Gujarat sees higher death rate in villages, men form majority of fatalities

Gujarat recorded 4,87,971 deaths in a year, averaging around 59 deaths per hour and 1,337 deaths per day, according to official data. The figures highlight a clear rural–urban divide, with rural areas accounting for a higher number of deaths than cities.

Of the total deaths, 2,49,706 were reported from rural regions, compared to 2,38,265 from urban areas, indicating greater mortality in villages compared to cities that had better healthcare access.

Men accounted for the majority of deaths in the state. Data shows 2,91,260 male deaths, against 1,95,779 female deaths and 32 transgender deaths, meaning around 60% of those who died were men.

District-wise, Ahmedabad recorded the highest number of deaths (67,095), followed by Surat (44,452) and Vadodara (around 33,000).

In 2023, Gujarat registered its lowest death toll in four years, with about 4.87 lakh deaths, compared to 5.23 lakh in 2020, 7.25 lakh in 2021 during the Covid-19 peak, and 4.88 lakh in 2022.

Between 2019 and 2023, a total of 147 transgender deaths were recorded in the state, with 117 in urban areas and 30 in rural regions.

Meanwhile, Gujarat reported around 11.26 lakh births in the same year, far exceeding the number of deaths. Birth rates were higher in urban areas, while rural regions continued to show higher mortality, underscoring persistent healthcare and infrastructure challenges in villages.