Press Release 21/09/2021

DEATH STATISTICS. I/2021

Deaths decreased by 8.2% in the first quarter of 2021 in the Basque Country

13.5% of deaths were as a result of COVID-19

In the first quarter of 2021 the number of deaths in the Basque Country stood at 5,990, 8.2% down on the same period of the previous year, according to Eustat data. If we compare the data with previous years, it can be seen that in March 2021 there were fewer deaths than in 2020, 2018 and the average of 2010-2019.

Deaths were down in the three provinces, being particularly significant the decrease in Álava, where it reached 21.3%, 761 people. In Bizkaia, there was an 8,5% drop in deaths, with 3,277 deaths, and in Gipuzkoa of 1.2%, with 1,952 deaths. By sex, 3,010 men and 2,980 women died, which was a decrease of 7.2% for men and 9.1% for women.

Amongst the deaths that occurred in this first quarter, 10 corresponded to children under 1 year of age (0.2%) and 97 to centenarians(1.7%).

The main causes of death were tumours and circulatory system diseases, which caused the deaths of 1,472 and 1,462 individuals, respectively, which means that together they accounted for 49% of deaths. As a third cause of death was COVID-19, with 811 cases (13.5%). Deaths due to respiratory diseases were the fourth cause of death with 319 deceased (5.3%). Deaths due to diseases of the nervous system totalled 311 (5.2%) and those due to diseases of the digestive system 255 (4.3%).

The cause of death continued to vary according to sex. Among men, tumours caused more deaths than diseases of the circulatory system, whilst among women the main cause of death was diseases of the circulatory system, followed by tumours in second place.

Population growth in the Basque Country in the first quarter of 2021 was negative, with a population decrease of 2,692. The population decreased in the three provinces: by 1,665 people in Bizkaia, 819 in Gipuzkoa and 208 in Álava.

There were 811 deaths as a result of COVID-19 in the first quarter of 2021

COVID-19 caused a total of 811 deaths, classified in two groups: 785 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 26 probable COVID-19 deaths; there were a further 62 deaths in which COVID-19 was among the certified causes of death, but without being the main cause.

By province, the highest figure corresponded to Bizkaia, with 476, followed by Gipuzkoa with 225 and Álava with 110. As regards the capitals, Bilbao stands out with 199 deaths caused by COVID-19, followed by Vitoria-Gasteiz with 88 and Donostia/San Sebastián with 64. Other notable municipalities are Getxo with 38 and Barakaldo with 29 deaths.

The number of deaths of men (444) exceeded those of women (367), while, by age, the most affected groups were those aged over 80 (548), followed by those aged 60-79 (236)

The majority of these deaths occurred in Basque hospitals, with 83% (81.4% in the first quarter of 2020); followed by residential care homes with 8.8% (11% in the first quarter of 2020); at home, with 7.6% (7.6% in the first quarter of 2020); and other locations, with 0.6% (0% in the first quarter of 2020).

For further information:

Eustat - Euskal Estatistika Erakundea / Basque Statistics Institute C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Press service: servicioprensa@eustat.es Tel.: 945 01 75 62