An average of 229 deaths registered per day

In 2023 a total of 83,636 deaths were registered in Central Luzon, showing an increase of 5.1 percent from 79,550 in 2022. This corresponds to an average of 229 deaths per day, which translates to 10 deaths per hour. It can be noticed that the trend is starting to rise after a sudden decline in 2022. (Figure 1, Table 1, and Table 4)
 

Bulacan shared the highest percentage of timely registered deaths

Out of 83,636 registered deaths by place of usual residence in Central Luzon, 82,684 (98.9 percent) were registered on time.

Bulacan had the highest number of deaths (24,574) registered on time among the seven provinces and two Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs) at 99.4 percent. This was followed by Zambales with 99.3 percent (4,576) and Bataan with 99.2 percent (5,540).

On the other hand, the City of Angeles had the highest number of deaths registered late with 2.2 percent (65). (Figure 2 and Table 2)
 

Highest number of registered deaths reported in Bulacan

In Central Luzon, the highest number of registered deaths was recorded in Bulacan with 24,729 or 29.6 percent. This was followed by Nueva Ecija with 16,191 or 19.4 percent, and Pampanga with 15,276 or 18.3 percent. 

The combined shares of these three provinces show about two-thirds or 67.2 percent share of the region’s total registered deaths in 2023.

On the other hand, the three provinces with the least number of registered deaths were Aurora with 1,501 or 1.8 percent, City of Olongapo with 1,749 or 2.1 percent, and City of Angeles with 3,020 or 3.6 percent. (Figure 3, Table 3)
 

October as the month with the highest number of registered deaths 

In 2023, the highest daily average of registered deaths was recorded in October at 243. This is equivalent to an average of 10 deaths per hour. The month of February had the lowest daily average of about 215 registered deaths equivalent to an average of 9 deaths per hour. 

In Central Luzon, the months of January to April and August to September fall below the daily index of 100.0. This translate that the daily average number of deaths in these months were lower than the daily average of 229 deaths. (Figure 4, Table 4)
 

More male deaths than female deaths recorded

The age-sex structure of registered deaths in 2023 is presented in Figure 5. 
Except for children under one year old, it shows an inverted pyramid indicating fewer deaths at the younger ages and progressively increase as people grow older. 

In Central Luzon, the number of male deaths (47,290 or 56.5 percent share) was higher than female deaths (36,346 or 43.5 percent share). 

The proportion of males who died at the age of 65 to 69 years old (5,761 or 12.2 percent) was the highest, whereas the highest for females was at the oldest age group, 85 years old and over (6,274 or 17.3 percent). (Figure 5, Table 5)

Four out of ten deaths were in the working age

Of the 83,636 registered deaths in 2023, the number of registered deaths in the ages 15 to 64 years old is 36,652, accounting for 43.8 percent of the total number within the reference year.

More than half of the number of male deaths (23,785 or 50.3 percent share) were in the age group of 15 to 64 years old, which is higher than the number of female deaths (12,867 or 35.4 percent) within the same age group. (Figure 5, Table 5)
 

Five out of ten deaths were attended by a health care provider

Out of 83,636 registered deaths in 2023, 45,853 or 54.8 percent, were attended. Among the seven provinces and two Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs), two had more unattended than attended deaths. They are Tarlac (6,456 or 58.8 percent), and Aurora (790 or 52.6 percent).

Eight out of ten attended deaths were attended by a hospital authority (37,658 or 82.1 percent). (Figure 6, Table 6)
 

ARLENE M. DIVINO
Regional Director
PSA RSSO 03