Manila, March 30 -- The average number of children Filipino women have in their lifetime has dropped to a record-low 1.7, according to the key indicators of the 2025 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday.

The 1.7 Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is a significant decline from 4.1 children per woman recorded in 1993.

The trend is even more pronounced in urban areas, where the rate has dipped to 1.5, while rural areas maintain a slightly higher fertility rate of 2.0.

The 2025 NDHS, the 13th in a series of national surveys since 1968, interviewed nearly 30,000 women aged 15 to 49 to provide a comprehensive snapshot of health and development profile.

"The information collect...