The figure of 4,370 deaths during the second quarter of 2005 meant a slight increase (0.7%) with regard to the same period of the previous year, according to EUSTAT data. By province, 587 people died in Álava, 2,425 in Bizkaia and 1,358 in Gipuzkoa.

The main cause of death was circulatory system disease, accounting for the deaths of 1,297 people (29.7%); the second cause of death, on virtually the same level, was cancer, giving rise to 1,288 deaths (29.5%). The third place was taken by respiratory disease, which caused 443 deaths during these months (10.1%).

The cause of death varied according to gender, given that among men cancers (35.5%) outnumbered circulatory system disease (26.2%), while among women, the main cause was cardiovascular disease (33.6%), with cancers coming in second place (22.6%).

Among the deaths that occurred in the second quarter of 2005, 16 corresponded to children aged less than one year old, 12 boys and 4 girls.

Natural population growth of the A.C. of the Basque Country in the second quarter of 2005 was positive, with an increase of 569 people. There were positive balances in all three provinces, coming to 139 in Alava, 82 in Bizkaia and 348 in Gipuzkoa.