Gjirokastra, Korça and Berat were ranked among the counties with the highest number of deaths in 2018 relative to the population, while Tirana, Kukës and Durres recorded lower rates. According to INSTAT data, processed by Monitor per 1000 inhabitants, in Gjirokastra the number of lost lives per 1000 inhabitants was 12.1 in 2018, with a slight decrease from 2017. In Korça this indicator was in 10 per 1000 inhabitants and in Berat 9.2. Tirana ranks in counties where the number of deaths in relation to the population was lower with only 5.8 lives lost per 1000 inhabitants, followed by Kukes with 6.6 and Durres with 7. 1 death per 1 thousand inhabitants.

Demographers explain that the highest prevalences of lost lives in Gjirokastra, Korca and Berat relate to the aging of the population in these circles in relation to the others. The number of deaths in 2018 is 21,804 people, with a decrease of 1.9% compared to the previous year. In ten out of the twelve districts of the country, the number of deaths has decreased in 2018 compared to 2017.

As the population is shrinking and is aging since the number of births and emigrations declined, the number of people who lost because of the aging population will be upward. The two major factors causing the greatest deaths are the circulatory diseases (heart and stroke) and the tumors, both growing. In recent years, the largest number of deaths in our country were caused by the group of "blood circulation apparatus", which accounted for more than half of the deaths. Within this group, the highest percentage of deaths from "Brain Disease Diseases" and "Chronic Heart Disease" are reported.

Deaths from the group "Tumor" disease accounted for 16.4% of total deaths in 2017, ranking as the second major group referring to the number of deaths caused. In the "Tumor" group, the highest percentage of the "Tumor of the respiratory tract" subgroup is 33.5%. Group Deaths "Symptom, Signs and Undetermined Illness" is ranked as the third major group referring to the number of deaths caused. The mortality rate for this disease group was 16.0% in 2017.

In this group, 75.5% occupy deaths at the age of 80 and above and the specific cause of death is "Death from Old Age".

Source: Monitor