Even as marriage remains an important institution for many Filipinos, fewer couples are seen tying the knot, choosing not to formalize their unions.

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

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.

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.

The CPD said the downward trend was briefly interrupted during the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

After marriages fell to 240,775 in 2020, registrations rebounded to 449,428 in 2022, as weddings postponed during the pandemic were finally held.

However, the decline resumed thereafter, with marriages falling by 7.8 percent to 414,213 in 2023 and by another 10.2 percent to 371,825 in 2024.

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.”

Delaying marriage

The CPD said these data also show that Filipinos are entering marriage at a more mature age than they did a decade ago.

In 2024, the median age at marriage was 30 years for males and 28 years for females, compared with 28 years for males and 26 years for females in 2015.

Couples aged 25 to 29 years continued to account for the largest share of newlyweds, based on the data released in 2024.

“The increase in the median age at marriage suggests that many Filipinos are entering marriage later in life, reflecting changing educational, employment and economic circumstances,” the CPD said.

The agency noted that marriage registrations remain to be concentrated in the country’s most populous regions, with Calabarzon recording the highest number of marriages in 2024 at 54,981, representing 14.8 percent of all registered marriages.

The National Capital Region follows with 48,448 marriages or 13 percent, and Central Luzon with 42,227 or 11.4 percent.

Together, the three regions accounted for 39.2 percent of all marriages registered nationwide, a consistent pattern observed over the past decade.

Meanwhile, February remained the most popular month for weddings, with 46,130 ceremonies or 12.4 percent of the annual total, while November recorded the fewest marriages at 20,368 or 5.5 percent.

Civil weddings also continued to outnumber church weddings.

Of the total marriages registered in 2024, a total of 155,604 or 41.8 percent were solemnized through civil ceremonies.

Roman Catholic weddings accounted for 31.7 percent, while marriages officiated by other religious groups made up 24.1 percent.

Preference for cohabitation

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.

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”.

Meanwhile, this trend is also reflected in birth statistics.

Based on the 2023 Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, there were 842,728 births outside marriage, compared with 605,794 births among couples in formal unions.

Bersales emphasized that government policies should respond to these changing family arrangements while ensuring that families continue to receive protection and access to services.

“Government has a responsibility to create an environment where Filipinos who aspire to marry and raise families are not constrained by financial hardship or unnecessary barriers. At the same time, we must ensure that women, children, and families in informal unions receive appropriate protection and access to essential services.”

Child marriage

While the number of adolescent marriages has declined over the past decade, the CPD said that every child marriage remains a concern because of its long-term effects on education, health, protection and future opportunities.

The data showed that 3.2 percent of registered marriages in 2024 involved an adolescent male or adolescent female.

The commission noted that female adolescents were often married to older partners, with age gaps ranging from one to nine years to more than 20 years.

Among adolescent males, the CPD said that 10.7 percent were married to older women.

Bersales said Republic Act No. 11596, which prohibits child marriage, reinforces the government’s commitment to protecting Filipino children.

“Republic Act No. 11596 affirms our commitment to protecting every Filipino child from early marriage. Child marriage deprives young people of opportunities to complete their education, safeguard their health, and make informed choices about their future. Every Filipino adolescent deserves the opportunity to realize their full potential,” she said. (PNA)