Diversity and change in Filipino households, 1990–2015

Abstract

ABSTRACT Using census and survey data, this study documents the changes in household size and structure in the Philippines from 1990 to 2015 and explores how demographic and socioeconomic factors have played a role in these changes. It also describes the living arrangements of Filipino children and young adults, recently married young women, and older people, to examine how demographic and socioeconomic factors modify the immediate social environment of Filipinos across their life course. Results show that contrary to the predictions of the modernisation hypothesis, the share of nuclear households in the Philippines declined, while the proportion of extended households remained stable over time. In addition, most Filipino children still live with both parents. However, the proportion in this arrangement declined recently, while the share who live with a single parent or neither parent increased. There is also a prolonged parental co-residence after marriage, as evidenced by the higher proportion of newly married women living with their parents or parents-in-law compared to women in the past. Finally, living with children is still very common among older Filipinos, but the share who do so has dropped sharply. In contrast, the proportions living alone or with a spouse only have increased over time.