In the first quarter of 2005 6,058 persons died in the A.C. of the Basque Country, 22.6% more than in the same period the year before, according to EUSTAT data. By provinces, 736 persons died in Álava with a 25% increase, 3,367 in Bizkaia (22.5%) and 1,955 in Gipuzkoa (21.7%).

Traditionally the first quarter of the year is characterised as the month with the highest number of deaths, respiratory system diseases registering the highest increases in deaths. This year there has been a significant increase with regard to the same quarter in 2004, exactly 80%.

In addition, in the first quarter of 2005 there was a 17% increase in circulatory system diseases in relation to the same quarter the year before. 1,882 persons died of this cause, which makes it the main cause of death, as it affected almost a third of all deaths.

The second cause of death is tumours, which led to 1,436 deaths (23.7%) and in third place respiratory diseases, which over the winter months caused 981 deaths.

The cause of death varied according to sex, as among males tumours were more common than circulatory system diseases, while among women the main cause of death was cardiovascular diseases followed by tumours. Respiratory system diseases remained in third place as the cause of death for both sexes.

Among the deaths that occurred in the first quarter of 2005, 17 corresponded to children under one year of age, 11 males and 6 females.

Natural population growth in the first quarter of 2005 was clearly negative, with a population drop of 1,131 persons. The population of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa fell by 719 and 350 inhabitants, respectively. In the case of Alava, and unlike the common trend, the number of deaths was higher than the number of births (-62).