Press release dated 24/09/2010

MORTALITY STATISTICS OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY (EDEF) 1ST QUARTER 2010

The number of deaths in the Basque Country fell by 9.7% in the first quarter of 2010

Circulatory diseases were the main cause of death, followed by tumours

In the first quarter of 2010, 4,804 people died in the Basque Country, 9.7% down on the same period of the previous year, according to Eustat data. By provinces, 592 people died in Álava, down by 11.9%, 2,633 in Bizkaia (-8.4%) and 1,579 in Gipuzkoa (-10.9%).

1,446 people died from circulatory diseases, which made them the main cause of death as they accounted for 30.1% of deaths.

Tumours were the second cause of death and accounted for the deaths of 1,419 people (29.5%). Respiratory diseases were in third place and caused 428 deaths (8.9%) during the winter months.

Deaths due to respiratory diseases were down by 32.3%

Winter months are usually characterised for being the period with the highest number of deaths. The greatest increases are in deaths from respiratory diseases compared to other quarters. However, 428 people died from that condition in the first quarter of 2010, 32.3% down on the same quarter of the previous year (632 deaths) and barely 5.2% more than in the previous quarter (407 deaths).

The cause of death differed according to sex, as tumours outnumbered circulatory system diseases among men, whereas the main cause was cardiovascular diseases among women, followed by tumours in second place. Respiratory diseases remained as the third cause of death for both sexes.

Ten of all deaths in the first quarter of 2010 were infants under one, 5 of whom were boys and 5 girls.

The population growth rate in the first quarter of 2010 was positive, with a population increase of 181 people. By provinces, Bizkaia is the only one with a negative population growth rate as the number of deaths exceeded the number of births by 137 individuals. As far as Álava and Gipuzkoa were concerned, both increased their population by 213 and 105 inhabitants, respectively.



For further information:

Euskal Estatistika-Erakundea / Instituto Vasco de Estadística C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Tlf:+34-945-01 75 00 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01 E-mail: eustat@eustat.es Contact: Martín González Hernández Tlf:+34-945-01 75 49 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01 Further press releases on MORTALITY STATISTICS of the Basque Country Databank on the Mortality Statistics of the Basque Country