Why is there a decline in the number of formal marriage?

The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) said that even as marriage remains an important institution for many Filipinos, fewer couples are now tying the knot.

The CPD, in a news release on Tuesday, noted that the number of registered marriages in the country has steadily declined over the past decade.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that registered marriages declined by 13.5 percent over the last 10 years, from 429,723 in 2014 to 371,825 in 2024.

READ: Fewer Filipinos tying the knot as family dynamics change

CPD Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales said the decline in formal marriage reflects economic realities and shifting social aspirations.

“The data clearly show that the Filipino family is evolving. This reflects changing economic realities, shifting aspirations, and emerging pathways to family formation,” she said, underscoring the need for policies that respond to the changing needs of Filipino families.

Live-in, common-law instead

The decline in formal marriages coincides with the growing number of Filipinos living in common-law or live-in arrangements.

Citing the 2020 Census of Population and Housing, the CPD said that 12.66 million Filipinos were recorded to be in common-law relationships, comprising 6.36 million males and 6.30 million females.

Results of the 2025 National Demographic and Health Survey also showed that the proportion of women aged 15 to 49 who were living with a partner increased to 20.5 percent in 2025, from 18.8 percent in 2022.

The CPD said the figure quadrupled from 5 percent in 1993.

Marriage is expensive?

The agency noted the increase 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,” it said.

Moreover, it also cited research indicating that economic well-being remains a priority for many Filipinos, with cohabitation often viewed as a more accessible arrangement for couples coping with unintended pregnancy and rising living expenses, noting that many Filipino couples see formal marriage as “expensive”.

Demographic insights

Beyond the numbers, the agency said these trends provide important demographic insights into how family formation is changing in the Philippines.

The CPD said the changes in marriage patterns have broader implications for fertility intentions, child well-being, social protection, housing, education and long-term development planning.

Bersales said that understanding these shifts enables the government to design more responsive population and development policies that support Filipino families in their diverse circumstances.

“Our policies must evolve as well to ensure that every Filipino family has the opportunity to thrive regardless of its structure,” she said. “We, in the government, should acknowledge these dynamics and protect them, as we are mandated to do.”

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