1. Neonates of non-resident mothers
Since 1st January 2000 it is possible that these children have german citizenship (if mother or father lives at least 8 years legally in Germany and has a residence permit).Births to women with foreign citizenship and fathers with german citizenship are classified as having german citizenship. Births to women with german citizenship and fathers with foreign citizenship are classified as having german citizenship since 1974.text).
3.6.2. Non-residents
According to the requirements set in the Commission regulation n°328/2011, the data on non-residents who died in the country are transmitted to the European Commission.
Non-residents are not included in the national statistics.
3.6.3. Residents dying abroad
There is the possibility of a subsequent certification of the death on base of the death certificates from abroad (§ 36 Personenstandsgesetz). After this certification, the person who died abroad is registered in the Statisitic of Causes of Death. The quality of the data depends on the abroad certification of death.
3.7. Reference area
Germany, The Federal Laender.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Time series available from 1992 onwards.
Note that due to the fact that 2011 data is the first data collection with a legal basis (and few changes in the requested variables and breakdowns), the data before and after 2011 are not always comparable (In part due to the different groupings of causes of deaths). Moreover time series for data on stillbirths starts in 2011 and no information on previous data is available.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The unit is number.
2023.
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.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Eurostat, WHO, National Health Institutions, Scientific Resarchs Institutes, Media, broad public.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Law on Personal Data Protection.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
All age groups showing a total mortality of less than 3 cases are considered as confidential. Therefore, any 'confidential' agegroup is grouped with another one to have higher numbers. In practice, this problem mainly occurs for young ages so, either the ages from 0 to 14 years old, or the ages from 0 to 14 and 15 to 24 years old are grouped. The age groups considered as confidential show then the value ':' and the age group '0-14y' (and '15-24y' if needed) shows the sum of all ages before 15 years old (or between 15 and 24 years old). In addition, special measures for ensuring confidentiality may be taken for small countries.
For stillbirth and neonatal figures, no breakdown by parity is displayed to ensure confidentiality.
8.1. Release calendar
Not applicable.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable.
8.3. Release policy - user access
At the moment the data is fully plausible, it will be published immediately in a press release.
Annual.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
News releases online.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
On the website of the Federal Statistical Office.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Please consult free data on-line or refer to contact details.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not yet available.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Microdata can be obtained from the Federal research data center. All details you find at this website.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Please find information at the DESTATIS website.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not yet available.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Please find information at the DESTATIS website.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
100%.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Internal procedure between the Federal Statistical Office and the and the Federal Statistical Offices of the Laender.
11.1. Quality assurance
The causes of death data are based on a regulation, which defines scope, definitions of variables and characteristics of the data.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Not available.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Not available.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
All content-related requirements oft he relevant laws, regulation and guidelines are fulfilled.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
For mandatory variables: 100%
For voluntary variables:
For additional variables:
- External CoD : 100%.
- Place of occurrence for external CoD: 100%.
- Activity for external CoD : 0%.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
There are no reasons for any unreliability of the data.
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
Unknown.
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
Unknown.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
| Year | Number of months between the end of the reference year and the publication at national level |
|---|---|
| 2011 |
12 |
| 2012 |
12 |
| 2013 |
11 |
| 2014 |
12 |
| 2015 |
15 |
| 2016 |
24 |
| 2017 |
19 |
| 2018 |
17 |
| 2019 |
11 |
| 2020 |
11 |
| 2021 |
12 |
| 2022 |
11 |
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.
With the exception of the years 2011 (+1 month) and 2016 (+1 month), the data was always delivered on time within the Eurostat specifications.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
| Reference year |
Time between the end of the reference year and the delivery of final data to Eurostat |
|---|---|
| 2011 |
26 |
| 2012 |
24 |
| 2013 |
20 |
| 2014 |
13 |
| 2015 |
24 |
| 2016 |
25 |
| 2017 |
23 |
| 2018 |
19 |
| 2019 |
13 |
| 2020 |
15 |
| 2021 |
17 |
| 2022 |
24 |
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The data are comparable for all territorial regions in the country. The process of collecting, coding and transmission of the data is the same for all regions.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Well comparable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The data of the referenceyYear 2011 is the first data collection with a legal basis (and few changes in the requested variables and breakdowns), the data between 1994-2010 and starting from 2011 are not always comparable (In part due to the different groupings of causes of deaths). Moreover time series for data on stillbirths starts in 2011 and no information on previous data is available.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Since 2011.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The Causes of death data are compared with the data on the population.
