Total population increased by 148,724 persons

The population of Basilan (excluding City of Isabela) was 408,520 persons as of August 1, 2007, based on the 2007 Census of Population. This figure is higher by 148,724 persons than the population count of 259,796 persons in 2000. The said population counts for the province translated to an annual population growth rate (PGR) of 6.44 percent for the period 2000 to 2007, higher than the 2.93 percent annual PGR registered for the period 1995 to 2000.

The number of households reached 78,185, which is 30,392 households more than the 2000 figure. The average household size in 2007 was 5.22 persons, slightly lower than the average household size of 5.43 persons recorded in 2000.

City of Lamitan topped in terms of population size

Among the lone city and ten municipalities in Basilan (excluding City of Isabela), the City of Lamitan was the most populated with 20.1 percent of the provincial total population. It was followed by the municipalities of Sumisip (17.6 percent), Maluso (11.8 percent), Ungkaya Pukan (7.5 percent), and Lantawan (7.1 percent). The rest of the municipalities had a share of less than 7.0 percent each.

 

 

Males dominated the household population

Of the 408,409 household population of Basilan, 50.1 percent were males and 49.9 percent were females, or a sex ratio of 101 males for every 100 females. This ratio is slightly higher than the sex ratio of 100 males per 100 females or 1:1 posted in 2000.

Median age remained at 18 years

The household population of Basilan had a median age of 18 years, which means that half of the household population were younger than 18 years old. The same median age of 18 years was reported in 2000.

Children aged 5 to 9 years (15.8 percent) and 0 to 4 years (15.2 percent) had the highest proportion to total household population.

 

 

There were more males than females in age groups 0 to 14 years and 40 to 59 years. On the other hand, females outnumbered males in age groups 15 to 39 years and 60 years and over.

Majority of the voting-age population were females

In 2007, the proportion of voting age group (18 years old and over) was 50.2 percent of the total household population. This is slightly lower than the proportion recorded in 2000 which was 50.3 percent. Of the voting-age population in 2007, 50.5 percent were females and 49.5 percent were males.

Overall dependency ratio remained at 84 dependents per 100 working-age population

The proportion of household population in the working age group (15 to 64 years) was 54.3 percent; young dependents (0 to 14 years) comprised 43.6 percent, while old dependents (65 years and over) consisted 2.1 percent.

The overall dependency ratio in 2007 was 84, which implies that there were 84 dependents (80 young dependents and 4 old dependents) for every 100 persons in the working age group. The same overall dependency ratio was reported in 2000 at 84 dependents (80 young dependents and 4 old dependents) per 100 persons in the working age group.

More never-married males than females

More than half (52.0 percent) of the household population 10 years old and over in 2007 were married while 40.1 percent were never married. About 8.0 percent, were in remaining marital status categories: widowed (4.0 percent), divorced/separated (1.4 percent), common law/live-in marital arrangement (1.2 percent), and unknown marital status (1.3 percent). There were more never-married males (52.2 percent) than females (47.8 percent). On the other hand, females outnumbered males in the rest of the categories for marital status.

Males had higher levels of education

Of the household population 5 years old and over, 45.0 percent had attended or finished elementary education, 18.5 percent had reached or completed high school, 3.2 percent were college undergraduates, and 2.3 percent were academic degree holders.

Among those with academic degrees, there were more males (51.5 percent) than females (48.5 percent). Similarly, more males (52.4 percent) than females (47.6 percent) pursued post baccalaureate courses.

Almost half of household population 5 to 24 years old had attended school

Nearly half (48.6 percent) of the household population 5 to 24 years old had attended school at anytime during school year 2007 to 2008. School attendance for males (48.8 percent of all males aged 5 to 24 years) was higher than that for females (48.5 percent of all females aged 5 to 24 years) during the said school year.

Occupied housing units increased by 64.5 percent

In 2007, there were 77,842 occupied housing units in Basilan, or 64.5 percent higher than the 47,324 occupied housing units recorded in 2000. A ratio of 100 households per 100 occupied housing units was recorded in 2007, slightly lower than the ratio of 101 households per 100 occupied housing units reported in 2000. Moreover, the number of persons per occupied housing unit was 5.2 persons in 2007, lower than the ratio of 5.5 persons per occupied housing unit recorded in 2000.

Majority of occupied housing units had outer walls made of wood and roofs made of galvanized iron/aluminum

In 2007, the most common construction material for outer walls was wood, with housing units having such material for outer walls accounting for 58.5 percent of all occupied housing units, followed by bamboo/sawali/cogon/nipa (27.1 percent), and half concrete/brick/stone and half wood (8.5 percent). These were also the top three construction materials used for outer walls of housing units in 2000. Meanwhile, the most common construction materials used for the roof in 2007 were galvanized iron/aluminum (48.0 percent), cogon/nipa/anahaw (44.8 percent), and half galvanized iron and half concrete (3.3 percent).