Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing

La Union had a median age of 23 years

More than half of La Union's population were aged below 23 years in 2000. The median age in 1995 was 22 years.

The number of males in La Union was larger than females by 6,935 persons. These figures gave a sex ratio of 102.13 males for every 100 females. There were more males than females in the age group 0 to 49 years, while there were more females in the 50 years and above age group.

Economically active persons comprised 60 percent of the population

Almost 60 percent of the population comprised the economically active population aged 15 to 64 years. Population aged 0 to 14 years constituted 34.91 percent of the total population while those 65 years old and over made up 5.57 percent. Thus, the overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 68.04, lower than the 1995 figure of 71.55.

One-third of the population attended high school

Among the population aged five years old and over, 37.68 percent had attended or completed elementary education; 31.47 percent, high school; and 6.89 percent, post secondary level. About 5 percent were academic degree holders, 10.42 percent were college undergraduates and less than one percent (0.54) pursued post-baccalaureate studies. There were more males than females among those who had attended or finished elementary (50.22 percent), high school (51.89 percent) and post-secondary (55.38 percent). On the other hand, there were more females who were college undergraduates (52.22 percent), academic degree holders (60.52 percent) and with post baccalaureate studies (63.57 percent).

Nine in ten were Ilocanos

Of the total population of La Union, 92.23 percent classified themselves as Ilocanos. The rest were either Kankanai/Kankaney/Kankanaey (2.84 percent), Tagalog (2.63 percent), Pangasinan/Panggalato (0.89) or members of other ethnic groups (1.42 percent).

The proportion of separated/divorced increased to 0.87 percent

Married persons comprised 45.59 percent of the 504,691 persons aged 10 years and over. Single persons, widowed and other arrangements constituted 44.95 percent, 5.26 percent and 2.88 percent, respectively. Separated/divorced persons constituted 0.87 percent, higher than the 0.55 percent recorded in 1995.

An increase of 27.41 percentage points in housing units was recorded

There were 129,091 housing units in La Union, higher by 27,775 units over the 1990 figure (101,316). Of the total housing units, 123,994 were occupied by 127,579 households. An occupancy rate of 96.05 percent was recorded, lower by 0.35 percentage point compared to the 1990 figure (96.40 percent). Almost 96 percent of the occupied housing units in La Union were single houses.

Majority (71.65) of the occupied housing units did not need repair or if needed one, with minor repair only. Almost 19 percent needed major repair. One out of four occupied housing units was relatively new, built from 1996 to 2000.

The proportion of roof made of cogon/nipa/anahaw down to 4.76 percent

Majority (92.21 percent) of the houses in La Union had roof made of galvanized iron/aluminum, higher than the 76.76 percent recorded in 1990. On the other hand, the proportion of roof made of cogon/nipa/anahaw declined from 19.39 percent in 1990 to 4.76 percent in 2000. The use of concrete/brick/stone as construction material of the outer walls rose to 41.24 percent in 2000 from 24.11 percent in 1990.

(Sgd.) CARMELITA N. ERICTA
Administrator

Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing

Table 2. Total Population by Age Group, Sex and Sex Ratio: La Union, 2000