More Pinays prefer live-in setup to marriage
MANILA, Philippines — More Filipino women now prefer live-in arrangements instead of getting married, a study of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) revealed.
The agency’s research indicates a significant increase in the number of Filipino women aged 15 to 49 living with their partners outside marriage.
Results from the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey showed that the number of Filipino women in this age group living with their partners has gradually quadrupled over the past three decades.
From five percent in 1994, the number of women entering live-in arrangements jumped to 19 percent in 2022.
Further, the 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality survey found that about 20 percent of the 20 million youth aged 15 to 24 are living with a partner or cohabiting.
The CPD attributes this shift to several factors, including economic considerations and evolving social perceptions.
Many couples perceive cohabitation as a more economically practical way to raise a family, viewing formal marriage as more expensive.
Additionally, cohabitation is seen as a viable option for couples with differing religious beliefs.
Parents also prefer their children to cohabit, especially when they are still at a young age.
Meanwhile, for men, cohabitation is viewed as the next stage in a relationship, while women tend to appreciate the romantic aspect of cohabitation.