DAMMAM: Saudi females live longer than males, according to burial data of the municipalities of the Kingdom.

In 2015, at least 45,683 people died, of whom 28,802 were males, which is 63 percent of the total figure. The number of females who died in this period was 16,881, as reported by an online newspaper.

Of the total deaths of males, 7,785 were under one year of age; 1,516 were under 15 years; 1,663 between 15 and 45 years; 2,079 between 45 to 60; and 8,061 were above 60.

Among the total deaths of females, 4,079 were below one year, 999 were under 15; 1,663 were between 15 and 45; 2,079 between 45 and 60 years; and 8,061 were above 60 years of age.

Dr. Ali Al-Zahrani, chairman of the Saudi Association for Epidemiology, said that the data of the municipalities revealed that the deaths of males are more than that of females. This requires that the reasons behind this trend should be studied. He said that in some regions, the deaths were not officially recorded.

Al-Zahrani said that the case of deaths under one year was due to hereditary issues and communicable diseases and deaths in cases between one year and five year of age was due to accidents at home. Deaths in most of the cases in the age group of five to 14 years were due to accidents. The majority of youths died due to road accidents, and elderly people due to various diseases.

He said that the effects of smoking appear only among those 45 years of age. In cases of cancer, it is detected in men in advanced stages when there is less scope of treatment. Some died due to drug addiction and others due to pressures of day-to-day life.