Death rates from cancer, heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases that lead to strokes are at their lowest levels in more than half a century, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said earlier this week.

The nationwide survey of the three main causes of death is conducted every five years. The rates are calculated per 100,000 people in different age groups living in each prefecture.

Cancer was the No. 1 killer. Among men, the national rate was 182.4 out of 100,000 people, a 15.3 point drop compared with 2005. The rate among women was 92.2 out of 100,000, a 5.1 point drop.