4,650 people died in the A.C. of the Basque Country during the fourth quarter of 2003, 3.1% more than in the fourth quarter of 2002, according to Eustat data. By province, there were 596 deaths in Alava, 2,589 in Bizkaia and 1,465 in Gipuzkoa.

The provisional number of deaths for 2003 came to 18,558, of which 9,631 were men and 8,927 women. In the absence of data concerning deaths of residents of the A.C. of the Basque Country occurring elsewhere, 521 more deaths were registered than in 2002, meaning a 2.9% increase.

30.2% of the deaths that took place during 2003, which is to say 5,605, were caused by circulatory system illnesses. The next most common cause was tumours, with 29% (5,375 deaths) and thirdly, and further behind, were respiratory illnesses, which accounted for 10.7% (1,987 deaths).

The cause of death differed according to sex, since among men, tumours were more common, followed by circulatory system illnesses, whereas among women, the main causes were cardiovascular illnesses and secondly, tumours.

The number of people to die aged 100 or over continues to increase

Among the deaths to take place during 2003, 56 corresponded to children aged less than one year old, 29 boys and 27 girls. Elsewhere, there was a substantial rise in the number of people to die aged 100 or over, going from 56 in 1990 to 134 (23 men and 111 women).

With the provisional data for 2003, births outweighed deaths by 631 and the natural population growth of the A.C. of the Basque Country took an upward turn. By Province, there was a positive balance in Alava and Gipuzkoa, which increased their populations by 432 and 736 inhabitants respectively. In the case of Bizkaia, on the other hand, the number of deaths surpassed the number of births (-537).