The total population of Masbate, as of May 1, 2000, was 707,668 persons. This implied an increase of 53,816 persons over the 1995 census figure (with September 1, 1995 as reference date) or an average annual growth rate of 1.7 percent, slightly higher than that of the 1990 to 1995 period (1.64 percent). A corresponding increase on the number of households was also recorded at 138,945 households, higher by 10,085 and 24,538 households over the 1995 and 1990 figures, respectively. This resulted to an average household size of 5.09 persons, slightly higher than the average household size (5.07 persons) recorded five years ago.