1.1. Contact organisation
[MT1] National Statistics Office (NSO) (Malta)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
National Mortality Registry
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Directorate for Health Information and Research
95, Gwardamangia Hill,
Gwardamangia
PTA 1313
Malta
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
17 January 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
31 December 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
31 December 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) 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).
Classification and updates applied by years
| Data year | ICD classification used (ICD-9, ICD-10) (3 or 4 chars) | For ICD-10: updates used |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | ||
| 2012 | ICD-10 | 2011 |
| 2013 | ICD-10 | 2013 |
| 2014 | ICD-10 | 2014 |
| 2015 | ICD-10 | 2015 |
| 2016 | ICD-10 | 2016 |
| 2017 | ICD-10 | 2016 |
| 2018 | ICD-10 | 2016 |
| 2019 | ICD-10 | 2016 |
| 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
Persons who have been residing regularly in Malta for at least the previous year.
3.4.2. Stillbirth definition and characteristics collected
Deaths in foetuses from 22 weeks gestation onwards &/or 500g at birth or over.
Gestational age and birthweight are collected.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical units are the deceased persons and the stillborns, respectively.
3.6. Statistical population
All deaths of residents occurring in the Maltese Islands or residents dying abroad for whom we receive a death certificate are included. Deaths of non resients dying in the Maltese Islands are counted separetly.
3.6.1. Neonates of non-resident mothers
Neonates of non-resident mothers are only considered residents if the father is a resident.
3.6.2. Non-residents
Statistics on non- residents dying in Malta are also collected in the same National Mortality Register and data is comprehensive. However statistics on non residents are usually issued separately unless specifically asked to include.
3.6.3. Residents dying abroad
Any death certificates for residents dying abroad which are received are included in the national data. However not all these death certificates will include a cause of death as this depends on the country of death. Also it is not known how comprehensive data collection for residents dying abroad is. However, for anyone who is buried in Malta we receive a death certificate.
3.7. Reference area
Data on causes of death is collected for the whole of Malta i.e. the Maltese Islands.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Data in electronic format using ICD-10 is available from 1995.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The unit is number.
Latest year provided is deaths for the calender year 2023.
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.
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.
CoD data according to this regulation is submitted to Eurostat since reference year 2011.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Mortality data is transmitted on a yearly basis to Eurostat and WHO. This does not include personal identifiers.
Data collection requested by researchers need to complete online form found on the Directorate for Health Information and Research Website and may require other permissions depending on the nature of the data request.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
All data is collected and processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation, adopted in the Data Protection Act XX of 2018. On the 8th of October 2019, Legal Notice 263 of 2019 was published. This Legal Notice is intended to enact the Processing of Personal Data (Secondary Processing) (Health Sector) Regulations (S.L. 528.10 of the Laws of Malta) (“the Regulations”).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Only aggregate data is published and available online.
8.1. Release calendar
Mortality data for 2024 was released in November 2025.
8.2. Release calendar access
Please see the information at Release calendar.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Users may access published data online e.g. the Annual Mortality Report.
They may also request data by completing the online request forms:
Annual Dissemination.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Annual Mortality Report.
Key Findings of a Mortality Year (every November)
Ad hoc Fact Sheets.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Ad hoc Fact Sheets.
Key Mortality Data
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
International databases which include data for Malta are:
- Eurostat: (Database).
- WHO: (Gateway euro).
- National Statistics Office.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Access to Micro data with causes of death is only possible after a request to our department which vets the requests and may refuse or accept, or accept seeking further permissions e.g. data protection, ethical approval.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
A Standard Operation Procedure is available which details all the steps involved in the day to day work of the Mortality Register.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not applicable.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not applicable.
11.1. Quality assurance
Rules and updates of the International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 are followed as well as automated coding IRIS software is used. General checks to demographic information are also regularly done before submitting any data.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Not applicable.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Users of mortality data include both national and international organisations such as the National Statistics Office of Malta, Eurostat, WHO, Euromomo and EUDA.
