The 4,571 deaths corresponding to the second quarter of 2003 represented an 8% increase with regard to the same period the previous year, according to Eustat data. By provinces, 557 people died in Álava, 2,568 in Bizkaia and 1,446 in Gipuzkoa.

The main cause of death was diseases of the circulatory system: 1,390 people died of this cause (30,4%); followed in second place by tumours, which were the cause of 1,368 deaths (29.9%). The third cause of death was respiratory diseases, which over this period led to 460 deaths (10.1%).

The cause of death varied according to sex, as among males tumours were more common than circulatory system diseases, while among females the main cause was cardiovascular diseases followed by tumours.

Among the deaths that occurred in the second quarter of 2003, 16 corresponded to children under the age of 1, 10 girls and 6 boys.

The natural population growth in the second quarter of 2003 was positive, with an increase in the population by 409 persons. By Provinces, positive balances were registered in Alava and Gipuzkoa, which increased in population by 206 and 267 inhabitants, respectively. In the case of Bizkaia, on the other hand, the number of deaths was higher than that of births (-64).