Table 4.8  Median age at first birth among women age 25-49 years, by current age and background characteristics,
           Philippines 2003
           (Median age at first birth by background characteristics)

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                                                Current age                    Women
Background characteristics       -----------------------------------------       age
                                 25-29    30-34    35-39    40-44    45-49     25-49
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Residence
  Urban                           24.2     24.5     24.0     23.7     23.7      24.1
  Rural                           22.2     22.0     22.3     22.0     22.0      22.1

Region
  National Capital Region         24.8     25.8     25.2     24.5     23.9      24.9
  Cordillera Admin Region         22.8     22.9     23.7     22.0     22.3      22.8
  I - Ilocos Region               23.8     22.1     23.4     23.8     23.2      23.2
  II - Cagayan Valley             22.2     22.2     22.8     22.5     22.1      22.3
  III - Central Luzon             22.6     23.3     23.5     23.4     23.8      23.3
  IVA - Calabarzon                24.2     24.5     23.6     22.4     23.6      23.8
  IVB - Mimaropa                  22.0     22.3     21.2     22.5     21.6      21.9
  V - Bicol Region                24.0     21.9     21.6     22.4     22.1      22.4
  VI - Western Visayas            22.8     23.0     23.2     22.2     23.5      22.9
  VII - Central Visayas           23.4     22.5     22.8     23.3     22.4      22.9
  VIII - Eastern Visayas          23.1     22.1     21.7     21.5     21.7      22.2
  IX - Zamboanga Peninsula        22.4     22.6     22.2     21.4     23.1      22.3
  X - Northern Mindanao           23.5     22.8     23.0     23.5     23.0      23.1
  XI - Davao Peninsula            23.2     23.3     22.5     21.8     22.2      22.6
  XII - SOCCSKSARGEN              21.8     21.8     23.5     21.9     21.5      22.2
  ARMM                            22.8     22.7     22.9     23.1     21.3      22.5
  Caraga                          21.5     20.9     22.2     21.1     23.4      21.6

Education
  No education                    19.7     20.1     19.4     20.5     20.5      20.0
  Elementary                      20.5     20.5     21.0     20.9     21.3      20.8
  High school                     22.1     22.7     22.4     22.4     22.8      22.4
  College or higher                  a     26.4     26.5     26.2     26.5         a

Wealth index quintile
  Lowest                          20.7     20.9     21.2     21.1     21.9      21.0
  Second                          21.8     21.8     21.8     22.2     22.0      21.9
  Middle                          23.2     22.9     22.3     22.0     22.3      22.6
  Fourth                          25.0     24.4     24.2     23.3     22.8      24.0
  Highest                            a     26.5     26.0     25.2     25.1         a

Total                             23.4     23.3     23.2     22.9     23.1      23.2

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Note:    a = Omitted because less than 50 percent of the women had a birth before reaching the beginning
             of the age group  

Source:  2003 National Demographic and Health Survey
         National Statistics Office & Department of Health

Page last updated:  September 11, 2006
Related Tables | Demographic and Health Index