Population to double in 38 years

The population of Cordillera Administrative Region, which covers the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province/City, Apayao and Baguio City, was 1,365,412 persons as of May 1, 2000, based on the 2000 Census of Population and Housing (Census 2000). This was up by 110,574 persons as compared to the 1995 Census of Population (POPCEN). For the period 1995 to 2000, the annual population growth rate for the Cordillera Administrative Region was 1.82 percent, higher than that of the 1990 to 1995 period (1.71 percent). If the current annual population growth rate of the region continues, the population is expected to double in 38 years, increasing on the average, by almost 25 thousand persons a year or about three persons per hour.

The number of households increased to 263,851 as compared to 243,851 households in 1995. The average household size recorded in Census 2000 was 5.16 persons, slightly higher than the 1995 figure of 5.11 persons and the national average of five persons.

About two percent of the total population from CAR

The Cordillera Administrative Region was the smallest region in terms of population size among the 16 regions in the Philippines, contributing 1.79 percent to the 76.5 million population of the country as recorded in the 2000 Census of Population and Housing.

Median age was 21 years

Cordillera Administrative Region had a median age of 21 years. This meant that in 2000, half of the population were below 21 years old. In 1995, the median age was 20 years.

Among the six provinces and one highly urbanized city, Ifugao had the youngest median age of 19 years. Benguet, Kalinga, Mountain Province/City, Apayao and Baguio City had a median age of 20 years old, and Abra with 23 years.

Sex ratio was recorded at 104

In Census 2000, the recorded sex ratio was 104 males for every 100 females, higher than the 103 sex ratio recorded in 1995.

Overall dependency ratio was 71

The proportion of young dependents (0 to 14 years) was 37.3 percent, while the proportion of old dependents (65 years and over) accounted for 4.1 percent of the regional population. The proportion of economically active population (15 to 64 years) made up 58.6 percent.

The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 70.71. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years, there were about 71 dependents (64 young dependents and seven old dependents).

Majority were Roman Catholics

Majority (65.75 percent) of the population of Cordillera Administrative Region were Roman Catholics. Evangelicals (8.85 percent) and United Church of Christ in the Philippines (2.86 percent), followed, while 22.31 percent belonged to other religious affiliations.

Average number of children ever-born was three

The average number of children ever-born in Cordillera Administrative Region was three, the same with the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Kalinga, Mountain Province/City, and Apayao. In Ifugao and Baguio City, the average number of children ever born were four and two, respectively.

Median age at first marriage was 21 years

Cordillera Administrative Region had a median age at first marriage of 21 years. This meant that half of the ever-married women 15 to 49 years old, got married at the age of 21 years.

Most of the overseas workers were females

Cordillera Administrative Region registered a total of 20,469 overseas workers in Census 2000 compared to 20,822 overseas workers in 1995 Census of Population. More than half (68.4 percent) of these overseas workers were females.

The overseas workers in Cordillera Administrative Region had a median age of 33 years. This meant that half of the overseas workers were below 33 years old. Female overseas workers had a median age of 32 years, lower than the median age of male overseas workers of 34 years.

Electricity, main source of lighting

Majority (61.58 percent) of the households used electricity for lighting and 32.86 percent still used kerosene. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was utilized for lighting by 1.73 percent of the total households.

In Abra (64.79 percent), Benguet (63.24 percent), Mountain Province/City (54.94 percent) and Baguio City (95.29 percent) the main source of lighting was electricity while in Ifugao (58.48 pecent), Kalinga (50.05 percent) and Apayao (62.57 percent), it was kerosene.

One in three households depended on own use, faucet community water system for potable water

The main sources of water supply for drinking and/or cooking were own use, faucet community water system (34.31 percent); shared, faucet, community water system (26.82 percent); and spring, lake, river, rain (12.28 percent).

One in two households used liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking

In 2000, more than half of the households used liquefied petroleum gas (53.09 percent) as fuel for cooking. A large proportion still used wood (37.72 percent) and only 2.57 percent used electricity for cooking.

Households exclusively used water sealed, sewer/septic tank

The proportion of households with water sealed, sewer/septic tank, used exclusively was 36.60 percent. About 20 percent had open pit and 14.74 percent had closed pit. Households who do not have any toilet facility accounted for 3.55 percent.

Burning was the usual manner of garbage disposal

Proper disposal of garbage leads to a good environment and good health. About 36 percent of the households in Cordillera Administrative Region disposed their garbage through burning; 27.27 percent, picked up by garbage truck; and 10.35 percent, fed to animals.

In Baguio City, the usual manner of garbage disposal was through collection by garbage truck (90.76 percent). On the other hand, Abra (61.26 percent) had the largest proportion of households who burned their garbage.

Three out of four households owned/amortized their housing units

Majority (77.88 percent) of the households owned/amortized their houses. Those who occupied their housing units for free with consent of the owner comprised 9.71 percent while 9.40 percent rented their housing units.