Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 01.12.1956, Blaðsíða 220
Public Health in Iceland 1956. — A. Summary
1. In 1956 the climatic conditions
during winter and spring were fairly
favourable, the snow fall however in
many places somewhat exceeding the
average. The mean temperature of
February and March was 3—4 centi-
grades, of April and May 1 centigrade
above the average. The summer
months, June—August, were rather
cold, the mean temperature %—1
centigrade under the average. The
autumn and early winter months were
unusually mild, the mean temperature
of October %—1 centigrade, of Nov-
ember even 4—5 centigrades and of
December 2—3 centigrade above the
average. The sunshine during June—
August was in Reykjavik 95.9 hours
above, in Akureyri 34.2 hours under
the average of 1930—1949.
The industries of the country en-
joyed good external conditions during
the year, insofar as the gross produce
was great and markets open for tlie
country’s exports. On the other hand
there were economical difficulties as
a result of the inflationary wave that
rose in 1955. The inflationarv ten-
dtncy caused a considerahle decrease
in the income of the export producers
which had be to covered by subven-
tions from public funds. Investment
was extensive in all fields. A deficit
in the balance of trade had to some
extent to be covered with foreign
loans. There was more employment
than the local labour force. Wage dis-
putes were insignificant and wages
largely remained firm during the year.
2. Popnlation, Births and Deaths.
The population was on December lst
1956 162700 including Reykjavík
65305 (1955: 159480 and 63856). The
estimated midyear popnlation was
161090 (157756). The marriage rate
was 8.3 (8.6), the birth rate 28.3
(28.4) and the death rate 7.2 (7.0) per
1000 inhabitants. The infant mortality
rate was 17.3 (22.5) per 1000 born
alive. The general death rate is near
the lowest on record, the 1954 figure
being the lowest (6.9 per 1000). The
last year’s infant mortality figure is
the lowest ever registered.
3. Causes of Deaths are shown on
pp. 61—70.
The following
common:
ten are the most
Number
Diseases of the Heart .................... 254
Cancer — Malignant Growths ............... 200
Apoplexy (defined and ill-defined) ....... 181
Violence (all forms) ...................... 81
Pneumonia (Lobar and Lobular, Pn. of
Infants included) ....................... 72
Old Age ................................... 38
Diseases of Infants (Pneumonia excepted) 36
Influenza ................................. 24
Congenital Malformation ................... 23
General Arteriosclerosis
13
Other and Unknown Causes ....... 231
Per 1000 of
deaths
220.3
173.5
157.0
70.3
62.4
33.0
31.2
20.8
19.9
11.3
259.3
Per 1000
of the
population
1.58
1.24
1.12
0.50
0.45
0.24
0.22
0.15
0.14
0.08
1.43