The 4,214 deaths in the third quarter of 2006 meant an 8.8% increase in relation to the same period of the previous year, according to Eustat data. By province, 486 people died in Álava, 2,404 in Bizkaia and 1,324 in Gipuzkoa.

The main cause of death was tumours, which accounted for the deaths of 1,362 people (32.3%); following this, as the second cause of death, were diseases of the circulatory system, giving rise to 1,139 deaths (27%). In third place came respiratory diseases, which caused 357 deaths during these months (8.5%).

The cause of death differed according to sex, with tumours outnumbering diseases of the circulatory system among men, whereas among women the main cause was cardiovascular disease and in second place tumours. Diseases of the respiratory system remained the third cause of death for both sexes.

Among the deaths occurring in the third quarter of 2006, 10 corresponded to children of less than one year old, 6 boys and 4 girls.

Natural growth for the third quarter of 2006 was positive, with a population increase of 809. In all three provinces there were positive balances: the population of Álava increased by 245 inhabitants, Bizkaia by 106 and Gipuzkoa by 458.

Table 1. Deaths in the A.C. of Euskadi by sex, according to cause of death. Quarterly comparison.

Source: EUSTAT