MANILA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' fertility rate has steadily declined over the past three decades, according to a report released on Monday by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The Philippines' 2025 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) found that the total fertility rate (TFR) among women aged 15 to 49 dropped to 1.7 children per woman, indicating a continued decline from 4.1 children per woman in 1993.
Fertility rates declined across both rural and urban areas during the same period. From 1993 to 2025, rural TFR fell from 4.8 to 2.0 children per woman, while urban TFR declined from 3.5 to 1.5.
The survey also showed that fertility was closely linked to education and income levels. Women with some primary education had the highest TFR at 3.1 children per woman, with rates declining as educational attainment increased.
The TFR represents the average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime based on current age-specific fertility rates.
The 2025 NDHS is the 13th survey of its kind since 1968. The survey obtained interview responses from 29,694 women aged 15 to 49. ■
