Total population increased by 51,751 persons

• The total population of Samar (Western), as of May 2000, was 641,124 persons, an increase of 51,751 persons from what was recorded in the 1995 Census of Population. This figure translated to an annual growth rate of 1.82 percent, from 1.88 percent during the 1990 to 1995 period.

• The number of households rose to 124,246 higher by 8,753 households as compared to the 1995 figure. The average household size was 5.15 persons slightly higher than 1995 (5.09 persons) and also higher than the national average of five persons.

Calbayog City was the largest municipality in terms of population size

• Among the 23 municipalities comprising Samar and 2 cities, Calbayog City was the largest in terms of population size (22.96 percent). It was followed by Catbalogan (provincial capital) with 13.13 percent, Basey (6.83 percent), and Daram (5.54 percent). The least populous was Matuguinao with 0.84 percent share to the total provincial population.

Samar ranked second in Eastern Visayas

• Samar ranked second in terms of population size among the 6 provinces in the Eastern Visayas Region, contributing 17.76 percent to the 3.6 million population in the region.

• At the national level, Samar shared 0.84 percent to the total population of 76.5 million as recorded in the 2000 Census of Population and Housing.

Samar had a median age of 17 years

• Samar had a median age of 17 years. This meant that in 2000, half of the population were below 17 years old. The median age in 1995 was 19 years.

• Male population outnumbered their female counterparts with a sex ratio of 105.96 males for every 100 females. There were more males than females in the age group 0 to 49 years. On the other hand, females dominated their male counterparts in the aged group 50 years and over.

Overall dependency ratio was 89 in 2000

• The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 89. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years, there were about 89 dependents (81 persons aged 0 to 14 years - young dependents; and 8 persons aged 65 years and over - old dependents). The 2000 ratio was almost the same with the 1995 figure (88.67 dependents).

Majority of academic degree holders were females

• Of the total household population 5 years old and over, more than half of the population completed or attended elementary education (57.37 percent); 18.32 percent, high school; and 2.73 percent were academic degree holders.

• Males dominated the elementary level (53.19 percent). On the other hand, those in the high school (52.84 percent), and post-secondary levels (54.33 percent), among college undergraduates (51.88 percent), academic degree holders (62.22 percent) and those with post baccalaureate courses (59.50 percent) were predominantly females.

Majority were Warays

• Majority of the household population in Samar classified themselves as Waray (91.45 percent). Others considered themselves as Cebuano (5.92 percent), Binisaya/Bisaya (0.64), Tagalog (0.37 percent), and Boholano (0.14 percent).

More single men than women

• About 41.44 percent of the household population 10 years old and over were single (41.44 percent), while 39.94 percent were married. The remaining 18.62 percent were either widowed, divorced/separated, with other arrangements or with unknown marital status.

• Majority of the single persons were men (56.39 percent). The proportion of widowed females was noticeably higher (72.47 percent) than males (27.53 percent).

One in four occupied housing units had floor area of 10 to 19 square meters

• In 2000, 25.38 percent of the occupied housing units had floor area of 10 to 19 square meters as compared to 27.07 percent in 1990.

• Occupied housing units with floor area of 120 square meters and over was recorded at 3.93 percent in 2000.

Single houses were most preferred

• Majority (96.12 percent) of the occupied housing units were single houses.

• Three in five occupied housing units needed no repair or if needed one with minor repair only, while two in five were relatively new (built from 1996 to 2000).

The proportion of occupied housing units with walls made concrete/brick/stone increased by 8.71 percentage points

• As to the construction materials used for housing units, 59.31 percent of the occupied housing units had roof made of cogon/nipa/anahaw. The proportion in 1990 was 75.77 percent.

• About 12.84 percent of the occupied housing units had walls made of concrete/brick/stone, higher than the 1990 figure (4.13 percent).

Table 1. Total Population Distribution of Top Ten Municipalities and Sex: Samar (Western), 2000