Facts & Figures - PALAWAN

 Total population grew by 1.94 percent annually

 The province of Palawan (excluding Puerto Princesa City) had a total population of 682,152 persons as of August 1, 2007, higher by 14.9 percent compared with the census count of 593,500 persons as of May 1, 2000.  The increase in population count for the period 2000 to 2007 translated to an annual population growth rate of 1.94 percent. 

Similarly, the household population of   Palawan (excluding Puerto Princesa City) increased by 14.5 percent from 592,792 persons in 2000 to 678,556 persons in 2007.  The number of households grew by 23.7 percent, from 117,689 in 2000 to 145,528 in 2007.  The average household size in 2007 was 4.7 persons, lower than the average household size of 5.0 persons in 2000.  

Municipality of Narra had the highest population count 

 Among the 23 municipalities in Palawan (excluding Puerto Princesa City), the municipality of Narra was the biggest in terms of population size in 2007. It accounted for 9.2 percent of the total population of the province. It was followed by the municipalities of Taytay (9.1 percent) and Brooke�s Point (8.3 percent).    These were also the top three municipalities in 2000.  The municipality of Kalayaan remained the least populated in both 2000 and 2007 censuses. 

Sex ratio was 108 males per 100 females 

 Of the 678,556 household population in 2007, males accounted for 52.0 percent while females comprised 48.0 percent.  These figures resulted to a sex ratio of 108 males for every 100 females, higher than the sex ratio of 107 males per 100 females recorded in 2000. 

Median age decreased to 17 years 

 In 2007, the median age of the household population in the province was 17 years, which means that half of the household population was below 17 years old.  The median age computed in 2000 was 18 years. 

Children aged 0 to 4 years comprised the largest age group, contributing 15.3 percent to the total household population, followed by age groups 5 to 9 years (14.9 percent) and 10 to 14 years (13.8 percent).  These three age groups had an aggregate contribution of 43.9 percent to the household population. 

There were more males than females in age groups 0 to 69 years. Females, on the other hand, outnumbered males in the older age groups (70 years and over). 

Approximately half of the household population were of voting age 

 The voting-age population (18 years old and over) of Palawan (excluding Puerto Princesa City) was 334,427 in 2007, accounting for 49.3 percent of the household population.  In 2000, the voting-age population was 50.9 percent of the 592,792 household population.  Males (52.7 percent) outnumbered females (47.3 percent) in the total voting-age population in 2007. 

Dependency ratio increased to 89 dependents per 100 persons in the working age group 

 More than half (52.8 percent) of the household population belonged to the working-age population (15 to 64 years). Young dependents (under 15 years) comprised 43.9 percent while old dependents (65 years and over) accounted for 3.3 percent. 

The overall dependency ratio of the province in 2007 was 89, up from 84 dependents per 100 persons in the working age group in 2000.   This means that for every 100 persons in the working-age population in 2007, there were 89 dependents (83 young dependents and 6 old dependents). 

More males among never-married persons 

 Of the household population 10 years old and over, 48.8 percent were married while 42.3 percent were never married.  The remaining 8.9 percent were either widowed, divorced/separated, had common law/live-in marital arrangement, or had unknown marital status. 

A higher proportion of males (57.2 percent) than females (42.8 percent) was observed among never-married persons in 2007.  The proportion of males and females were equal among married persons.  Meanwhile, the proportion of females was higher compared to that of males among those widowed (68.4 percent), divorced/separated (54.9 percent), and persons in common law/live-in marital arrangement (50.6 percent). 

Females had higher levels of education 

 Nearly half (48.3 percent) of the household population 5 years old and over had attended or completed elementary education, 26.3 percent had reached or finished high school, 4.6 percent were college undergraduates, and 3.1 percent were academic degree holders. 

Among those with academic degrees, there were more females (59.6 percent) than males (40.4 percent).  Similarly, more females (54.5 percent) pursued post baccalaureate courses than males (45.5 percent). 

Three fifths of household population 5 to 24 years old attended school 

 Approximately 60 percent of the household population 5 to 24 years old attended school at anytime during School Year 2007 to 2008.  School attendance for males (58.7 percent of all males aged 5 to 24 years) was lower compared to that for females (62.1 percent of all females aged 5 to 24 years) during the said school year. 

Occupied housing units increased by 23.9 percent 

 In 2007, there were 144,457 occupied housing units in Palawan (excluding Puerto Princesa City).  This was 23.9 percent higher than the 116,637 occupied housing units recorded in 2000.  A ratio of 101 households per 100 occupied housing units was computed in 2007, the same ratio reported in 2000.  Moreover, the number of persons per occupied housing unit was 4.7 persons in 2007, lower than the ratio of 5.1 persons per occupied housing unit in 2000. 

Most occupied housing units used light materials for outer walls and roofs 

 Of the 144,457 occupied housing units in the province in 2007, the top three construction materials for outer walls were bamboo/sawali/cogon/nipa (75.2 percent), half concrete/brick/stone and half wood (10.7 percent), and concrete/brick/stone (7.9 percent).  These were also the most commonly used construction materials for outer walls in 2000.  Meanwhile, the most commonly used construction materials for the roofs in 2007 were cogon/nipa/anahaw (65.1 percent), galvanized iron/aluminum (30.4 percent), and half galvanized iron and half concrete (3.0 percent).  These construction materials for outer walls were also the most common in 2000. 

    Source:  Household Statistics Department

                   National Statistics Office

                   Manila, Philippines
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