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
There is not any inconsistency in the data.
The cost and burden of the data collection is reduced by using validation and dissemination IT tools.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Regular revision based on the current guidelines of the ICD-10 and the adoption of it.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Depending on the changes of the ICD-10.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
In coordination with the collaboration-center BfArM.
18.1. Source data
All deceased with residence in Germany or the EU.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
Annual full survey. Data are based on the death certificates Data source on causes of death statistics is the medical certificate of death. The form and content of thedocument are determined by the Ordinance № 42 of 8 December 2004 the Minister of Health, as the part ofthe causes of death and other medical information is standardized in accordance with the recommendationsof the World Health Organization (WHO).
The death certificate is filled in by the physician who recognized the death in accordance with theAmendment and supplement of Ordinance № 14/2004 of the Ministry of Health on medical criteria andprocedures for the identifying death, publ., SG 41 of 21 Mai 2019. The national legislation determines indetails all the precedures and medical criteria needed in order to identify the person as deceased
Supervision and control of the certification process is carried out by experts in Regional health inspectionsoccasionally or ad hoc on a specific issue.
The training in certification is part of the medical education.
18.3.1. Certification
Table on certification (Percentage)
| Year |
All doctors (certifiers) trained in the certification |
All doctors (certifiers - pathologists or others doctors) trained in the post-mortem examination (autopsies) |
Certificates filled by persons who attended a course on certification or post-mortem examination |
Death certificates that are queried (only queries related to medical part of the death certificate should be included) |
Replies received for queries sent |
Deaths where the underlying cause is changed as a result of the query |
Death certificates with incorrect sequence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
| 2012 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
| 2013 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
| 2014 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
| 2015 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
| 2016 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
| 2017 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
| 2018 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
| 2019 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
| 2020 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
| 2021 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| 2022 |
Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
18.3.2. Automated Coding
| Data year |
Use of any form of automated coding |
System used (IRIS, MICAR, ACME, STYX, MIKADO, others) |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2012 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2013 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2014 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2015 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2016 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2017 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2018 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2019 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2020 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2021 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2022 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2022 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
18.3.3. Underlying cause of death
| Data year |
Only manual selection of underlying cause |
Manual with ACME decision tables (if yes, version of ACME) |
ACS utilising ACME decision tables (if yes, version of ACME) |
Own system (ACS without ACME) |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 |
Yes and no |
|
|
|
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2012 |
Yes and no |
|
|
|
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2013 |
Yes and no |
|
|
|
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2014 |
Yes and no |
|
|
|
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2015 |
Yes and no |
|
|
|
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2016 |
Yes and no |
|
|
|
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2017 |
Yes and no |
|
|
|
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2018 |
Yes and no |
|
|
|
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
| 2019 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding | |||
| 2020 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding | |||
| 2021 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding | |||
| 2022 |
Yes and no |
artly Iris, partly manual coding | |||
| 2023 |
Yes and no |
Partly Iris, partly manual coding |
18.3.4. Availability of multiple cause
| Data year | Information stored in the national CoD database, UC (Underlying cause) or MC (Multiple cause) |
|---|---|
| 2011 | UC |
| 2012 | UC |
| 2013 | UC |
| 2014 | UC |
| 2015 | UC |
| 2016 | UC |
| 2017 | UC |
| 2018 | UC |
| 2019 | UC |
| 2020 | UC |
| 2021 | UC |
| 2022 | UC |
| 2023 | UC |
18.3.5. Stillbirths and Neonatal certificates
Stillbirths are registered using birth certificates. Neonatal deaths are registered as births first and then additional as death, using birth and death certiticates.
18.4. Data validation
Data validation is a continuous and ongoing work. There are three ways to make sure, that the data is of high quality.
1. Regulary training for coders:
Every year all coders are trained in cooperation with the WHO-collaboration center in Germany. In this training the coders learn all new rules and codes, they also have changing topics for intensive learning.
2. Use of Iris/MUSE
More than 60% of all death certificates are coded automatically by Iris/MUSE. This is the best way to make sure, that the data is of high quality.
18.4.1. Coding
Description of coding procedure (central level, distributed among other bodies, etc.):
The Federal States are responsible for the coding of the death certificates. All coders get a annual training and have the possibility to take part in the monthly ring-coding-study.