Locally users include policy makers both within the Ministry of Health and other Ministries as well as other entities, researchers and students.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not applicable.
12.3. Completeness
Completeness of the core variables for Mortality data is around 98%.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
1. For mandatory variables:
Data completeness is around 98% for mandatory variables.
2. For voluntary variables:
Data completeness is around 95%.
3. For additional variables:
- External CoD
For cause of death completeness varies depending on autopies which may take time for them to be finalised. However other than that external COD are around 95% complete.
- Place of occurrence for external CoD
85% was known in 2023.
- Activity for external CoD
Not known.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Close liaison is kept with the Police Authorities, the Mortuary Department and with the Public Registry. We also have access to other medical registers (e.g. cancer registers) from were we get further information as to the cause of death when needed.
However no formal assessment has been recently carried out.
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
Refer to specific errors below.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Coverage is estimated to be close to 98% overall. However some variables on the death certificate are more well completed then others.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Minimal if any.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable. Data collection is from administrative sources.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Data on the decesaed persons is entered on a database which links demographics from a common database and therefore minimises demographic errors. The main demographic data namely age and sex and also cross-checked with individual data from the National Statistics Office on a yearly basis. All underlying causes of death entered are double checked.
13.3.3. Non response error
Missing variables are mainly found in variables of occupation and marital status. These are often left unknown unless other sources can be linked to complete the missing value.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Missing information on causes of death is very low, often less than 1%. These are often death certificates which are still provisional and awaiting a final cause of death - pending investigation.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.4. Processing error
All data is checked and processed according to national and international guidelines.
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 | 18-24 months |
| 2012 | 18-24 months |
| 2013 | 18-24 months |
| 2014 | 18-24 months |
| 2015 | 18-24 months |
| 2016 | 18-24 months |
| 2017 | 18-24 months |
| 2018 | 18-24 months |
| 2019 | 18-24 months |
| 2020 | 18-24 months |
| 2021 | 18-24 months |
| 2022 | 18-24 months |
| 2023 | 18-24 months |
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
| Reference year | Time between the end of the reference year and the delivery of final data to Eurostat |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 24 months |
| 2012 | 24 months |
| 2013 | 24 months |
| 2014 | 24 months |
| 2015 | 24 months |
| 2016 | 27 months |
| 2017 | 24 months |
| 2018 | 27 months |
| 2019 | 24 months |
| 2020 | 24 months |
| 2021 | 24 months |
| 2022 | 24 months |
| 2023 | 24 months |
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Data on the whole of Malta is collected in one national register, so no issues with comparability between regions.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Some issues which may effect comparability over time include changes in the ICD version, changes in the ICD rules and also changes in the coders at a local level.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Last change in ICD version was in 1995 when ICD-10 was implemented, so a break in series would be before that mainly.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Causes of death are checked with other medical registers e.g. cancer registry.
Additional informatiom on external causes of death e.g. for accidents are obtained from newspapers, suicides from the police.
Demograpahic information is checked with a general demogrpahic database and also checks are done with the NSO.
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 differences.
Currently the main new costs envisiaged are the implementation of ICD-11 and its associated IT software and training as well as updating the mortality electronic database to be able to autome certain requests.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not applicable.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not applicable.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
The main source of data is the Medical Death Certificate. As described, additional sources of information are used to improve the accuracy of the mortality statistics when possible.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
The main source of information is the medical death certificate. Currently all causes of death are coded using ICD-10.
