Population reached 5.7 million

Central Visayas region covers the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor; and the cities of Cebu and Mandaue. Its population of as of May 1, 2000 was 5,706,953 persons. This implied an increase of 692,365 persons over the 1995 census figure or an average annual population growth rate of 2.81 percent, higher than the annual population growth rate recorded during the 1990 to 1995 period. If the average annual growth rate continues at 2.81 percent, the population of the region is expected to double in 25 years, increasing, on the average, by 160,365 persons a year or about 15 persons per hour.

Dependency ratio was 71

In Central Visayas Region, about 58 percent of its total population belonged to productive ages or economically active population (15 to 64 years old). On the other hand, the young dependents (aged 0 to 14 years) accounted for about 37 percent while about five percent were old dependents (aged 65 years and over). The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 71. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years, there were about 71 dependents, i.e., 63 young dependents and eight old dependents.

Half of the population of Central Visayas were below 22 years

Central Visayas had a median age of 22 years. This meant that in 2000, half of the population were below 22 years old. In 1995, the median age was 21 years. The province of Siquijor had the highest median age of 25 years, followed by Cebu City with 23 years. The province of Bohol and Mandaue City both had the same median age of 22 years while the province of Negros Oriental had 21 years. On the other hand, the province of Cebu had the youngest at 20 years.

Sex ratio recorded at 100.4

In 2000, there were almost an equal number of males and females in Central Visayas as the sex ratio was recorded at 100.4. This meant that there were 1,000 males for every 1,004 females.

Nine in every ten persons were Roman Catholics

Majority (92 percent) of the household population in Central Visayas Region were Roman Catholics. This was followed by Aglipayan (two percent) and Evangelicals (one percent). The remaining five percent belonged to other religions that include United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Iglesia ni Cristo or other religions.

Average number of children ever born was three

In Central Visayas, ever-married women in reproductive ages (15 to 49 years) on the average, had at least three children during their reproductive period. The number of births was relatively low at the younger age group 15 to 19 years and continue to increase as they became older.

Average age at first marriage was 21 years

In Central Visayas, the average age at first marriage was 21 years. Among the provinces and two highly urbanized cities in Central Visayas, Cebu and Negros Oriental had the youngest average age at first marriage (21 years) while the other two component provinces, including Cebu City and Mandaue City had 22 years.

More male overseas contract workers

In 2000, there were 62,603 overseas workers or about 1.1 percent of the total population. Among them, males (55 percent) outnumbered their female counterparts (45 percent). The median age of overseas workers in Central Visayas was 29 years. This meant that half of the overseas workers were below 29 years old. Male overseas workers had a median age of 33 years while their female counterparts had 24 years.

Most households drew water for drinking and cooking from community water system

The main source of water used for drinking and/or cooking by the households was community water system which accounted for more than 46 percent. More than 21 percent of the total number of households in Central Visayas Region had their own faucet and more than 25 percent had shared faucet from community water system for drinking and/or cooking. The province of Siquijor had the highest proportion (69 percent) of households which used water for drinking and/or cooking from community water system while the province of Negros Oriental had the lowest with more than 39 percent. However, about 14 percent of the total households in the region still depended on spring, lake, river, rain, etc., as their main source of water used for drinking and/or cooking.

Three in every five households had electricity

Electricity was the main source of lighting of more than 60 percent of the total households in the region. Over 35 percent used kerosene or gaas. Mandaue City had the highest proportion of households that used electricity for lighting constituting about 92 percent. Followed by Cebu City, the administrative capital of the regional government, with about 89 percent. On the other hand, the province of Negros Oriental had the lowest proportion at 37 percent.

Most spoke Cebuano

Cebuano was the spoken dialect in most households accounting for about 70 percent of the total number of households in the region; followed by Bisaya/Binisaya, 16 percent; and Boholano, 12 percent.

Most households burned their garbage

Of the total households, over 54 percent preferred burning as their usual manner of garbage disposal. More than 22 percent of the households had their garbage picked up by garbage truck while over 11 percent dumped their garbage in individual pit.

Three in every four households owned a radio/cassette

Of the total 1,133,767 households in Central Visayas, more than 78 percent had at least one household convenience. A large proportion of the total households had radio/cassette (75 percent) and more than 41 percent had television set. About 10 percent reported to have telephone or cellular phone while more than 10 percent had motorized vehicle.

One in every five households had agricultural land

In 2000, about 23 percent of the total households owned an agricultural land (this included two percent of households who acquired the land through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) or were Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB), 13.84 percent, other residential land, and 1.93 percent, land other than residential and agricultural.

Three in every four households owned/ amortized the houses they occupied

Of the one million households in Central Visayas, about 75 percent owned or amortized the houses they occupied; 13 percent, occupied for free with consent of owner; and about eight percent were renters.