Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 01.12.1965, Page 175

Public Health in Iceland 1965. — A Summary.
1. The climatic conditions were rather favourable on the South and
West Coast but rather unfavourable in other parts of the country,
especially on the East Coast. The mean temperature was 0.6° (C)
under the average (1931—1960).
The year was one of continued prosperity and substantial economic
growth. Gross national product increased by 5.0 per cent, and per capita
by 3.2 per cent. Due to favourable trends of the terms of trade, real
national income increased more, or by 9.2%. The current value of gross
output from fisheries and fish processing increased by 25.0 per cent.
The agricultural production increased by 6.5 per cent and construction
activity increased by 9 per cent. Imports of goods and services. in-
creased by 7.7 per cent and exports by 15.1 per cent, and the external
current account showed a surplus amounting to 150 mill. I. kr.
Industrial peace was maintained while the wage rates rose by 15.5
per cent including a shortening of the day time work week for unskilled
workers, from 48 to 44 hours. The cost of living rose by 7.1%, limiting
the rise in real wages to 7.9%. Private consumption increased by 4.5
per cent but gross fixed asset formation decreased by 2.0 per cent.
Hospital buildings amounted to 108.2 mill. I. kr. and decreased in real
terms by 0.8 per cent from the previous year.
2. Population, Births and Deaths. The population was on December
lst 1965 193758 including Reykjavik 78399 (1964: 190230 and 77220).
The estimated midyear population was 192304 (188848). The marriage
rate was 8.1 (8.3), the live birth rate 24.5 (25.3) and the death rate 6.7
(6.9) per 1000 inhabitants. The infant mortality rate was 15.0 (17.5)
per 1000 born alive.
3. Causes of Deaths are shown on pp. 66—77. The following twelve are
the most common (cf. p. 79).
Diseases of the Heart.........
Cancer — Malignant Neoplasms
Apoplexy .....................
Violence (all forms) .........
Per1000 of Per1000 of the
Number deaths population
343 265.7 1.78
248 192.1 1.29
166 128.6 0.86
131 101.5 0.68