18.3.1. Certification
able 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 available | not available | not available | around 5-10% (includes querying other sources of information) | nearly all received | not applicable | no recent audit |
| 2012 | not available | not available | not available | around 5-10% (includes querying other sources of information) | nearly all received | not applicable | no recent audit |
| 2013 | not available | not available | not available | around 5-10% (includes querying other sources of information) | nearly all received | not applicable | no recent audit |
| 2014 | not available | not available | not available | around 5-10% (includes querying other sources of information) | nearly all received | not applicable | no recent audit |
| 2015 | not available | not available | not available | around 5-10% (includes querying other sources of information) | nearly all received | not applicable | no recent audit |
| 2016 | not available | not available | not available | around 5-10% (includes querying other sources of information) | nearly all received | not applicable | no recent audit |
| 2017 | not available | not available | not available | around 5-10% (includes querying other sources of information) | nearly all received | not applicable | no recent audit |
| 2018 | not available | not available | not available | around 5-10% (includes querying other sources of information) | nearly all received | not applicable | no recent audit |
| 2019 | not available | not available | not available | around 5-10% (includes querying other sources of information) | nearly all received | not applicable | no recent audit |
| 2020 | not available | not available | not available | around 10-20% (includes querying other sources of information) | nearly all received | not applicable | no recent audit |
| 2021 | not available | not available | not available | around 10-20% (includes querying other sources of information) | nearly all received | not applicable | no recent audit |
| 2022 | not available | not available | not available | around 10-20% (inlcudes querying other sources of information) | nearly all received | not applicable | no recent audit |
| 2023 | not available | not available | not available | around 10-20% (includes querying other sources of information) | nearly all received | not applicable | no recent audit |
18.3.2. Automated Coding
| Data year | Use of any form of automated coding | System used (IRIS, MICAR, ACME, STYX, MIKADO, others) |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | no | |
| 2012 | no | |
| 2013 | yes | IRIS- to check UCD |
| 2014 | yes | IRIS- to check UCD |
| 2015 | yes | IRIS- to check UCD |
| 2016 | yes | IRIS- to check UCD |
| 2017 | yes | IRIS- to check UCD |
| 2018 | yes | IRIS- to check UCD |
| 2019 | yes | IRIS- to check UCD |
| 2020 | yes | IRIS- to check UCD |
| 2021 | yes | IRIS- to check UCD |
| 2022 | yes | IRIS- to check UCD |
| 2023 | yes | IRIS- to check UCD |
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 | ||||
| 2012 | YES | ||||
| 2013 | YES , 2013 | IRIS is used when in doubt regarding UCD | |||
| 2014 | YES, 2014 | IRIS is used when in doubt regarding UCD | |||
| 2015 | YES, 2014 | IRIS is used when in doubt regarding UCD | |||
| 2016 | YES, 2016 | IRIS is used when in doubt regarding UCD | |||
| 2017 | YES, 2016 | IRIS is used when in doubt regarding UCD | |||
| 2018 | YES, 2018 | IRIS is used when in doubt regarding UCD | |||
| 2019 | YES, 2019 | IRIS is used when in doubt regarding UCD | |||
| 2020 | YES, 2020 | IRIS is used when in doubt regarding UCD | |||
| 2021 | YES, 2021 | IRIS is used when in doubt regarding ICD | |||
| 2022 | YES, 2021 | IRIS is used when in doubt regarding ICD | |||
| 2023 | Yes, 2021 | IRIS is used when in doubt regarding UCD |
18.3.4. Availability of multiple cause
| Data year | Information stored in the national CoD database, UC (Underlying cause) or MC (Multiple cause) |
|---|---|
| 2011 | UCD & MC |
| 2012 | UCD & MC |
| 2013 | UCD & MC |
| 2014 | UCD & MC |
| 2015 | UCD & MC |
| 2016 | UCD & MC |
| 2017 | UCD & MC |
| 2018 | UCD & MC |
| 2019 | UCD & MC |
| 2020 | UCD & MC |
| 2021 | UCD & MC |
| 2022 | UCD & MC |
| 2023 | UCD & MC |
18.3.5. Stillbirths and Neonatal certificates
No there is no different death certificate for stillbirths or neonatal deaths. On the general death certificate there is a section regarding birth weight and gestational age to be completed only for infants.
18.4. Data validation
Data on the decesaed persons is entered on a database which links demographics from a common database and therefore minimises demographic errors. The main demographic data namely age and sex and also cross-checked with individual data from the National Statistics Office on a yearly basis. All underlying causes of death entered are double checked.
Once data for a particular year is produced this is also compared to previous year to check for any major differences.
