SLIGHT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED LIVE BIRTHS 

           The number of registered live births showed a minimal change in trend for the first quarter of past five (5) years. Notable change occurred in 2021 which recorded a decrease of 6.77 percent from 4,167 in 2020 to 3,885 in 2021.  In a span of five (5) years, the live births registered in Capiz decreased 0.71 percent from 4,167 to 4,197 in 2020 and 2024, respectively (See Figure 1).

TWO BABIES WERE BORN EVERY HOUR IN CAPIZ

             The first quarter of 2024 witnessed a modest decline in the number of live births registered across Capiz province compared to the same period in 2023. The province's total birth count for the quarter stood at 4,197, representing a 3.8 percent decrease from the 4,363 births recorded in 2023. On average, the province of Capiz experienced approximately 46 births per day during the first quarter of 2024. This equates to roughly two babies being born every hour. While this figure represents a slight decrease from the daily average of 48 births in the corresponding period of 2023, the overall birth rate remains relatively consistent (Figure 2).

The municipalities of Panitan and Sapian registered the lowest number of births which only registered 85 births or 2.03 percent of the total births registered in the first quarter of 2024. Nine municipalities exhibited a decrease in live births registered from 2023 to 2024. The municipality of Pilar recorded the highest decline with 42.5 percent. Among the municipalities, Dumalag experienced the most dramatic surge in registered births, with a staggering 323.6 percent increase. Following closely behind were Cuartero and Sapian, which recorded substantial increases of 171.9 percent and 157.6 percent, respectively (Table 1).

MARCH REGISTERED THE HIGHEST BIRTH OCCURRENCE

              In Figure 3 below, it indicates the birth occurrences by month. A total of 1,707 babies were born in March, representing the highest monthly count for the quarter. This translates to approximately 55 births per day, or nearly two babies every hour.

The month of January registered the lowest birth occurrences with 1,228 in the first quarter of 2024 or a daily average of about 40. It is also the only month below the daily index reported in the whole quarter. The overall daily average number of births experienced a slight decrease in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2023. However, the overall birth rate remained relatively consistent, indicating a steady population growth (Table 2).