PHL fertility rates drop to record low-study

A RECENT study by the Philippines Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) revealed that Philippine fertility rates have dropped below the population replacement level.

- RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES

Based on the study by PIDS researchers Tania Dew Perez and Dr. Michael Abrigo titled "Do men matter in fertility outcomes? Evidence from spousal dynamics in the Philippines," total fertility has declined from around four children in 1993 to about 1.8 by 2022 for both men and women, placing the country below the level needed to sustain population size over time.

In demographics, Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is defined as "replacing" a population of 2.1 children per woman.

From a TFR of 2.7 in 2017 to roughly 1.9 in 2022, the Philippines has seen a rapid decline, which places the country below the 2.1 threshold for the first time in modern history, following a trend seen in neighboring countries like Thailand and Singapore.

While the drop mirrors global trends, researchers said many Filipino couples are not achieving the number of children they want.

Similar fertility trends for men, women

THE researchers used three decades of data from the Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey to examine fertility patterns for both sexes.

In their study, the authors found out that men tend to have children later and over a wider age range than women. Historically, male fertility rates were slightly higher.