The United Nations Statistics Division collects, compiles and disseminates official national statistics on births, deaths and life expectancy through the Demographic Yearbook data collection system. The Demographic Yearbook vital statistics questionnaire (PDF 140 KB) is used to collect these data. A more detailed description of these statistics can be found on the natality and mortality web sites.

The United Nations Statistics Division is also actively engaged in the area of human functioning and disability statistics.

The World Health Organization (WHO) collects statistics on abroad range of topics including: diseases and conditions, health personnel, immunization, reproductive health, etc. WHO collects data on deaths by cause, which are shared with the United Nations Statistics Division and disseminated through the Demographic Yearbook. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS, collects data on the prevalence and incidence of HIV/AIDS. Please visit the web sites of these organizations to receive more detailed information on the data they collect.