Health Risks - Regions

This dataset provides regional statistics on health risks in large regions (TL2), and small regions (TL3) when data is available. Indicators include obesity rates, air pollution exposure, mortality rates due to circulatory and respiratory diseases.

Data definition and source

• Obesity rate is the percentage of population 15 years old or more with a BMI>30 kg/m2. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a single number that evaluates an individual's weight status in relation to height (weight/height2) with weight in kilograms and height in meters.
• Population exposure to fine particule PM2.5 provide an estimate of the population-weighted average of PM2.5 concentration.
• Respiratory system diseases mortality rate is the number of deaths from diseases of the respiratory system (group J00-J99 of the International Classification of Deseases), for 100 000 inhabitants.
• Circulatory system diseases mortality rate rate is the number of deaths from diseases of the circulatory system (group I00-I99) for 100 000 inhabitants.

PM2.5 air pollution indicators are computed using geospatial data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 project. Respiratory and circulatory related mortality data are collected from Eurostat (reg_hlth) for EU regions and via delegates of the OECD Working Party on Territorial Indicators (WPTI), as well as from national statistical offices' websites.

Definition of regions

Regions are subnational units below national boundaries. OECD countries have two regional levels: large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2) and small regions (territorial level 3 or TL3). The OECD regions are presented in the OECD Territorial grid (pdf) and in the OECD Territorial correspondence table (xlsx).

Use of data on small regions

When socio-demographic data are analysed along with economic data using the TL3 level, it is advisable to aggregate data at the metropolitan region level when several TL3 regions are associated to the same metropolitan region. Metropolitan regions combine TL3 regions when 50% or more of the regional population live in a functionnal urban areas above 250 000 inhabitants. This approach corrects the distortions created by commuting, see the list of OECD metropolitan regions (xlsx) and the EU methodology (link).

Cite this dataset

OECD Regions and Cities databases http://oe.cd/geostats

Further information

• The interactive web-tool OECD Regions and Cities Statistical Atlas
• The report OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance

Contact: RegionStat@oecd.org