The Central Statistics Office has advised that care should be taken when comparing deaths recorded in 2021 with 2022.
There were 35,477 deaths last year, compared with 33,055 in 2021.
Cancers and circulatory disease were the biggest causes of death last year, while Covid-19 accounted for 1,848 deaths or 5.2% of registered deaths.
The CSO said that in accordance with World Health Organisation rules, the selection of Covid-19 as the underlying cause of death is dependent on where Covid-19 is placed in the hierarchy of a death certificate by the medical certifier.
The CSO said that due to the HSE cyberattack in May 2021, General Register Offices were closed.
This meant that the registration of births, deaths and marriages were not possible at that time.
It has cautioned that as a result, the total births, deaths and marriages in quarter two, three and four of 2021 is not comparable with previous and or subsequent quarters and so care should be taken in this regard.
It also pointed out that deaths can be registered up to three months after the date of death.
