In 2018, the total number of marriages recorded was 449,169. In 2017 and 2018, the percentage change in marriages recorded increased from 3.6 and 3.3, respectively. (See Figure 1 and Table 1)

Top three regions with the highest number of recorded marriages:Region IV-A, NCR and Region III

In 2018, Region IV-A recorded the highest number of registered marriages, which accounted for 13.9 percent of the total marriages. It was followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) (12.9%) and Region III (11.5%). These regions were consistently holding the top positions in the last three years. (See Figure 2 and Table 2)

Three regions exhibit negative percentage change in recorded number of marriages from 2017 to 2018: Region VI (1.3%), Region VIII (0.9%) and Region VII (0.2%).

The highest positive percentage change in recorded number of marriages was observed in ARMM (9.6%) followed by Caraga and MIMAROPA Region with 9.2 percent and 8.8 percent, respectively. (See Table 2)

Most number of couples married in December

Almost half of the total number of marriages in 2018 was recorded in the months of December (12.7%), April (11.0%), May (10.8%) and February (10.3%), where each month having more than 10.0 percent of the total marriages. The month of November was the least liked month for marriage, recording the lowest at 5.1 percent. (See Figure 3 and Table 3)

Women married younger than men

The median age of women who got married in 2018 was 27 years old, while the median age of men who got married in the same year is 29 years old. (See Figure 4)

In 2018, most men and women in the Philippines married between ages 25-29 years old

In 2018, about one third of Filipinos married between ages 25-29 years old, in which men and women comprise of 36.2 percent and 35.6 percent, respectively, of the total number of recorded marriages in this age group.

It was also observed that the number of females younger than 20 years old who got married in 2018 was more than four times the number of males of the same age group. (See Figure 4 and Table 4)

Filipino men and women also marry other nationalities

There were 433,141 marriages (96.4%) between Filipino men and women. On the other hand, 15,514 marriages (3.5%) were Filipino nationals married to foreign nationals who composed of 88.1 percent foreign women and 11.9 percent foreign men.

Among foreign nationals, the highest number of intermarriages involved Filipino men and Australian women (16.0%) followed by American (15.9%), Canadian (10.0%), Chinese (9.9%) and Japanese (6.7%) women. 

On the other hand, the highest number of intermarriages involved Filipino women and American men (25.6%), followed by Japanese (10.0%), British (6.5%), Korean (6.5%) and Canadian (6.3%) men. (See Table 5)

Four out of ten marriages contracted through civil ceremony

There were 1,231 marriages solemnized daily through different types of ceremony in 2018. Of the total marriages in 2018, 38.2 percent were contracted through civil ceremonies. Others were either officiated in Roman Catholic Church (36.6%), or performed in other religious rites (22.9%), Muslim tradition (1.4%) or tribal ceremonies (0.8%). (See Figure 5)

It could be noted that more males and females aged 25-29 years old who got married, preferred to be solemnized in the Roman Catholic Church than any other types of marriage ceremony. (See Tables 6a and 6b)

Explanatory Notes