The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) on Thursday reported key trends in marital patterns nationwide, citing civil registration and vital statistics data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The agency noted a marriage decline, with only 414,213 registered marriages in 2023 from 449,428 registered marriages in 2022—a significant decrease of 7.8 percent.
Furthermore, the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) and Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality (YAFS) Study showed a rise in cohabitation or living-in among the youth.
This is said to coincide with the 2023 Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, which revealed that the number of children outside marriage is at 842,728, outnumbering the 605,794 births from couples in formal union.
“The decline in marriages reflects changing realities as families of today come in many forms… Policymakers, government agencies, and organizations should continue working together to strengthen the family, the basic unit of our society,” CPD Executive Director Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales said.
“While we uphold marriage as a sacred institution, we must also protect couples who choose alternative arrangements and ensure the welfare of every individual, ensuring no family is left behind in our nation’s development,” she added.
Other insights on current marriage trends in the Philippines include February recording the highest number and percentage of registered marriages, CALABARZON tallying the highest number and percentage of registered marriages, and marriages contracted through a civil ceremony surpassing other wedding traditions like those officiated in the Roman Catholic Church or performed in other religious rites.
