THE number of people who died from cancer last year hit an all-time high in Northern Ireland – at 4,100 deaths.
The figure forms part of the provisional 2011 mortality numbers released yesterday by the Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).
The report also reveals that 4,000 people died from circulatory diseases and 1,900 from respiratory diseases – the two other main causes of death in the Province.
Together, the three diseases account for 70 per cent of all deaths.
However, last year saw the lowest number of deaths recorded in Northern Ireland at 14,200.
And over the last three decades the average age at death has increased markedly. In 1981 it stood at 70 years but last year it was 75.7 years.
Last year saw the lowest infant death rate – 4.3 infant deaths per thousand births, or one infant death in every 233 births – and the lowest stillbirth rate – 3.6 stillbirths per 1,000 births, or one stillbirth in every 385 births – ever recorded.
Meanwhile, there were just over 100 deaths of centenarians in 2011, with the oldest man and woman to die both aged 107 years.
Dr David Marshall, of NISRA, said: “These latest statistics show continuing improvements in mortality. Last year the infant death rate reached a new low and we also saw the lowest number of deaths ever.”