Number of deaths hits record high in 2011: report

The number of deaths in Korea rose to a record high in 2011 as a growing number of people joined the older age groups, which are vulnerable to more fatal health problems, a report showed Thursday.

According to the report by Statistics Korea, a total of 257,396 people died last year, up 0.8 percent or 1,991 from the previous year.

This is the fifth consecutive year of increases and marks the record high since related data started to be compiled in 1983.

The rise is attributable to increased deaths among seniors, especially those in their 50s, 70s and older age groups. Deaths in each cited group rose 3.5 percent, 0.8 percent and 4.7 percent from a year earlier.

Deaths per every 100,000 people also inched up 0.3 percent on-year to 513.6 last year. The death rate among men stood at 571.1 while the rate for women was 456.0.

Cancers, cerebral vascular diseases and heart problems claimed nearly a half of total deaths last year, the report showed. Suicides came in fourth, followed by diabetes and pneumonia.

In particular, Alzheimer's disease was first included among the top 10 causes for deaths among women, with 6.6 per every 100,000 female population losing their lives to the disease last year. The corresponding rate for men stood at 3.

The increased number of deaths last year is in line with the fact that the population aging is fast underway, which appeared to leave a larger portion of citizens vulnerable to disease.

Korea is fast becoming an aged society, in which more than 14 percent of the population is 65 or older. Korea already became an aging society in 2000, when the ratio exceeded 7 percent, according to government reports. (Yonhap)