Death Toll Down this Summer

10 December 2009

12,427 deaths were registered in Scotland in the third quarter of 2009 - 199 (1.6 per cent) fewer than the same period in 2008. This is the lowest total between July and September for at least thirty years.

15,257 births were registered in the third quarter of the year – 263 fewer than in the third quarter of 2008, but 328 more than in the same period in 2007.

Registrar General for Scotland Duncan Macniven, speaking as he published provisional figures for births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships registered during the third quarter of 2009, said:

“The number of deaths continues to fall. We’ve seen a reduction in the first three quarters of this year, giving the lowest number of deaths and lowest death rate in the period January to September for at least three decades.”

Other comparisons with the third quarter of 2008 showed that:

marriages were down by 645 from 11,892 to 11,247.
192 civil partnerships (79 male and 113 female) were registered in the quarter, just 3 fewer than in the third quarter of 2008.
Deaths from stroke and coronary heart disease fell by 7.2 per cent and 4.2 per cent respectively. Deaths from cancer fell by 2.0 per cent.

The full publication, Births, Marriages and Deaths - 3rd Quarter 2009 is available on this website.