THE PHILIPPINES registered fewer deaths in the first half of 2025, with heart diseases remaining as the leading cause, according to the local statistics agency.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that provisional number of registered deaths went down by 21.4% to 271,843 in the January-to-June period from 345,897 deaths in the same period in 2024.
Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) recorded the highest number of registered deaths among regions at 43,282, or 15.9% of the total deaths in the country.
The National Capital Region (NCR) registered 34,411 deaths, 17% lower from the 41,451 deaths registered in the same period a year ago.
“Quezon City recorded the highest number of registered deaths in the NCR from January to June 2025 at 7,201 or 20.9% of the total deaths in the region,” the PSA said.
Meanwhile, Cavite had the highest number of registered deaths among provinces at 10,956 in the first half, or 4% of the total deaths in the country. This was followed by Bulacan (9,943) and Rizal (9,675).
The agency said the figures cover deaths from January to June 2025, based on data processed as of Oct. 31.
Separately, the PSA said ischemic heart diseases were the leading cause of death with 53,985 cases, accounting for 19.9% of the total deaths nationwide in 2025.
Neoplasms ranked as the second most common cause with 30,961 deaths (11.4%) and Cerebrovascular diseases with 27,164 recorded cases (10%).
Pneumonia ranked fourth with 18,365 cases, while diabetes mellitus ranked fifth with 16,632 deaths. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante