SLT 1258
March 30 – April 5, 2024
Records from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that there is a decreasing trend of fertility based on the average number of children born to women since 2008. In 2008, the average fertility rate or average number of children born to a woman was 3.4, in 2011 the rate went down to 3.12, in 2015 the rate was 2.95, in 2017 the rate went further down to 2.7, in 2020 the rate was 2.78, in 2021 the rate was down again to 2.18, and in 2022 the rate was way down to the average fertility rate of 1.9 children born to a woman.
Rural areas exhibit slightly higher TFR (2.2) compared to urban areas (1.7). Overall, fertility rates have shown a decreasing trend across all age groups since 2008, except for women aged 15 to 19 and 45 to 49.
Fertility Rate is the average number of children that would be born alive to a woman (or group of women) during her lifetime if she were to pass through her childbearing years conforming to the age specific fertility rates of a given time period.
In Eastern Visayas, Statistical Specialist Karrel Ann Lapac of PSA-Southern Leyte said that the National Demographic Health Survey for the year 2013 showed a fertility rate of 3.5 , for year 2017 fertility rate was 3.1, and in 2022 fertility rate was 2.0.
The survey which was conducted by the PSA with support from the Commission of Population and Development involved 27,821 women aged 15-49 across urban and rural areas and 17 regions.
If fertility were to remain constant at current levels, a woman would bear an average of 2 children in her lifetime.
Southern Leyte Times