The leading causes of death in Latvia are diseases of the circulatory system, cancer, and external causes; the incidence of tuberculosis has been increasing since 1989. Infant mortality, though decreasing from 15.7 per 1,000 live births in 1991, remained high at 11.3 in 1999. There were 9,092 new cases of cancer in Latvia in 1998, with an increase in incidence of 11.8% over the previous decade. Cancer deaths in 1998 totalled 5,138 and in 1997 40.1% of cancer deaths occurred within one year of diagnosis. It has been estimated that at any one time more than 3,000 patients in Latvia are in need of palliative care. One respondent stated that 90% of deaths from cancer patients occur at home, creating major problems for patients and families.10
Population and life expectancy, Central and Eastern Europe
Population (millions)
Life Expectancy
Male
Female
Albania
3.1
64.3
72.9
Bosnia-Herzogovina
3.9
68.7
74.4
Bulgaria
7.9
67.4
74.9
Croatia
4.6
69.8
77.7
Czech Republic
10.2
71.5
78.2
Estonia
1.3
65.4
76.5
Hungary
9.9
66.3
75.2
Latvia
2.4
64.2
75.5
Lithuania
3.7
66.9
77.2
Macedonia
2.0
70.2
74.8
Poland
38.6
69.2
77.7
Romania
22.4
66.2
73.5
Serbia and Montenegro
10.5
Slovakia
5.3
69.2
77.5
Slovenia
1.9
71.9
79.4
Source: World Health Report 2001
WHO age standardised death rates per 100,000 population, Central and Eastern Europe (1995-1998)
Year
All Causes
Cancer
Albania
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bulgaria
1998
958.9
123.3
Croatia
1997
836.0
174.2
Czech Republic
1998
706.6
182.9
Estonia
1998
907.7
157.8
Hungary
1998
917.8
219.4
Latvia
1998
955.2
152.1
Lithuania
1997
817.2
149.4
Macedonia
1997
809.1
Poland
1996
812.2
165.2
Romania
1998
933.9
130.6
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
1995
820.9
172.3
Slovenia
1997
666.1
167.5
Source: World Health Organisation: World Health Statistics 1997-1999
Your Location: Global Analysis Home > Countries A-Z > Latvia > Epidemiology