18.4.1. Coding
Description of coding procedure (central level, distributed among other bodies, etc.):
Coding is done by a nurse and then checked by a public health doctor.
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):
Cross checks with other sources of information e.g. other medical registers are used.
Description of the measures taken in order to solve detected errors:
Errors are corrected and documented.
Coding performed by a certifier:
Not done locally.
Estimation of the percentage of autopsy from which information is available for coding:
9.5%
Description of double coding exercises and rate of codification errors for underlying cause of death:
Not done.
18.4.2. Unspecified CoD code
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 | 0.45% | 0.03% | 0.12% | 0% |
| 2012 | 0.52% | 0.12% | 0.12% | 0% |
| 2013 | 0.66% | 0.30% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| 2014 | 0.63% | 0.27% | 0.06% | 0% |
| 2015 | 0.45% | 0.20% | 0.11% | 0.03% |
| 2016 | 0.50% | 0.15% | 0.12% | 0% |
| 2017 | 0.41% | 0.16% | 0.16% | 0% |
| 2018 | 0.48% | 0.29% | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| 2019 | 0.72% | 0.51% | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| 2020 | 0.58% | 0.34% | 0.10% | 0.05% |
| 2021 | 0.48% | 0.26% | 0.05% | 0% |
| 2022 | 0.75% | 0.33% | 0.09% | 0.02% |
| 2023 | 1.07% | 0.46% | 0.29% | 0.02% |
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% | 3.17% | unknown | 0% |
| 2012 | 0% | 0% | 1.85% | unknown | 0% |
| 2013 | 0% | 0% | 0% | unknown | 0% |
| 2014 | 0% | 0% | 2.90% | unknown | 0% |
| 2015 | 0% | 0% | 1.1% | unknown | 0% |
| 2016 | 0% | 0% | 0% | unknown | 0% |
| 2017 | 0% | 0% | 0% | unknown | 0% |
| 2018 | 0% | 0% | 1.27% | unknown | 0% |
| 2019 | 0% | 0% | 0.03% | unknown | 0% |
| 2020 | 0% | 0% | 0% | unknown | 0% |
| 2021 | 0% | 0% | 0% | unknown | 0% |
| 2022 | 0% | 0% | 0% | unknown | 0% |
| 2023 | 0% | 0% | 0% | unknown | 0% |
18.4.4. Validation of the coverage
We validate as much as possible with the Public Registry Department.
18.5. Data compilation
Not applicable.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not applicable.
18.6. Adjustment
No adjustments to the data are done.
When comparing with other countries the same standardised popluation is used.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
None.
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).
31 December 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.
All deaths of residents occurring in the Maltese Islands or residents dying abroad for whom we receive a death certificate are included. Deaths of non resients dying in the Maltese Islands are counted separetly.
Data on causes of death is collected for the whole of Malta i.e. the Maltese Islands.
Latest year provided is deaths for the calender year 2023.
Close liaison is kept with the Police Authorities, the Mortuary Department and with the Public Registry. We also have access to other medical registers (e.g. cancer registers) from were we get further information as to the cause of death when needed.
However no formal assessment has been recently carried out.
The unit is number.
Not applicable.
The main source of data is the Medical Death Certificate. As described, additional sources of information are used to improve the accuracy of the mortality statistics when possible.
Annual Dissemination.
| Year | Number of months between the end of the reference year and the publication at national level |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 18-24 months |
| 2012 | 18-24 months |
| 2013 | 18-24 months |
| 2014 | 18-24 months |
| 2015 | 18-24 months |
| 2016 | 18-24 months |
| 2017 | 18-24 months |
| 2018 | 18-24 months |
| 2019 | 18-24 months |
| 2020 | 18-24 months |
| 2021 | 18-24 months |
| 2022 | 18-24 months |
| 2023 | 18-24 months |
Data on the whole of Malta is collected in one national register, so no issues with comparability between regions.
Some issues which may effect comparability over time include changes in the ICD version, changes in the ICD rules and also changes in the coders at a local level.
