The number of registered live births in Ilocos Region in 2019 summed up to 94,258, a slight increase of 0.73 percent compared to 93,579 births in 2018. The daily average birth occurrence in 2019 was computed at 258 births or an average of 11 babies born per hour. The month of January was observed to have the highest average daily births with 293 babies during the year 2019, higher than the daily average births in the region in 2019.

TABLE 1. Number and Daily Average of Registered Live Births Ilocos Region: 2018 and 2019

SOURCE: Preliminary results from the Decentralized Vital Statistics System, PSA

A year earlier, the highest daily average was recorded in the month of October with 293 registered live births. On the contrary, February reported the lowest daily average of 229 births in 2019, while the month of March posted the lowest daily average with 223 births in 2018.

FIGURE 1. Daily Average Number of Registered Live Births by Month Ilocos Region: 2018 and 2019

SOURCE: Preliminary results from Decentralized Vital Statistics System, PSA

Moreover, January was the month with the highest number of registered live births in 2019. Births registered during the month counted to 9,080 or 9.6 percent of the total registered births in the region. On the other end, the lowest number of registered live births was recorded in the month of February with 6,411 or 6.8 percent of the total registered births in 2019. During the year, it can be observed that the months of January, October, May, September, July and November posted higher daily average number of registered births than the regional average.

TABLE 2. Number and Percent Distribution of Registered Live Births by Province, Ilocos Region: 2018 and 2019

SOURCE: Preliminary results from Decentralized Vital Statistics System, PSA

Among the provinces in the region, the province of Pangasinan registered the highest number of births in year 2019. Its share was more than half (62.9 percent) of the total registered births in the region. The province of La Union ranked second with 13,831 births (14.7 percent), followed by the province of Ilocos Sur with 11,686 births (12.4 percent) and the province of Ilocos Norte with 9,437 (10.0 percent).

FIGURE 2. Top Ten Cities/Municipalities with the Highest Number of Registered Births, Ilocos Region: 2019

SOURCE: Preliminary results from Decentralized Vital Statistics System, PSA

Among the cities/municipalities in the region, Dagupan City, Pangasinan registered the highest number of live births with 11,350 births in 2019. This was followed closely by San Carlos City, Pangasinan with 11,250 births; City of San Fernando, La Union with 7,226 births; City of Urdaneta, Pangasinan with 6,409 births; and City of Alaminos, Pangasinan with 4,657 births. The cities of Batac and Laoag of Ilocos Norte were the top 6th and 8th places respectively. There were three municipalities that were included in the top ten highest number of registered births. These are the municipalities of Tayug, Pangasinan at 7th, Agoo, La Union at 9th, and Bayambang, Pangasinan at 10th place. On the other hand, the municipality of Dumalneg, Ilocos Norte had the lowest number of registered live births in 2019 with four registered births. It was followed by Carasi, Ilocos Norte with five births, Gregorio Del Pilar, Ilocos Sur with six births, Sigay, Ilocos Sur with seven births and Adams and Burgos, Ilocos Norte with 18 births each.

TABLE 3. Number of Registered Live Births by Sex and by Province Ilocos Region: 2019

SOURCE: Preliminary results from the Decentralized Vital Statistics System, PSA

Males (48,517) outnumbered females (45,741) in terms of registered live births in 2019, resulting in a sex ratio of 106 males per 100 females. Pangasinan posted a sex ratio of 107 which was higher than the regional ratio. This was followed by La Union and Ilocos Sur both with a sex ratio of106. On the other hand, Ilocos Norte posted the lowest sex ratio in the region with 101.

FIGURE 3. Number of Registered Live Births by Attendant at Birth Ilocos Region: 2019

SOURCE: Preliminary results from the Decentralized Vital Statistics System, PSA

In 2019, 86.3 percent or 81,305 of total registered live births were attended by medical practitioners which may either be a physician, a nurse or a midwife. The province of La Union had the highest percentage of birth deliveries tended by health professionals with 88.8 percent of the total registered live births in the province; followed by Pangasinan with 87.3 percent, Ilocos Norte with 82.5 percent and Ilocos Sur with 80.8 percent.

TABLE 4. Number of Registered Live Births by Attendant at Birth Ilocos Region: 2019

SOURCE: Preliminary results from the Decentralized Vital Statistics System, PSA

FIGURE 4. Percent Distribution of Live Births by Age Group of Father and Mother Ilocos Region: 2018

SOURCE: Preliminary results from the Decentralized Vital Statistics System, PSA

More than a quarter (25.4 percent) or 23,926 of mothers who gave birth in 2019 belonged to age group 25 to 29. Coincidentally, the highest proportion of fathers also belonged to age group 25 to 29, which is less than a quarter (23.4 percent) of the total number of fathers of babies with registered births in 2019. Furthermore, it can also be noted that teenage mothers (9,626) was more than thrice than that of teenage fathers (3,038).

TABLE 5. Number and Percent Distribution of Live Births by Age Group of Father and Mother, Ilocos Region: 2019

SOURCE: Preliminary results from the Decentralized Vital Statistics System, PSA

Meanwhile, a total of 46 mothers at age group 50 and over gave birth to babies who were registered in 2019. The number of fathers belonging to age group 50 and over (1,571), however, was 34 times more than that of mothers. The median age for mothers was 27.5 years old while for fathers, 30.0 years old.

TABLE 6. Number and Percent Distribution of Live Births by Age Group of Mother by Legitimacy Status, Ilocos Region: 2019

SOURCE: Preliminary results from the Decentralized Vital Statistics System, PSA

More than half (51.0 percent) or 48,048 of the total registered live births in 2019 were born illegitimate. Mothers at the age group 20-24 recorded the highest number of born illegitimate with 15,033 birth or 31.3 percent. It was followed by age group 25-29 with 11,013 births and age group under 20 with 8,328 births.

TABLE 7. Number of Registered Live Births and Crude Birth Rate Ilocos Region: 2019

SOURCE: Preliminary results from the Decentralized Vital Statistics System, PSA

The Crude Birth Rate (CBR) in Ilocos Region in 2019 was computed at 18.0 percent. This translates to 18 live births per 1000 persons in the region. Across the provinces, Pangasinan posted the highest CBR with 19.2 percent followed by La Union with 16.9 percent and Ilocos Sur with 16.4 percent. The province of Ilocos Norte had the lowest CBR at 15.5 percent or around 16 live births per 1000 persons.

SGD. ATTY. SHEILA O. DE GUZMAN
(Chief Administrative Officer)
Officer-in-Charge