Press release 23/12/2011

MORTALITY STATISTICS OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY (EDEF) 2nd QUARTER OF 2011

Deaths fell by 2.3% in the second quarter of 2011

In the months of April, May and June 2011 4449 people died, 45 of whom were aged 100 or over

Deaths in the Basque Country numbered 4449 in the second quarter of 2011, representing a decrease of 2.3% in relation to the same period last year, according to Eustat data. By province, in Álava 543 people died, 2490 in Bizkaia and 1416 in Gipuzkoa.

Distributions of the deaths by sex shows that 53% were men and 47% were women. Considered as a whole, more than half of the deaths (57.2%) entailed people over the age of 80; however this percentage rises to 70.3% if we consider women in isolation and falls to 45.7% when only men are taken into account.

Amongst the deaths that occurred in the second quarter of 2011, 14 entailed minors who were less than one year old: 5 boys and 9 girls. Amongst deaths of people aged 100 or over, 40 were women and only 5 were men.

The main cause of death was tumours: 1515 people died as a result of tumours (34.1%), followed by circulatory system diseases, the second most frequent cause of death, accounting for 1214 deaths (27.3%). The third most prevalent cause of death was respiratory diseases, which accounted for 367 deaths (8.2%) in this period.

As was the case in previous quarters, cause of death remains distinct in terms of gender, as, amongst men, tumours account for more deaths than circulatory system diseases, whilst, amongst women, the main cause of death was cardiovascular disease, followed by tumours. Respiratory illnesses maintain their position as the third highest cause of death amongst both sexes.

The rate of natural increase was positive in the second quarter of 2011, whereby the population of the Basque Country increased by 841. The three provinces presented a positive balance: 295 inhabitants in Álava, 226 in Bizkaia and 330 in Gipuzkoa.



For further information:

Basque Statistics Office C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Tel: +34-945-01 75 00 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01 E-mail: eustat@eustat.es Contact: Martín González Hernández Tel:+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