Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 01.12.1958, Page 192

Public Health in Iceland 1958. — A Summary.
1. The climatic conditions were
ratlier unfavourable for the first half
of tlie year, but on the whole
favourablc for the lattcr lialf. The
mean temperature was 0.6 centigrades
above the average, February being
the coldest month of the year. The
downfall was 10% less than usually.
Stormy days were fewer than in the
average year. In Reykjavik sunny
hours exceeded the average by 207.
The temperature in December—March
was 0.9 centigrades below, in April—
May 0.3 below, in June—September,
0.7 above and in October—November
3.0 above the average.
The year was in many respects
economically favourable and spending
power was high. The production in
tlie country and at the seaside in-
creased considerably. The fisheries
yielded more than ever before. For-
eign markets were favourable. Both
imports and exports increased and
the deficit in payments was less than
the year before. It was offset by in-
visible exports and foreign loans. In-
^estment was somewhat higher than
the year before. The position of the
banks towards foreign banks de-
teriorated. There were considerable
increases in prices, and wages were
forced up during the summer and
autumn. The cost-of-Iiving index rose
from 191 to 220 points, the average
for the year being 200.9 pts.
2. Population, Births and Deaths.
The population was on December lst
1958 170156 including Reykjavík
69268 (1957: 166831 and 67589).' The
estimated midyear population was
168493 (164766). The marriage rate
was 7.9 (8.0), the birth rate 27.4
(28.7) and the death rate 6.9 (7.0) per
1000 inhabitants. The infant mortality
rate was 18.8 (16.9) per 1000 born
alive. The general death rate is the
lowest on record, the 1954 figure
being the same.
3. Causes of Deaths are shown on
pp. 61—68.
The following ten are the most
common:
Per 1000
of the
population
1.80
1.25
0.99
0.59
0.52
0.29
0.12
0.11
0.08
0.07
1.10
Per 1000 of
Number deaths
Diseases of tlie Heart ................. 304 260.9
Cancer — Malignant Growths ............. 210 180.3
Apoplexy................................. 167 143.4
Pneumonia (Lobar and Lobular, Pn. of
Infants included) .................... 100 85.8
Violence (all forms) .................... 87 74.7
Diseases of Infants (Pneumonia excepted) 48 41.2
Congenital Malformation ................. 21 18.0
Old Age.................................. 19 16.3
Hypertrophy of Prostate.................. 13 11.2
General Arteriosclerosis ................ 11 9.4
Other and Unknown Causes ............... 185 158.8