5,141 people died in the A.C. of the Basque Country in the first quarter of 2007, 4.4% more than in the same period of the previous year, according to EUSTAT data. By province, 675 people died in Álava, an increase of 13.6%, 2,753 in Bizkaia (+0.7%) and 1,713 in Gipuzkoa (+7.3%).

Traditionally, the first quarter of the year sees the greatest number of deaths, with respiratory system diseases those that usually register the greatest increases in the number of deaths. This year an increase of 9.7% as regards the same quarter of 2006 was registered and one of 41.5% in relation to the previous quarter.

1,556 people died as a result of circulatory system diseases, making this the main cause, accounting for almost a third of all deaths.

The second most common cause of death was tumours, which resulted in 1,406 deaths (27.3%) and in the third place came respiratory diseases, which, in the winter months, were the cause of 597 deaths.

The reason for death was different depending on the sex of the deceased, with deaths from tumours outnumbering circulatory system diseases among men, whereas for women the main cause was cardiovascular disease and secondly tumours. Respiratory system diseases remained the third most common cause of death for both sexes.

Of the deaths that took place in the first quarter of 2007, 19 corresponded to children aged under one year old, 8 boys and 11 girls.

Natural population growth in the first quarter of 2007 was negative, with a population loss of 283 people. By provinces, negative balances were recorded in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, which saw their populations diminish by 291 and 24 inhabitants respectively. In the case of Álava, on the other hand, the number of births outnumbered that of deaths (+32).

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

Source: EUSTAT