MANILA — Traditional family planning remains part of the reproductive-health landscape in the Philippines, but its use among currently married women has declined as more women turn to modern contraceptive methods, according to the latest national health data.
The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) reported that 14.1% of currently married Filipino women aged 15 to 49 used traditional family planning methods in 2025, down from 16.5% in 2022.
The figures come from the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2025 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) and highlight a continuing shift in contraceptive practices across the country.
Modern Contraceptive Use Reaches New High
While traditional-method use declined, the share of currently married women using modern contraception increased to 44.5% in 2025, compared with 41.8% in 2022 and 40.4% in 2017.
Overall, 58.6% of currently married women aged 15–49 reported using any contraceptive method in 2025.
The data show that modern contraception is becoming a larger part of family-planning decisions, although a substantial share of women still either rely on traditional methods or do not use contraception.
Pills Remain the Most Common Modern Method
Among women aged 15–49, the 2025 NDHS found that 33.8% were using any contraceptive method, while 25.7% were using a modern method.
The most commonly reported modern method was the contraceptive pill at 11.6%, followed by female sterilization at 4.6% and injectables at 3.4%.
The figures underline the continued importance of access to different family-planning options rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
The Philippines Has Seen a Long-Term Shift
The latest figures build on a broader trend documented by the PSA.
Among currently married women, modern contraceptive use has increased steadily over recent decades. At the same time, traditional-method use fell from 16.5% in 2022 to 14.1% in 2025.
The change is significant because family planning is closely linked to women’s ability to determine whether and when to have children, as well as broader maternal and reproductive-health outcomes.
What Counts as Family Planning?
Philippine law provides for access to a range of family-planning information and services.
The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act defines modern family-planning methods as safe, effective, legal and non-abortifacient methods that are registered with the Food and Drug Administration. The law also recognizes natural family planning, which involves identifying fertile days to plan or prevent pregnancy.
This distinction matters when interpreting the new statistics: “traditional” does not mean the same thing as “no family planning.” It refers to specific approaches classified separately from modern contraceptive methods in demographic surveys.
Access and Informed Choice Remain Central
The numbers also point to the continuing importance of accurate reproductive-health information and access to appropriate services.
The PSA describes contraceptive use as an important indicator of women’s ability to make informed family-planning choices. The government’s reproductive-health framework calls for access to a full range of family-planning methods and related counseling and services.
For policymakers and health providers, the challenge is therefore not simply increasing the overall contraceptive-use rate. It also involves ensuring that people can obtain reliable information and legally available methods that are appropriate for their circumstances.
The Bigger Demographic Picture
The latest family-planning figures come as the Philippines continues to experience changes in fertility patterns.
The 2025 NDHS reported a continuing decline in fertility, alongside changes in contraceptive use. These trends provide a broader picture of how Filipino families are making decisions about the timing and number of children they have.
The decline in traditional-method use from 16.5% to 14.1% therefore represents one piece of a much larger demographic shift.
For the Philippines, the latest data suggest that family planning is changing—but the next question is how access, information and reproductive-health services will evolve alongside those changes.
