France

Understanding the reasons why people die helps with the understanding of how they lived, in order to improve health services and reduce preventable deaths in every country, responding effectively to changing circumstances. Annual monitoring of causes of death allows countries to address their causes and adapt health systems to react effectively.

The leading causes of death are statistical estimates based on available data. These estimates are produced using data from multiple sources, including national vital registration data, latest estimates from WHO technical programmes, United Nations partners and inter-agency groups, as well as the Global Burden of Disease and other scientific studies. Before publishing, they are reviewed by WHO Member States through consultation with national focal points and WHO country and regional offices.

The top ten causes of death are statistical estimates based on available data. Multiple years of national death registration data with high completeness and quality of cause-of-death assignment is available for France. These estimates may be compared among countries and used for priority setting and policy evaluation.

Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems register births and deaths in a country, issue birth and death certificates, and compile and disseminate vital statistics.

Well-functioning CRVS Systems use inputs into and exits from a population register to provide governments with critical information on their population by age, sex, location, occupation and other variables on which to develop policies and plan services. The completeness (i.e. the percentage of all births/deaths registered), data accuracy and the timeliness of civil registration are essential for quality vital statistics.

The completeness percentages are statistical estimates based on available data. These estimates are produced using data from two sources: the UN Demographic Yearbook and UNICEF's State of the World's Children estimates.