OBJECTIVE: The evaluation of the quality of population data and coverage of death statistics for all Federal Brazilian Units by sex in 1990. METHOD: The population data came from censuses and the recorded death data from "Fundação Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística" and the Health Ministry. The population data were evaluated by applying classical demographic methods. Three techniques were chosen to evaluate the extent of death registration coverage. RESULTS: The degree of precision of the age statement for the majority of the Brazilian regions improved the status from "low precision" or "moderate" to "precise" during the 80’s. The coverage of deaths in 1990 was classified as "good" or "satisfactory" for all Federal Units in the South, Southeast and Centre-West and for the Northeastern States below Rio Grande do Norte. All the remaining states were classified as "regular"or "unsatisfactory". CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant improvement in the quality of the census population data and an increase in the coverage of death. It is possible to obtain get reliable mortality indicators for many Brazilian States.
Censos; Estatísticas vitais; Registros de mortalidade; Controle de qualidade; Censuses; Vital statistics; Mortalitiy registries; Quality control