The number of registered marriages in the Philippines fell sharply in 2024, with only 371,825 unions recorded nationwide, a 10.2 percent decrease from the 414,213 marriages registered the previous year.
According to the latest civil registration statistics of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the crude marriage rate (CMR) also dropped from 3.7 marriages per thousand population in 2023 to 3.3 in 2024.
"On average, 1,016 marriages were solemnized daily across the country," PSA said.
Region IV-A, CALABARZON, reported the highest number of registered marriages in 2024 with 54,981 unions, representing 14.8 percent of the national total.
It was followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) with 48,448 marriages or 13.0 percent and Central Luzon with 42,227 marriages or 11.4 percent.
Combined, these three high-population regions accounted for nearly 40 percent of all marriages recorded during the year, maintaining the same ranking they held in 2023.
As in previous years, February—a month associated with Valentine’s Day—recorded the highest number of marriages, with 46,130 unions or 12.4 percent of the annual total. In contrast, November had the lowest number of marriages at 20,368 ot 5.5 percent.
Filipinos continued to marry most frequently in young adulthood. In 2024, it was reported that 81,121 marriages involved both partners aged 25 to 29, where 34.3% of grooms and 39.0% of brides were in this age range.
Median ages at marriage remained unchanged from 2023 for men at 30 and for women at 28.
However, when it comes to early marriages, it continues to rise. A total of 10,776 adolescent girls below 20 years old were married in 2024, which is four times higher than the 2,633 marriages involving adolescent boys.
In the ceremony type, civil weddings remained the top choice among Filipino couples, accounting for 41.8 percent with 155,604 marriages, slightly lower than the previous year of 42.9 percent.
Roman Catholic weddings made up 31.7 percent or 117,941 marriages, while other religious rites accounted for 24.1 percent or 89,630 marriages. Muslim traditions made up 1.8 percent, and tribal ceremonies for 0.5 percent.