Description of the procedures to detect errors (i.e.errors such as potential inconsistency in the death certificate or error due to mistake when filling the deaths certificates):
Description of the measures taken in order to solve detected errors:
Coding performed by a certifier:
Estimation of the percentage of autopsy from which information is available for coding:
The autopsy-rate in Germany is very low, there are no robust data about the percentage. We estimate the rate between 1% and 3%. There is no automatism that makes sure, that the result from an autopsy will be send to the Federal States.
Description of double coding exercises and rate of codification errors for underlying cause of death
18.4.2. Unspecified CoD code
Non-specific codes are recorded with unknown cause of death
ICD codes for the underlying cause (% of the Total)
| Year |
Unspecified CoD (for ICD10: R00-R99 codes, for ICD9: 780-790 codes) |
Unknown CoD (for ICD10: R98-R99 codes, for ICD9: 799.9, 798.9, 798.2 codes) |
Deaths due to senility (for ICD10: R54 code, for ICD9: 797 code) |
Deaths due to exposure to unspecified factor (for ICD10: X59 code, ICD9: 928.9 code) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 |
2.8 |
1.7 |
2.6 |
0.2 |
| 2012 |
2.5 |
0.5 |
1.4 |
0.1 |
| 2013 |
2.6 |
0.5 |
1.4 |
0.0 |
| 2014 |
2.2 |
0.3 |
1.2 |
0.1 |
| 2015 |
2.3 |
0.3 |
1.3 |
0.1 |
| 2016 |
2.0 |
0.4 |
1.0 |
0.1 |
| 2017 |
2.3 |
0.4 |
1.3 |
0.0 |
| 2018 |
2.2 |
0.3 |
1.2 |
0.0 |
| 2019 |
4.0 |
3.5 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
| 2020 |
3.6 |
3.1 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
| 2021 |
3.8 |
3.3 |
0,2 |
0.4 |
| 2022 |
3,3 | 2,8 | 0,2 | 0,5 |
| 2023 |
3,3 | 2,8 | 0,2 | 0,5 |
18.4.3. Unknown country or region
Unknown country/region (%) for residents and non-residents who died in the country
| Year |
Residents |
Non-residents |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown residency (NUTS2) |
Unknown occurrence (NUTS2) |
Unknown residency (country) |
Unknown residency (NUTS2) |
Unknown occurrence (NUTS2) |
|
| 2011 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
1.1 |
0,0 |
0.0 |
| 2012 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0,0 |
0.0 |
| 2013 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0,0 |
0.0 |
| 2014 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.5 |
0,0 |
0.0 |
| 2015 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0,0 |
0.0 |
| 2016 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0,0 |
0.0 |
| 2017 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0,0 |
0.0 |
| 2018 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0,0 |
0.0 |
| 2019 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0,0 |
0,0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0,0 |
0.0 |
| 2021 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0,0 |
0.0 |
| 2022 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0,0 |
0.0 |
| 2023 |
0,0 |
0,0 |
0,0 |
0,0 | 0,0 |
18.4.4. Validation of the coverage
Not necessary because it is a full survey.
18.5. Data compilation
The data is compiled when all federal states have supplied the data.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
The data is compiled when all federal states have supplied the data.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
No further comments.
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).
16 April 2025
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.
The average population of the reference year.
Germany, The Federal Laender.
2023.
There are no reasons for any unreliability of the data.
The unit is number.
The data is compiled when all federal states have supplied the data.
All deceased with residence in Germany or the EU.
Annual.
| Year | Number of months between the end of the reference year and the publication at national level |
|---|---|
| 2011 |
12 |
| 2012 |
12 |
| 2013 |
11 |
| 2014 |
12 |
| 2015 |
15 |
| 2016 |
24 |
| 2017 |
19 |
| 2018 |
17 |
| 2019 |
11 |
| 2020 |
11 |
| 2021 |
12 |
| 2022 |
11 |
The data are comparable for all territorial regions in the country. The process of collecting, coding and transmission of the data is the same for all regions.
The data of the referenceyYear 2011 is the first data collection with a legal basis (and few changes in the requested variables and breakdowns), the data between 1994-2010 and starting from 2011 are not always comparable (In part due to the different groupings of causes of deaths). Moreover time series for data on stillbirths starts in 2011 and no information on previous data is available.
