This issue of the world health statistics annual introduces a new system for dating these volumes. Henceforth they will carry the year of publication instead of, as hitherto, the year to which the data mainly relate. Thus the previous issue, the world health statistics annual 1972 contained data mainly for 1972, but was published in 1975. This present volume contains data not for a specified year as heretofore but all data received between publication of the preceding volume 1972 and the present issue. These data relate mainly to 1973 and 1974. Også med titlen: Annuaire de statistiques sanitaires mondiales 1973-1976. Vol.1.

The present volume forms part of the three-volume series published since 1962 under the title 'world health statistics annual', which had been preceded by the series 'annual epidemiological and vital statistics' during 1939-61. This issue of the world health statistics annual introduces a new system for dating the volumes, which will henceforth carry the year of publication. In order the maintain continuity of the years shown on the cover of the volume and avoid any apparent gab in the series, the present issue has been designated 1973-1976, but the next issue will be designated 1977.