The number of registered live births in La Union during the fourth quarter of 2019 summed up to 3,624, an increase of 3.25 percent compared with the 3,510 births in the same period of 2018.  The daily average birth occurrence during the fourth quarter of 2019 was computed at 39 births or an average of two babies born per hour. The month of November posted the highest daily average births in fourth quarter of 2019 with 43, while the month of October had the highest daily average births with 42 in fourth quarter a year ago.

On the other hand, the month of December recorded the least daily average births in the province both in fourth quarter of 2018 and 2019 with 34 and 35 births respectively.

Among the city/municipalities in the province, the City of San Fernando registered the highest number of births at 1,966 or 54.25 percent of the total registered births in fourth quarter of 2019 in La Union. Agoo ranked second with 845 births (23.32 percent share), distantly followed by Naguilian with 196 births (5.41 percent share), Balaoan with 131 births (3.61 percent share) and Burgos with 81 births (2.24 percent share).

On the other hand, Luna had the lowest number of registered live births in fourth quarter of 2019 with 4 (0.11 percent share) followed by Sudipen with 6 (0.17 percent share).

Males (1,858) outnumbered females (1,766) in terms of registered live births during the fourth quarter of 2019 resulting to a sex ratio of 105 males per 100 females.

Six municipalities posted sex ratios that were higher than the provincial ratio. The highest sex ratio of 229 was recorded in Tubao. This was followed by Bacnotan (169) and Pugo (125). On the contrary, San Gabriel recorded the lowest sex ratio at 35, which means that for 100 females registered live births, there were 35 corresponding males.

There were 787 marriages registered during the fourth quarter of 2019 showing a decrease of 2.96 percent from 811 marriages in the same period last year.

The month of December was the most preferred month to tie the knot during the fourth quarter of 2019 with a total of 442 marriages. It corresponds to a daily average of 14 registered marriages which surpassed the daily average number of 9 registered marriages in fourth quarter of 2019. Similarly, the month of December was also the most preferred month to tie the knot in the same period of last year, with a total of 499 marriages translating to an average of 16 registered marriages per day. The least number of marriage occurrences during the fourth quarter of 2019 was recorded in November with daily average of five marriage occurrences. In last year's fourth quarter, the month of October and November recorded the least daily average marriages with both five occurrences.

In fourth quarter of 2019, the City of San Fernando recorded the most number of registered marriages in the province with 134 marriages comprising 17.03 percent of the total registered marriages in the province. Bauang ranked second with 95 (12.07 percent share) followed by Agoo with 61 (7.75 percent share).

A year ago, the lone city also topped the municipalities with 132 marriages which accounted for 16.28 percent of the total in the province.  Agoo ranked second with 79 marriages (9.74 percent share), while Aringay ranked third with 75 marriages (9.25 percent share).

On the other hand, the municipalities of Burgos posted the least number of registered marriages during the fourth quarter of 2019 with 11 marriages or 1.40 percent share. In the same period of 2018, Burgos also recorded the least number with 7 marriage or 0.86 percent share.

Eight city/municipalities have increasing number of registered marriages from fourth quarter of 2018 to fourth quarter of 2019.  The biggest percent increase was noted in Burgos from 7 to 11 marriages (57.14%). This was followed by Bagulin from 14 to 20 marriages (42.86%) and Bauang from 67 to 95 marriages (41.79%).

On the contrary, the top three municipalities that posted the highest percent decrease were Santol from 19 to 12 (36.84%), Balaoan from 18 to 13 (27.78%) and Tubao from 37 to 27 (27.03%).

Death Statistics

A total of 1,669 deaths were registered during the fourth quarter of 2019.  The figure indicated a decrease of 31.83 percent death occurrences from the same period of 2018 figure of 1,266. The City of San Fernando ranked first in terms of the number of registered deaths during the fourth quarter of 2019 with a total of 769 or 46.08 percent of the total registered deaths in the province.  Agoo placed second with 183 registered deaths (10.96 percent share), followed by Bauang with 73 (4.37 percent share), Balaoan with 70 (4.19 percent share) and Naguilian with 61 (3.65 percent share).                   

In the same quarter of 2018, the City of San Fernando recorded 475 deaths or 37.52 percent of the total registered deaths in the province. Agoo ranked second with registered deaths of 138 (10.90 percent share), followed by Bauang with 71 (5.61 percent share), Balaoan with 67 (5.29 percent share) and Naguilian with 59 (4.66 percent share).

Comparing the two periods, Santo Tomas had the highest percent increase with 90.00 percent from 20 deaths in 2018 to 38 deaths in 2019. On the contrary, the municipality of Burgos registered the highest percent decrease with 50.00 percent from 8 death occurrences in fourth quarter of 2018 to 4 death occurrences in fourth quarter of 2019.

The municipality of Burgos posted the smallest number of registered deaths in fourth quarter of 2019, with 4 (0.24 percent share) deaths. It was followed by municipalities of Santol with 10 registered deaths (0.60 percent share) and San Gabriel with 17 (1.02 percent share) respectively. 

During the fourth quarter of 2019, mortality was at its peak in the month of October with total registered deaths of 626. This figure is more than one-third of the provincial quarterly total of 1,669 death occurrences. The number of deaths in October 2019 translates to an average of 20 death occurrences per day. The figure was higher than the daily average death occurrences of 18.

On the other hand, the highest number of registered deaths in the fourth quarter of 2018 was posted in the month of November with 499 death occurrences. This translates to an average of 17 deaths occurrences per day.

There were more death occurrences among males (946) than females (723) in La Union during the fourth quarter of 2019.  The computed sex ratio during the quarter was 131 which means that 131 males died for every 100 female deaths. 

A total of nine city/municipalities posted a sex ratio higher than the provincial sex ratio, the highest of which was recorded in Santol with 400. Bacnotan ranked second with 194 followed by San Gabriell with 183.  The lowest computed sex ratio of 56 was noted in Sudipen.

Explanatory Notes

            Data on births, deaths and marriages presented in this release were obtained from the Certificate of Live Birth (Municipal Form 102), Certificate of Death (Municipal Form 103) and Certificate of Marriage (Municipal Form No. 97) that were registered at the Office of the City/Municipal Civil Registrars in La Union and forwarded to the Philippine Statistics Authority - La Union Provincial Statistical Office. Information includes births, deaths and marriages timely and late registered from October to December 2019 and October to December 2018.

SGD. NINO E. TUAZON

(Supervising Statistical Specialist)

Officer-in-Charge