Madeira region reports rise in child mortality and cancer deaths in 2024

The Regional Statistics Directorate of Madeira released 2024 mortality data for the autonomous region. Total deaths fell 7.8% to 2,574 compared with 2023, but the mortality rate for children under one year increased to 3.3% from 0.6% the previous year, driven by six infant deaths – four perinatal, one from a malignant tumor and one from pneumonia. Cancer remained the leading cause of death among adults, especially in the municipalities of Santana, Machico and Funchal. In the 25‑64 age group, 186 deaths were due to malignant tumors, while the 65‑84 cohort saw 376 cancer deaths. Overall, the region’s mortality rate of 10 per 1,000 inhabitants stays below the national average of 11.1 per 1,000.