The predominant cause of death in Fermanagh in 2007 was due to cancer as recent report has revealed.

A total of 543 people died in the County during 2007.

Of these 299 were male, compared to 244 females. Four infants died during this period, along with four babies who were stillborn.

The biggest cause of death was clearly due to cancer, with 138 people in the County dying from the disease. 83 people died from heart disease, 29 from stroke, and 80 from respiratory disease. Some 18 people in the County died as a result of transport accidents, and 14 from suicide or self inflicted injury.

Overall, the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland in 2007 was 14,600, a small increase on the 14,500 deaths registered in 2006. Cancer also continues to be a significant cause of death across Northern Ireland, with nearly 3,900 people dying from this disease last year.

These findings are contained in provisional 2007 mortality statistics released by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).

Although the number of deaths increased last year, the trend is one of falling death rates. Indeed, if the death rates of the 1970s still applied, then 26,600 people would have died last year, 11,900 more than the actual number.

DEATHS

Key points from the survey include:

* the overall death rate in Northern Ireland has fallen significantly over the last 30 years, from 11 deaths per 1,000 population in 1977 to 8 deaths per 1,000 population in 2007.

* the majority of people die in hospital. Last year, 51% of people died in hospitals ,with 19% in nursing homes/hospices, and the remaining 30% in other places (e.g. at home, at work etc);

* over three-quarters of deaths (76%) last year were certified by the examining doctor. The remaining 24% had either a Coroner's certificate issued or, in a small number of cases, an inquest. Deaths which are referred to a Coroner can take some time to be registered;

* more deaths occur in the Winter, with last year higher numbers of deaths occurring in January and December. On average, there are around 13% more deaths in the Winter months of December and January than the annual average;

* in contrast, there is virtually no variation on the day of the week that people die, with similar numbers of deaths on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. There were just over 2,000 deaths on each day; and

* the average age at death in 2007 was 71.5 years for males and 78.5 years for females.

* there were 67 deaths of centenarians in 2007, of whom 12 were males and 55 were females.

* The oldest centenarians to die in 2007 were aged 107 (2 deaths).

* of men whose deaths were registered during 2007, 52% were married at the time of death, while 22% were widowed and 21% were single. In contrast, of women whose deaths were registered during 2007, 55% were widows at the time of death, with a further 25% married and 16% single.