Registered marriages decreased to 10.8 percent  

In 2023, a total of 25,511 marriages by place of occurrence were registered in the Bicol Region. This represents a decline of 3,084 marriages, or a decrease of 10.8 percent compared to 2022, which recorded 28,595 marriages. The total number of marriages registered in 2023 corresponds to a crude marriage rate1 (CMR) of 4.0, or 4 marriages per thousand population. 

Figure 1 shows the number of marriages by place of occurrence in Bicol Region. Camarines Sur had the most number of marriage registration among provinces in 2023 with 8,797 or 34.5% registered marriages. It was followed by Albay with 6,020 (23.6%) registered marriages, Masbate with 4,148 (16.3%) registered marriages, Sorsogon with 2,969 (11.6%) and the province of Camarines Norte with 2,685 (10.5%). Catanduanes had the least number of registered marriages with 892 or 3.5% share to the total registered marriages in Bicol Region.  

Top 10 cities/municipalities with the most number of marriage registration  
 

In 2023, Naga City had the most number of registered marriages in Bicol Region with about 5.1 percent or 1,297. It was followed by Masbate City with 1,037 (4.1%), Legazpi City with 934 (3.7%), Sorsogon City with 669 (2.6%),  Iriga City and Daraga, Albay both with 614 (2.4%), Libmanan, Camarines Sur with 607 (2.4%), Tabaco City with 576 (2.3%), Daet, Camarines Norte with 505 (2.0%), and Guinobatan, Albay with 481 (1.9%) marriages.

Top 10 municipalities with the least number of marriage registration 
 

Figure 3 shows the least number of marriages by place of occurrence in Bicol Region. Panganiban (Payo), Catanduanes, had the least number of registered marriages in Bicol Region with 9 marriages in 2023.

Most brides and grooms married between ages 25-29 years old

In 2023, about one-third of the brides (9,932 or 38.9%) and grooms (9,318 or 36.5%) tied the knot between ages 25-29 in Bicol Region. Noticeably, marriages after these age groups tends to slow down as the age group progressed. It was also observed there are about 5 teenage brides (889) for every one teenage groom (196) for marriages involving teenagers.  

Late registered marriages logged at three percent

In 2023, the recorded timely registered marriages were at 96.7% or 24,664. On the other hand, about 3.3 percent or 847 marriages were late registered or recorded in appropriate register after the prescribed period for registration from the occurrence of the event.

Most number of couples married in December

About 36.1 percent of marriages in 2023 were recorded in the months of June (12.8%), December (12.7%), and April (10.7%), respectively. Each month had more than 10.0% share to the total marriages registered in Bicol Region. The month of November was the least liked month for marriage, recording the lowest at 3.3 percent or 834 marriages.  

Civil Ceremonies, accounting for 47.5%, and Roman Catholic Church Ceremonies, at 46.4%, are the dominant forms of marriage rites in Bicol Region, together making up nearly all of the ceremonies. Other religious rites and Muslim ceremonies represent a small portion of the total in 2023.

DEFINITION OF TERMS AND CONCEPTS

Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life.

Crude Marriage Rate (CMR) is a gross measure of the level of the relative frequency of marriages in an area for a given year. It expresses additions, by the formal means of legal marriage, being made to the married segment of the 
total population. This refers to the number of marriages per 1,000 mid-year population.