The number of deaths in the A.C. of the Basque Country in 2004 came to 18,684, 9,770 of which were males and 8,914 females, 621 fewer deaths than the year before. This figure represents a 3.2% decrease with regard to 2003, according to EUSTAT data.

There were 910 more births than deaths, which means, contrary to the trend since 1990, the natural population growth was positive. By provinces, there were positive balances in Álava and Gipuzkoa, which gained 534 and 768 persons, respectively. By contrast, in the case of Bizkaia, the number of deaths was greater than the number of births (-392).

The average age of those who died was 76.2 years, while in 1990 it was 71, i.e. there has been an increase of 5.2 years. By sex, males died at 72.2 years on average and females at 80,6.

With regard to infant mortality, 4 aged under one year died per thousand births. Neonatal mortality, produced over the first 28 days of life, registered 54 deaths; 41 were due to a early neonatal mortality, which occurred in the first week, 23 of which occurred during the first 24 hours. Among those aged under one year, the death of girls (41) was higher than that of boys (38).

30.9% of deaths occurring in 2004, 5,775, were due to circulatory system diseases; followed by tumours, with 29.3% (5,479 deaths), and in third place, at some distance, respiratory diseases, which represented 9.6% (1,788).

The cause of death was different according to sex, as tumours were more prevalent among males than circulatory system diseases, while among females the main cause was cardiovascular diseases and tumours in second place.

In addition, the cause of death varied with age. Among those aged under one, the most frequent cause was due to illness that originated in the perinatal period and to congenital anomalies; up to the age of 34 the main causes of death were external; from 35 to 74 it was tumours and from the age of 75 it was circulatory system diseases.

Among deaths by external causes the most significant were traffic accidents, with 195 deaths and suicides, with 171. In both cases more males died than females: 147 males and 48 females due to traffic accidents and 127 males and 44 females due to suicide.