Population reached 11.8 million

Southern Tagalog which covered the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Quezon, Rizal, Romblon and Aurora and the highly urbanized City of Lucena, had steadily grown to 11,793,655 persons based on the 2000 Census of Population and Housing (Census 2000). This was up by more than two million persons as compared to the 1995 Census of Population (POPCEN). For the period 1995 to 2000, the annual population growth rate of Southern Tagalog was 4.12 percent, higher than that of the 1990 to 1995 period (3.18 percent), and even surpassing the national annual population growth rate of 2.36 percent. If the current annual population growth rate of the region continues, the population is expected to double in 17 years, increasing on the average, by almost 500 thousand persons a year or about 56 persons per hour.

The number of households increased to 2,413,043 as compared to 1,990,077 households in 1995. The average household size recorded in Census 2000 was 4.88 persons, slightly lower than the 1995 figure of 4.89 persons and the national average of five persons.

Biggest region in the Philippines

Southern Tagalog was the biggest region in terms of population size among the 16 regions in the Philippines, contributing 15.42 percent to the 76.5 million population of the country as recorded in Census 2000.

Median age was 22 years

Southern Tagalog 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.

Among the 11 provinces and one highly urbanized city, Palawan had the lowest median age of 18 years, lower than the median age of Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro with 19 years. Laguna had the highest median age at 23 years.

Sex ratio was recorded at 101

In Census 2000, the recorded sex ratio was 101 males for every 100 females, lower than the 102 sex ratio recorded in 1995.

Dependency ratio was 68

The proportion of young dependents (0 to 14 years) was 36.8 percent, while the proportion of old dependents (65 years and over) accounted for 3.5 percent of the regional population. The proportion of economically active population (15 to 64 years) made up 59.7 percent.

The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 67.58. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years, there were about 68 dependents (62 young dependents and six old dependents).

Nine in ten were Roman Catholics

Majority (87.50 percent) of the population of Southern Tagalog were Roman Catholics. Iglesia ni Cristo (2.96 percent) and Evangelicals (2.25 percent), followed, while 6.79 percent belonged to other religious affiliations.

About 94 percent were literate

The proportion of household population 10 years old and over in Southern Tagalog who were able to read and write a simple message was 94.01 percent. Males’ (93.95 percent) literacy rate was almost the same as that of the females’ (94.07 percent).

Cavite (96.52 percent) and Rizal (96.55 percent) had the highest literacy rate among the 11 provinces and one highly urbanized city in Southern Tagalog. Palawan (87.52 percent) had the least proportion of literates.

Average children ever-born was three

On the average, the number of children ever-born to ever-married women in this region was three, the same as in the provinces of Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Quezon, Aurora, and Lucena City. On the other hand, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal had two children while four children in Marinduque and Romblon.

Median age at first marriage was 21 years

Southern Tagalog 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, who entered married life for the first time were below 21 years old.

Most of the overseas workers were males

In 2000, there were 177,155 overseas workers as compared to 148,896 overseas workers in 1995 POPCEN. More than half (57.35 percent) of these overseas workers were males.

Overseas workers in Southern Tagalog, had a median age of 34 years. This meant that half of the overseas workers were below 34 years old. Female overseas workers had a median age of 31 years, younger than their male counterparts (36 years).

Electricity was the main source of lighting

Majority (77.71 percent) of the households used electricity for lighting and 17.81 percent used kerosene or gaas. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as fuel for lighting was utilized by 1.26 percent of the total households.

Electricity was the main source of lighting in almost all provinces except for the provinces of Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan and Romblon. In these provinces, the main source of lighting 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 (34.43 percent); shared, faucet, community water system (17.69 percent); and spring, lake, river, rain, etc. (5.21 percent).

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

Majority of the households used liquefied petroleum gas (58.28 percent) as fuel for cooking. A large proportion still used wood (20.11 percent) and only 3.25 percent used electricity for cooking.

One in two used water sealed, sewer/septic tank, used exclusively by the households

The proportion of households with water sealed, sewer/septic tank, used exclusively by the households was 50.41 percent. About 15 percent had water sealed, other depository used exclusively by the households and 4.78 percent used open pit. Households which did not have any toilet facility accounted for 8.09 percent.

Close to half of the total households burned their garbage

Proper disposal of garbage leads to a good environment and good health. About 47 percent of the households in Southern Tagalog disposed their garbage through burning; 41.27 percent, picked up by a garbage truck; and 5.90 percent, dumping in individual pit.

The proportion of households who had their garbage picked up by a garbage truck was highest in Rizal at 69.54 percent. On the other hand, the proportion of households which had their garbage burned was highest in Romblon at 82.77 percent.

Seven out of ten households owned/amortized their housing units

Majority (71.29 percent) of the households owned/amortized their houses. Those who occupied their housing units for free with consent of the owner comprised 13.04 percent while 10.17 percent rented their housing units.