Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 01.12.1935, Side 213

Public Health in Iceland 1935.
— A Summary.
1. In 1935 thc climntic cónditions were favourable in that the
weather was mild, but it was changeable and wet.
The atmospheric pressure in the whole country was 0,4 mm. below
the average. The menn tempernture of the air was 1,2° above the
average. The rninfnll was 17% above the average.
The year wTas in many respects a difficult one for the economic
status of the people, especiallv for the fishing industry, owing to poor
fishing and a dull sale of fish products. On the other hand there was
a rise in the price of farm products, which improved the conditions
in the rural districts. In the urban districts the economic status was
lowT, incomes had decreased, unemployment was extensive, although
endeavours were made to mitigate the conditions by increased grants
from the Treasury for ])ublic works, and for the promotion of the
manufacturing industry, which is rapidly improving.
2. Populnlion, births and denths. The population was on December
31st 1935: 115870 including Reykjavík 34231 (1933: 114743 and
32974). The marriage rate was 0,2 (6,4), the birth rate 22,1 (22,8)
and the denth ratc i 2,2 (10,4) per 1000 inhabitants. Infant mortnlitg
was 67,8 (52,4) per 1000 born alive.
General death-rate of the year was considerably higher than in the
previous years, (it was lowest in 1934, 10,3%o); infant mortality was
especially high (lowest in 1929: 43,0%»). The rise in the number of
deaths is due to epidemics, which were unusually frequent (influenza,
wThooping cough, poliomvelitis).
3. Causes of death are shown on pages 9—13.
The ten following are the most common:
%o ot %C of the
Number deaths population
Old Age 204 145,5 1,8
Cancer — Malignant Growths 152 108,4 1,3
Tuberculosis (ail forms) !.. 149 106,3 1,3
Whooping Cough 123 87,7 1,1
Diseases of the Heart 113 80,6 1,0
Apoplexy 104 74,2 0,9
Pneumonia (lobar and lobular) 101 72,0 0.9
Accidents (all forms) 90 64,2 0,8
Premature Birth and Debilitv of Newborn 30 21,4 0,3
Acute Poliomyelitis 29 20,7 0,3
Other and l’nknown Causes 307 219,0 2,5