ILOILO City – Marriage registrations in Western Visayas suffered a steep decline in 2024, with the number of couples tying the knot dropping by 16.8 percent, a trend that government statisticians say reflects demographic and social changes unfolding across the region.
Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority Regional Statistical Services Office 6 (PSA-RSSO 6) showed that only 15,408 marriages were registered in Western Visayas last year, a significant slowdown in family formation amid changing lifestyles, economic pressures, and declining fertility rates.
The decrease comes as the region grapples with broader demographic shifts, including a Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of just 1.57 children per woman — far below the 2.1 replacement level needed to sustain population growth.
“This decline notably excludes Negros Occidental, which was reallocated to the newly established Negros Island Region under Republic Act No. 12000 in 2021, thus impacting the marriage statistics for Western Visayas,” the PSA noted.
The data revealed that February remained the most popular month for weddings, registering 2,174 marriages, followed by December with 1,967. November posted the lowest number of marriages at only 729.
Among the months, September recorded the most severe drop, with marriage registrations plunging by 38.6 percent from 1,189 in 2023 to just 730 in 2024.
Other significant declines were also recorded in May, which fell by 29.2 percent; February, down by 24.6 percent; and August, which registered a 24.4 percent decrease.
PSA data further showed that the median age of marriage was 25 years old for men and 24 years old for women, indicating that many couples are choosing to marry later than previous generations.
Iloilo province accounted for the largest share of marriages in the region, registering 6,244 weddings or more than one-third of the total.
Capiz followed with 2,481 marriages, while Aklan recorded 2,152, Antique had 2,027, and Iloilo City registered 1,920. Guimaras posted the fewest marriages at 584.
PSA also highlighted continuing intermarriages between Filipinos and foreign nationals. American citizens emerged as the most common foreign spouses of Filipino women, while Canadian nationals topped the list among foreign husbands of Filipino men.
According to PSA, the decline in marriages mirrors broader demographic developments across Western Visayas, where economic challenges, higher educational attainment, and evolving personal priorities continue to influence decisions on marriage and family life.
“The 16.8 percent drop in marriages within Western Visayas for 2024 raises important questions about changing social dynamics and future implications for family formation in the region,” the report stated.
PSA said continued monitoring of marriage and fertility trends will be crucial in understanding the evolving structure of families and population growth in Western Visayas./PN
