4,.052 persons died in the third quarter of 2002 in the A.C. of the Basque Country, 2.9% fewer than in the same period the previous year, according to the latest provisional Eustat data. By provinces, 468 persons died in Álava, 2,293 in Bizkaia and 1,291 in Gipuzkoa.

The main cause of death was tumours: 1,291 persons died due to this cause (31.9%); followed, in second place by diseases of the circulatory system which led to 1,200 deaths (29.6%). In third place, and at some distance, were respiratory diseases, which caused 351 deaths (8.7%).

The reason for deaths was different according to sex, as among males tumours were more prevalent than diseases of the circulatory system, while among females the main cause was cardiovascular diseases and, secondly, tumours.

Among the deaths that occurred in the third quarter of 2002, 11 corresponded to children under one year of age, 7 males and 4 females.

The natural population growth in the third quarter of 2002 was positive in the whole of the A.C. of the Basque Country, with an increase in population of 477 persons. In all three Provinces there were positive balances: 158 in Alava, 32 in Bizkaia and 287 in Gipuzkoa.

Table 1: Deaths in the A.C. of the Basque Country by sex, according to cause of death. Quarterly comparison.

Source: EUSTAT