Live births in PH dip slightly in 2023 – PSA

MANILA, Philippines — The total number of registered live births in 2023 slightly declined to approximately 1,448,000, according to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The PSA recorded 1,448,522 live births last year, a 0.5 percent decrease from the 1,455,393 registered live births in 2022.

The agency noted an average of 3,969 babies born daily in 2023, which translates to 165 babies per hour or nearly three babies per minute. This is slightly lower than the average of 3,987 babies born daily in 2022.

READ: More babies born in 2022 after drop in births during pandemic

The PSA also reported that 753,332 males and 695,190 females were born in 2023, resulting in a birth sex ratio of 108 males per 100 females, compared to the 2022 data of 758,038 males and 697,355 females.

Other live birth indicators

Of the total registered live births in 2023, 57.5 percent were from Luzon. Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) accounted for the highest number of births at 14 percent, both by place of occurrence and the usual residence of the mother.

It was followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) with 12.5 percent and Central Luzon with 11.5 percent of live births. PSA added that the three regions logged the highest number of births by the usual residence of the mother.

The PSA also reported that 842,728 babies (58.2 percent) were born to unmarried parents, with Calabarzon recording the highest share at 16.4 percent, based on the mother’s usual residence.

The NCR and Central Luzon followed with 13.4 percent and 11.6 percent, respectively.

The agency noted that the birth registrations were received from provincial statistical offices as of August 31, 2024. It added that the data included birth registrations of Filipinos whose usual residence is abroad and births of foreign nationals that occurred in the country.