What Philippines' aging population means, and what can be done
The Philippines' fertility rate has dropped to 1.7 children per woman, below the replacement level, raising concerns about a future smaller workforce supporting a rapidly aging population. This demographic shift is expected to weaken the country's contributor base for social protection systems and increase demand for healthcare.
Why it matters
This demographic trend poses significant long-term challenges for the Philippines' economic growth, social welfare, and public health systems, necessitating urgent policy interventions to mitigate the impact of an aging population and shrinking workforce.
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines' fertility rate has fallen to 1.7 children per woman, sharpening concerns that a smaller future workforce will have to support a rapidly aging population.
The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) warned that persistently low fertility could eventually weaken the country's base of workers, taxpayers and contributors to social protection systems, while increasing demand for healthcare and other services for older Filipinos.
The country's total fertility rate, or the average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime based on current fertility patterns, dropped from 1.9 in 2022 to 1.7 in 2025, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
That is well below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman.
Mylin Mirasol Quiray, information management and communications division chief of the CPD, said Thursday that the effects would become more consequential as today's smaller cohorts eventually enter the labor force.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in