87pc of unregistered deaths in Asia found in Pakistan, four states: study.

ISLAMABAD -- The first regional estimate of the level of death registration completeness in Asia and the Pacific region has found 87 per cent of unregistered deaths in five countries, including Pakistan.

Besides Pakistan, the other four countries are China, India, Indonesia and Bangladesh. More specifically, completeness exceeded 99.9pc in 10 countries and was below 50pc in South and Southwest Asia, according to a study published by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP).

The study estimated that of the approximately 32.1 million deaths in 58 countries of the region, 23.8m were reported, resulting in a regional estimate of completeness of approximately 74.3pc in 2018.

Sub-regional estimates reveal a contrasting picture. The highest completeness rate is observed in North and Central Asia (97pc), while all other sub-regions have completeness rates below 80pc, falling as low as 66pc in South and Southwest Asia.

Beyond death registration itself, the study also constitutes an overview of the level of publication of vital statistics in the region. The results emerging from the study are...