Manila: The average number of children Filipino women have in their lifetime has dropped to a record-low 1.7, according to the key indicators of the 2025 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the 1.7 Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is a decline from 4.1 children per woman recorded in 1993. The trend is even more pronounced in urban areas, where the rate has dipped to 1.5, while rural areas maintain a slightly higher fertility rate of 2.0. The 2025 NDHS, the 13th in a series of national surveys since 1968, interviewed nearly 30,000 women aged 15 to 49 to provide a comprehensive snapshot of health and development profile. "The information collected is intended to assist policymakers and program managers in evaluating strategies that aim to improve the health and development of Filipinos," the report stated.
Regions with the lowest fertility include Calabarzon (1.3), National Capital Region (1.4), and Negros Island (1.4). On the other hand, the highest fertility is recorded in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) at 2.4, followed by Zamboanga Peninsula (2.3) and Caraga (2.2). Fertility also showed a strong correlation with socio-economic factors. Women in the poorest wealth quintile have an average of 2.8 children, compared to just 1.1 among the richest. Similarly, women with primary education only recorded a TFR of 3.1, while those with higher educational attainment showed lower rates.
In a major developmental milestone, teenage childbearing has declined to its lowest recorded level. Only 4.8 percent of women aged 15 to 19 have begun childbearing, a drop from the peak of 10.1 percent in 2013. Despite the national decline, the survey noted that teenage pregnancy remains higher in rural areas (5.8 percent) than in urban centers (4.2 percent), with Zamboanga Peninsula reporting the highest regional incidence at 9.3 percent.
The report highlighted a sustained upward trend in facility-based deliveries. Institutional births increased to 93.7 percent in 2025, up from 88.4 percent in 2022. Skilled birth attendance similarly rose to 93.6 percent. Child health indicators also showed progress, with under-five mortality decreasing to 22 deaths per 1,000 live births; 77.1 percent of children aged 12 to 23 months received all basic antigens, up from 69.9 percent in 2017; and nearly 8 in 10 children aged 24 to 59 months (78.3 percent) are developmentally on track in health, learning, and psychosocial well-being.
The use of modern contraceptive methods among currently married women reached 44.5 percent in 2025, the report said. Pills remain the most common method (11.6 percent), followed by sterilization (4.6 percent). Interestingly, the public sector remains the primary provider for long-term methods like implants (93.9 percent) and intrauterine devices (90 percent), while the private sector supplies the majority of pills and condoms.
On the issue of safety, the survey reported a decrease in spousal violence. Fifteen percent of women reported experiencing physical, sexual, or emotional violence from an intimate partner, down from 17.5 percent in 2022. However, the report noted an increase in the percentage of mothers who believe physical punishment is necessary for child discipline -- rising to 18.3 percent from 11.9 percent three years ago.
