The number of deaths in the A.C. of the Basque Country in 2005 totalled 19,425, of which 10,329 were men and 9,096 women. This figure means a 4% increase as regards 2004, according to EUSTAT data.

The number of births exceeded the number of deaths by 290, meaning natural population growth was positive, even though it was less so than in 2004. By province, the balance was positive in Álava and Gipuzkoa, which gained 294 and 685 people respectively; on the other hand, in the case of Bizkaia, the number of deaths outnumbered births (-689).

The average age of the deceased stood at 76.8, whereas in 1990 it had been 71, which is to say that there was an increase of 5.8. By gender, men passed away at the age of 73 on average and women at 81.1.

As regards infant mortality, 2.9 babies per thousand births died aged less than a year old. Neonatal mortality, taking place in the first 28 days, accounted for 46 deaths; 36 were as a result of early neonatal mortality, occurring in the first week, of which 20 took place in the first 24 hours. Among the under-ones, the deaths of boys (36) outnumbered those of girls (21).

30.3% of deaths occurring in 2005, 5,891, were due to circulatory system diseases; next came tumours, with 28.1% (5,462 deaths), and thirdly, some way behind, were respiratory system diseases, which accounted for 11.4% (2,214).

The cause of death differed according to sex, since among men tumours outnumbered circulatory system diseases, whereas among women the main cause was cardiovascular diseases and secondly tumours.

The cause of death also varied with age. In babies of less than one year old, deaths were most frequently due to diseases originating in the perinatal period and congenital malformations; up until 34 years of age the main causes of death were external; from 35 to 74 the main cause was tumours and from 75 onwards, circulatory system diseases.

Among deaths due to external causes, most outstanding were traffic accidents with 179 deaths and suicides with 171. In both cases, a greater number of men died than women: 129 men and 50 women because of traffic accidents and 128 men and 43 women by suicide.

Graph 1: Deaths by cause and sex (%)

Table 1: Deaths by sex according to cause.

Source: EUSTAT