Contraceptive Use Rises Among Filipino Couples, CPD Reports

According to a recent data from the Commission on Population and Development, contraceptive use among Filipino couples has increased over the years.

“In 2022, there was a 41.8% increase, and in 2025, it went up to 44.5%. This means more Filipinos are practicing family planning,” CPD Information and Communication Management Division Chief Mylin Mirasol Quiray said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program on Thursday, September 17.

Although the data includes couples who use traditional methods such as withdrawal and the calendar method, contraceptive use overall continues to increase.

“The 2025 data showed the percentage of users of contraceptives is higher at 44.5% compared to those still using traditional methods at 14.1 %,” Quiray said.

She also highlighted the importance of family planning, emphasizing how access to accurate information can empower couples and families to make informed decisions that are right for them.

The recent data is also consistent with April 2026 figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which showed a decline in the country's fertility rate. The 2025 National Demographic and Health Survey found a total fertility rate of 1.7 children per woman for the three-year period preceding the survey, down from 4.1 in 1993.

The Commission on Population and Development is also working with local government units (LGUs) in areas where access to family planning education and information remains limited.

“We train LGUs to ensure there will be available services and information in their respective areas concerning family planning,” she said.

Quiray further explained the statistics on Filipino couples using traditional methods versus modern contraceptives.

She said, “Nagdi-decline naman iyong gumagamit ng traditional method tulad ng withdrawal at ng calendar, so noong 2022, 16.5 percent, tapos noong 2025 14.1 percent. Pero if we translate that into absolute numbers, iyong 14.1 percent na decrease ay malaki pa rin kung titingnan talaga natin.”

Based on the National Demographic and Health Survey, the modern contraceptive prevalence rate increased from 25% in 1993 to 44.5% in 2025. That is a significant 19.5 percentage points increase in 32 years.

“So, noong 2022, 41.8 percent, and in 2025, 44.5 percent, ibig sabihin, mas marami nang Pilipino ang nagpaplano ng kanilang pamilya. But mayroon pa ring mga traditional method users tulad ng withdrawal at calendar method, so iyon pa rin ang gusto nating ma-address dahil alam naman natin na ang withdrawal at calendar ay hindi effective para sa ating mga kababayan,” she added.

She also noted the challenge posed by misconceptions about contraception, particularly in communities where people continue to rely on traditional methods. Quiray said that while family planning use has improved, unmet needs remain among women with lower levels of education and those from poorer households.

Moving forward, the commission has plans to reach these communities to provide assistance, education, and access to family planning information.

The agency also provide reproductive health information for younger Filipinos through malayaako.ph and its Usap Tayo sa Family Planning Facebook page.

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