More Filipino couples opting for ‘live-in’ setup amid economic issues

MANILA, Philippines—More Filipino couples are putting off marriage and optong for “live-in” arrangements instead amid “shifting economic realities,” the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) said on Tuesday,

In a statement, CPD noted that the number of registered marriages in the country has decreased by 13.5 percent over the past 10 years, from 429,723 in 2014 to 371,825 in 2024, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Meanwhile, the share of women aged 15 to 49 who are cohabiting with their partners has increased to 20.5 percent in 2025, up from 18.8 percent in 2022, data from the National Demographic and Health Survey showed.

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The CPD noted that this figure had quadrupled from 5 percent that was recorded three decades ago in 1993.

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According to the commission, many Filipino couples view cohabitation as a “more accessible way to economically cope with unintended pregnancy and living expenses,” while formal marriage is seen as “expensive.”

“The growth in cohabitation reflects broader changes in family formation. For many couples, living together has become a practical arrangement shaped by economic realities, changing social norms, and individual aspirations,” said CPD.

It further noted that the number of children born outside marriage based on the 2023 Civil Registration and Vital Statistics stands at 842,728, which was 39.11 percent higher than births from married couples, recorded at 605,794.

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More Filipinos are also delaying marriage, said CPD, pointing out that the median age at marriage increased to 30 years old for males and 28 for females in 2024, from 28 for males and 26 for females in 2015.

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The commission said these changing trends “have far reaching implications for fertility intentions, child well-being, social protection, housing, education, and long-term development planning.”

“These demographic shifts underscore the need for stronger social protection systems and adaptive population and development policies that respond to the changing realities of Filipino families,” said CPD.

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It called on the government to “create an environment where Filipinos who aspire to marry and raise families are not constrained by financial hardship or unnecessary barriers,” while ensuring that families in informal unions are protected and given access to basic services. /gsg