A descriptive study was made of the trend of the stomach cancer mortality rate in Spain over the period 1951-1985. An upward trend was observed until 1963, and from that time on it gradually decreased in both sexes, though the male population always had a higher rate. By age, the mortality rate showed a clear increase in the fifties, in both sexes. A cohort effect was also clearly evident, the mortality rate was gradually lower in the most recent generations and among the different age groups, which is in keeping with the gradual decrease of the "Potential years in life lost" throughout the time period investigated. The above descriptive data would doubtless be of interest should analytical studies be undertaken.