Deaths: key data sources

The National Records of Scotland is the main source of mortality statistics in Scotland. Its vital events reference tables contain a range of mortality tables including statistics back to 1851, cause-specific mortality and data on infant deaths. Mortality figures are broken down by gender, age, administrative geographies and other factors (e.g. country of birth).

There are examples of cause-specific mortality within the relevant topics of this website (e.g. coronary heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, etc.). In addition, some mortality and mortality-related data (e.g. age-sex standardised all-cause death rates, life expectancy, alcohol- and drug-related deaths) are included within the ScotPHO Profiles.

Sources of international mortality data are included within the international comparisons page.