Press Release 15/07/2025
DEATH STATISTICS. 2024
Deaths in the Basque Country increased by 0.4% in 2024
In the last 10 years, the age of death grew by 2.4 years, to 81.7 years old
In 2024, 22,392 deaths were recorded in the Basque Country, which represents an increase of 0.4% compared with 2023, according to Eustat data. By province, Álava saw the biggest increase, with 3.8% more and a total of 3,026 deaths. It was followed by Bizkaia, with an increase of 1.3% and 12,041 deaths. On the other hand, Gipuzkoa saw a reduction of 2.5%, with 7,325 deaths. Compared with 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic, the total number of deaths has increased by 3.9%.
In terms of months, July stands out, with an increase of 15.9% compared with the same month in 2023, with 1,854 deaths, although the rate remained below the peak of July 2022.
The average age stood at 78.3 for men and 84.9 for women
Considering the total number of deaths in 2024, there were 11,403 female deaths and 10,989 male deaths. The average age of people who died in 2024 was 81.7 years of age, whereas ten years previously in 2014, the figure stood at 79.3, meaning that it has risen by 2.4 years over the course of the last decade.
The average age at death amongst men in 2024 was 78.3, whilst the average age amongst women stood at 84.9. In 2014, the average ages were 76.2 and 82.6, respectively. Thus, over the course of the last 10 years, the average age at death of men has increased by 2.1 years, and that of women by 2.3 years.
As regards child mortality, there were 26 deaths of children under one year of age in the Basque Country. Mortality amongst newborns, occurring within the first 28 days of life, registered 16 deaths, 6 of which were during the first 24 hours and another 6 in the first week. Among infants under 1 year, the majority of deaths recorded were boys (61.5%).
In 2024, 545 people aged 100 or over died in the Basque Country (born in 1924 or before), of which 84.2% were women. This figure is seven deaths fewer than in 2023.
Deaths of the Basque Country by provinces, municipality (>40,000 hab.) of residence, sex and age. 2023-2024
| |
2024 |
2023 |
Increase (%) |
| Basque Country |
22,392 |
22,311 |
0.4 |
| |
| Historic Territories of Residence |
|
|
|
| Araba/Álava |
3,026 |
2,914 |
3.8 |
| Bizkaia |
12,041 |
11,888 |
1.3 |
| Gipuzkoa |
7,325 |
7,509 |
-2.5 |
| |
| Municipality of residence (>40,000 inhabitants) |
|
|
|
| Barakaldo |
1,113 |
1,044 |
6.6 |
| Basauri |
487 |
529 |
-7.9 |
| Bilbao |
3,911 |
3,838 |
1.9 |
| Donostia / San Sebastian |
2,043 |
2,022 |
1.0 |
| Getxo |
749 |
742 |
0.9 |
| Irun |
594 |
598 |
-0.7 |
| Portugalete |
585 |
561 |
4.3 |
| Santurtzi |
512 |
522 |
-1.9 |
| Vitoria-Gasteiz |
2,237 |
2,124 |
5.3 |
| |
| Sex |
|
|
|
| Man |
10,989 |
11,034 |
-0.4 |
| Woman |
11,403 |
11,277 |
1.1 |
| |
| Age |
|
|
|
| Aged under 40 |
204 |
212 |
-3.8 |
| From 40 to 59 years |
1,293 |
1,317 |
-1.8 |
| From 60 to 79 years |
6,275 |
6,340 |
-1.0 |
| 80 or older |
14,620 |
14,442 |
1.2 |
Date July 15, 2025
Source: Eustat. Death statistics
27.7% of deaths were due to tumours
27.7% of the deaths that occurred in 2024, 6,212 deaths, were caused by tumours; next came circulatory system diseases, with 25.5% (5,716 deaths), followed in third place by mental and behavioural disorders, with 8.7% (1,938) and respiratory system diseases with 8.3% (1,864) in fourth place.
The order of importance of the causes of death varies by 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. It is also worth noting that there was a higher percentage of women among deaths caused by mental and behavioural disorders, in contrast to that which occurred with those attributable to external causes, where there was a higher percentage of men.
Furthermore, the cause of death varied in accordance with age. Amongst those aged under one, the most frequent causes of death were illnesses originating in the perinatal period; amongst those aged from 1 to 39, the majority of deaths were attributable to external causes, including accidents and suicides; amongst those aged between 40 and 79, tumours were the highest cause of death, whilst amongst those aged 80 years or over, it was diseases of the circulatory system.
Deaths of the Basque Country by cause of death, according to age group. 2024
| | Total | Under 1 years | 1 - 19 years | 20 - 39 years | From 40 to 59 years | From 60 to 79 years | 80 or older |
| Total | 22.392 | 26 | 38 | 140 | 1.293 | 6.275 | 14.620 |
| I.Ciertas certain infectious and parasitic diseases | 368 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 84 | 263 |
| II.Tumores tumors (neoplasia) | 6.212 | 0 | 10 | 35 | 577 | 2.982 | 2.608 |
| III.Enfermedades Blood and hematopoietic organ diseases, and certain disorders that affect the inmunity mechanism | 145 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 29 | 110 |
| IV.Enfermedades endocrine, nutritional and metabolical diseases | 740 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 174 | 534 |
| V.Trastornos mental and behavioural disorders | 1.938 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 182 | 1.748 |
| VI.Enfermedades Illnesses of the nervous system | 1.432 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 62 | 359 | 996 |
| IX.Enfermedades Illnesses of the circulatory system | 5.716 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 259 | 1.287 | 4.148 |
| X.Enfermedades Illnesses of the respiratory system | 1.864 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 42 | 393 | 1.425 |
| XI.Enfermedades Diseases of the digestive system | 1.066 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 57 | 302 | 699 |
| XII.Enfermedades skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases | 101 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 84 |
| XIII.Enfermedades Diseases of the osteo-muscular system and the conjunctive tissue | 306 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 47 | 254 |
| XIV.Illnesses of the genitourinary system | 720 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 109 | 602 |
| XV. Pregnancy, birth and puerperium | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| XVI.Certain affections originating in the perinatal period | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| XVII.Congenital malformations, deformities and chromosomic anormalities | 47 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 20 | 2 |
| XVIII.Symtoms, abnormal clinical signs and laboratory findings | 669 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 44 | 599 |
| XX.External mortality causes | 805 | 0 | 13 | 56 | 192 | 198 | 346 |
| COVID-19 confirmed | 253 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 49 | 202 |
| COVID-19 probable | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date July 15, 2025
Source: Eustat. Death statistics
In 2024 there were a total 253 deaths where COVID-19 was the main cause (all confirmed by a specific analysis),1.1% of the total. Deaths resulting from this cause were down 29.3% on those recorded in 2023.
Population growth was negative in all three provinces
Population growth was negative, as there were 9,455 more deaths than births. There were negative balances in all three provinces: in Bizkaia this was 5,620 people, in Gipuzkoa 2,903, and in Álava 932. In 2023, the population growth rate was also negative, with 8,858 more deaths than births.
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