Cancer, cardiovascular disease top killers in Netherlands

In 2013 the most common causes of death in the Netherlands was cancer and cardiovascular disease. Of the more than 141 thousand people who died in 2013, 42 thousand (30 percent) died of cancer and 38 thousand (27 percent) died of cardiovascular diseases.

This is based on figures that Statistics Netherlands published today. In 2013 mortality from diseases of the cardiovascular system remained virtually unchanged from the deaths in 2012. Compared to 2012, mortality from cancer decreased in 2013 by 2.4 percent.

Statistics Netherlands also notes that there were some significant shifts in the causes of death. There was a notable increase in the number of deaths from dementia (including Alzheimer) and stroke. The number of deaths from pneumonia decreased sharply.