Table 7.8  Mean ideal number of children for all women, by age and background characteristics, Philippines 2003
           (Mean ideal number of children by background characteristics)

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                                                              Age
Background                           -----------------------------------------------------
characteristic                       15-19   20-24   25-29   30-34   35-39   40-44   45-49   Total
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Residence
  Urban                                2.4     2.5     2.7     2.9     3.1     3.2     3.5     2.8
  Rural                                2.5     2.8     3.1     3.4     3.6     3.6     3.9     3.2

Region
  National Capital Region              2.3     2.3     2.5     2.6     2.9     2.9     3.2     2.6
  Cordillera Admin Region              2.9     3.0     3.3     3.6     4.2     3.6     4.0     3.4
  I - Ilocos Region                    2.4     2.8     3.0     3.3     3.4     3.5     3.9     3.1
  II - Cagayan Valley                  2.3     2.6     2.9     3.0     3.4     3.4     3.7     3.0
  III - Central Luzon                  2.0     2.6     2.8     2.9     3.2     3.6     3.5     2.8
  IVA - Calabarzon                     2.5     2.6     2.6     3.0     3.0     3.2     3.3     2.8
  IVB - Mimaropa                       2.4     2.7     3.3     3.4     3.9     3.6     3.7     3.2
  V - Bicol Region                     2.6     2.7     3.1     3.1     3.3     3.3     3.8     3.1
  VI - Western Visayas                 2.4     2.6     2.9     3.0     3.1     3.4     3.8     2.9
  VII - Central Visayas                2.5     2.6     2.7     3.0     3.3     3.2     3.8     2.9
  VIII - Eastern Visayas               2.7     2.6     3.1     3.2     3.5     4.0     4.3     3.2
  IX - Zamboanga Peninsula             2.6     2.7     3.0     3.2     3.1     3.5     3.4     3.0
  X - Northern Mindanao                2.4     2.6     2.7     3.2     3.7     3.5     3.7     3.0
  XI - Davao Peninsula                 2.4     2.4     2.8     2.9     3.2     3.5     3.6     2.9
  XII - SOCCSKSARGEN                   2.5     2.7     3.0     3.4     3.6     3.6     3.5     3.1
  ARMM                                 2.4     2.6     2.9     3.5     3.6     4.0     4.1     3.1
  Caraga                               3.8     4.0     4.9     5.3     5.4     5.0     5.2     4.7

Education
  No education                         2.7     3.0     3.6     3.6     4.0     3.9     4.3     3.5
  Elementary                           2.5     2.6     3.0     3.3     3.5     3.7     3.7     3.1
  High school                          2.4     2.6     2.7     3.1     3.3     3.3     3.6     3.0
  College or higher                    2.4     2.5     2.7     2.7     3.0     3.2     3.5     2.8

Wealth index quintile
  Lowest                               2.4     2.5     2.6     2.8     2.9     3.0     3.4     2.7
  Second                               3.0     3.3     4.8     4.4     4.9     5.2     4.7     4.6
  Middle                               2.5     2.9     3.3     3.5     3.8     3.7     3.9     3.4
  Fourth                               2.4     2.6     2.8     3.0     3.2     3.3     3.4     2.8
  Highest                              2.5     2.6     2.7     2.8     3.0     3.0     3.4     2.8

Total                                  2.5     2.6     2.9     3.1     3.3     3.4     3.6     3.0

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

Page last updated:  September 11, 2006
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