Philippines Birth Rate Hits Lowest Point in History

Filipinos are presently having the fewest kids ever recorded. According to a new government survey, the average Filipino woman would only have 1.7 children in her lifetime. This number is lower than 4.1 in 1993 and 1.9 in 2022.

Experts suggest that a country requires at least 2.1 children per woman to keep its population stable. The Philippines is now far below that figure.

The Philippine Statistics Authority did the poll, which talked to around 30,000 women between the ages of 15 and 49 from all over the country.

The decline happened all around the country, in both rich and poor areas. The area of Calabarzon had the lowest rate, at only 1.3. Metro Manila and Negros Island followed close behind with a score of 1.4. The Bangsamoro region was the only one to stay above 2.1, with 2.4, but it was down from 3.1.

Women who were richer had fewer kids. Women in the richest houses now have an average of only 1.1 children. The rate fell from 3.1 to 2.8 among the poorest women, although they were remained the category with the most women.

Women are making most of these changes on their own. 57% of married women answered they don’t want any more kids. 44.5% of people additionally used contemporary birth control.

But nevertheless, not everyone has the same access to family planning. About 1 in 8 married women indicated they need help with family planning but can’t obtain it. Almost half of single women who are sexually active stated the same thing.

Teenage pregnancy is at an all-time low, which is a good thing. The number of girls aged 15 to 19 who gave birth was only 4.8%, the lowest ever recorded and less than half of the peak witnessed in 2013.