More Filipinos today value quality of life over living longer years, according to the Manulife Asia Care Survey 2025.
Conducted between January and February among 1,000 respondents nationwide, the study found that only 13% considered a longer lifespan as their top priority. Instead, 26% emphasized financial independence, while 17% highlighted staying physically, mentally, and socially active in later life.
The survey also revealed that Filipinos’ average desired lifespan is 69 years, lower than the country’s projected life expectancy of 73.2 years by 2050.
The findings come as the Philippines’ life expectancy in 2025 stands at 71.92 years, still lagging behind most of its Southeast Asian neighbors such as Singapore (84.1 years), Thailand (77.4), and Vietnam (75.8).
Rahul Hora, President and CEO of Manulife Philippines noted that this marks a turning point.
“Filipinos are no longer focused solely on longevity. Instead, they want to live better—with freedom, dignity, and the ability to enjoy life on their own terms,” he said.
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The Current Life Expectancy Landscape
Life expectancy in the Philippines has been rising gradually but still lags behind regional neighbors. According to Macrotrends data, Filipinos are expected to live 71.92 years in 2025, up from 71.79 in 2024 and 69.83 in 2023.
However, progress is uneven. Based on CountryEconomy.com, Filipino women in 2023 lived an average of 72.82 years, compared with only 66.89 years for men. This gender gap reflects global trends, as confirmed by the World Health Organization, which notes that men are more vulnerable to early death from risky behaviors, high-risk occupations, and cardiovascular risk factors.
Nevertheless, the Philippines continues to trail most of Southeast Asia. United Nations World Population Prospects (2024) lists life expectancy in Singapore at 84.1 years, Thailand at 77.4, Malaysia at 76.2, and Vietnam at 75.8. Only Cambodia (70.2), Laos (68.5), and Myanmar (67.8) currently record lower averages (UN WPP 2024).
Experts attribute this lag to persistent healthcare gaps. According to WHO and Philippine health studies, limited rural access to hospitals and specialists, coupled with socioeconomic inequality, leaves many Filipinos vulnerable to untreated chronic conditions. Moreover, the country faces a double burden: while communicable diseases persist, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes dominate mortality.
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What’s Cutting Filipino Lives Short
Filipinos’ preference for quality over quantity is partly shaped by hard realities. A January 2025 paper by the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) found that NCDs account for 68% of all deaths, compared to a far smaller share from communicable diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis.
Provisional Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data confirms this trend. By March 31, 2025, ischemic heart disease had caused 96,049 deaths (19.3%), followed by cancers (55,105 deaths, 11.1%), strokes (49,349 deaths, 9.9%), pneumonia (33,040 deaths, 6.6%), and diabetes mellitus.
Moreover, cardiovascular disease increasingly strikes younger Filipinos in their 30s and 40s, cutting into years that should be productive. Globally, the World Health Organization reports that NCDs are responsible for 74% of deaths worldwide, demanding long-term prevention and systemic reforms.
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Living Longer, But Not Necessarily Healthier
While life expectancy is rising, healthy life expectancy (HALE) tells a different story. According to WHO Global Health Estimates, Filipinos live only about 62 years in full health, even though overall life expectancy is 72, leaving a decade often spent in illness or disability.
This aligns with a 2022 study in Geriatrics & Gerontology International, which found that the Philippines has not experienced a “compression of morbidity.” Extra years gained in life expectancy were not necessarily healthy years, particularly for men. Women showed slight improvements, but still faced reduced activity levels at older ages.
These realities help explain survey results. The Manulife Asia Care Survey 2025 found that 62% of respondents across Asia ranked financial, physical, and mental independence as more important than living longer, while only 8% prioritized longevity.
Why Filipinos Want Independence in Old Age
Cultural and economic shifts are redefining how Filipinos envision aging. Traditionally, success in old age meant family support and long life. Today, rising medical costs and the pandemic’s lessons on vulnerability are reshaping expectations.
2025 InLife “Retire Without Worries” Study, which surveyed 505 Filipinos, 52% aim to be financially independent in later years, but only 30% feel confident about their ability to fund retirement—revealing a major preparedness gap.
Similarly, the Manulife Asia Care Survey 2025 showed that 26% of Filipinos prioritize financial independence in old age, while 17% emphasize remaining physically, mentally, and socially engaged. This mirrors Asia-wide findings where independence outweighs mere longevity.
Policy and Health Implications
1. Focus on Prevention, Not Just Treatment
Investment in preventive health is essential given the heavy toll of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Philippines. According to a WHO–UNDP interagency report (2019), investing in NCD prevention and control could save lives and help the country recover up to 4.8% of its annual GDP by curbing premature deaths and enhancing productivity.
2. Bridging Healthcare Gaps
Healthcare access remains highly unequal across the archipelago. Based on the analysis of Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), public and private systems are deeply fragmented, urban areas, especially Metro Manila, have dense concentrations of specialists and hospitals, while rural communities suffer shortages and inconsistent quality of care.
Further research confirms that rural municipalities experience significantly poorer access to both outpatient and inpatient facilities, creating regional disparities that demand policy attention.
3. Elder-Friendly Systems
Given an aging population, care systems must evolve beyond informal family support. A qualitative study (2025) in the Philippines highlights the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Long-Term Care Program for Senior Citizens (LTCSC), designed to promote active aging and protect senior citizens’ independence, although implementation remains nascent and requires stronger oversight.
4. Closing the “Healthy Life” Gap
To extend not just lifespan but healthspan, holistic interventions are vital. The Philippines has begun integrating lifestyle medicine and preventive care into its UHC framework, shifting away from reactive treatment models toward systemic disease prevention and health promotion.
In addition, the DOH and WHO launched the Philippine Council for Mental Health Strategic Framework (2024–2028) to build a comprehensive policy for mental health services, a critical but often overlooked component of healthy aging.
5. Regional Benchmarking
The Philippines lags behind many regional neighbors in life expectancy, not just because of wealth disparities, but also due to sustained investments in universal healthcare and social support. For instance, Singapore’s CareShieldLife reform exemplifies a long-term, collectivist approach to elder protection and care financing, demonstrating how a market-based system can evolve to meet demographic shifts.
A Cultural Reframing of Old Age
Ultimately, this is not just a health story—it is a cultural one. For generations, Filipinos have measured success in old age by family support and long life. Today, that definition is changing: to live well, even if shorter, is better than to live long in illness or dependency.
Manulife Asia Care Survey 2025 explains that many Filipinos now regard independence, purpose, and dignity in aging as more important than lifespan, signaling a significant shift in expectations. This cultural evolution reflects a generational reimagining
The Philippines is slowly gaining years in life expectancy—but whether those years are lived in health remains uncertain. With NCDs dominating deaths, many Filipinos know that merely living longer may mean more years of sickness.
The shift in aspiration, toward quality, independence, and purpose, should serve as a wake-up call. Health policies, social systems, and financial tools must adapt to this new reality: Filipinos want life with meaning, not just time on the clock.
DISCLAIMER
This article provides general information and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized recommendations. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
