Population growth rate at 2.26 percent

The total population of Cagayan, as of May 1, 2000, was 993,580 persons. This implied an increase of 98,530 persons over the 1995 census figure or an average annual population growth rate of 2.26 percent. This was 0.83 percentage point higher than the average growth rate recorded in the 1995 Census of Population (1.43 percent). A corresponding increase on the number of households was also registered, from 179,096 households in 1995 to 191,037 households in 2000. This resulted to an average household size of 5.19 persons, higher than the national average of five persons.

Tuguegarao City, the provincial capital, was the largest in terms of population

Among the 28 municipalities and one city in Cagayan, Tuguegarao City, the capital of the province, was the largest in terms of population with 120,645 persons or 12.14 percent of the total population of the province. This was followed by Solana (6.79 percent), Baggao (6.67 percent), and Aparri (5.94 percent). All other municipalities had less than six percent each. Santa Praxedex, the least populated municipality accounted for only 0.3 percent of the total population of the province.

Cagayan was the second most populated province in Region II

Next to Isabela, Cagayan was the most populated among the five provinces in Cagayan Valley, comprising 35.32 percent of the 2.8 million persons in the region. At the national level, the province contributed 1.30 percent to the total population of 76.5 million.

Cagayan had a median age of 20 years

Cagayan had a median age of 20 years, same as that in 1995. This meant that half of the population of the province were below 20 years old.

Sex ratio was recorded at 104.25

The sex ratio in Cagayan was about 104 with 507,119 males and 486,461 females in the 2000 CPH. There were more males than females below 50 years. On the other hand, the reverse was true above this age.

Three dependents for every four economically active persons

The proportion of the population in the economically active group (aged 15 to 64 years) was 57.3 percent. Young dependents (aged 0 to 14 years) comprised 37.83 percent while less than five percent were old dependents (aged 65 years and over). The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 74.5. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years, there were 75 dependents (66 young dependents and 9 old dependents).

Over half a million were voters

There were 551,335 persons or 55.48 percent of the total population belonging to 18 years old and over (voting population). Among voters, there were more males than females (278,265 and 273,070, respectively).

Nearly half of female population in the childbearing age group

Out of 486,461 females, 236,981 or 48.72 percent belonged to childbearing or reproductive age group (15 to 49 years).

About two percent were incoming Grade I

Of the total household population five years old and over in Cagayan, there were 236,981 children (1.55 percent) five to six years of age who had completed pre-school education and were likely to enroll for the first time in elementary grade school.

Females dominated higher levels of education

Close to 49 percent of household population five years old and over had attended or completed elementary education; 24.78 percent, high school; and 3.47 percent, post secondary education. Less than four percent were academic degree holders while 8.63 percent had some units in college. A very small proportion (0.47 percent) pursued post-baccalaureate studies. There were more males than females among those who had attended or finished elementary (51.78 percent) and high school (50.66 percent). However, females dominated higher levels of education.

Majority were Ilocanos

Ilocano was the most prominent ethnic group in Cagayan. Of the total household population, 68.57 percent classified themselves as Ilocanos. The next three prominent ethnic groups were the Itawit (8.63 percent), Ibanag (8.51 percent) and Itawis (7.81 percent). The remaining 6.30 percent were either Tagalog, Malaueg, or belonged to other ethnic groups.

More married persons than single 

Married persons accounted for 47.88 percent of the total persons 10 years old and over, lower by 3.56 percentage points than the 1995 figure (51.44 percent). Single persons comprised 43.42 percent in 2000, from 42.36 percent in 1995. The widowed (5.04 percent) had less than one percentage point difference with the proportion registered in 1995 (4.89 percent). Those in consensual union constituted 2.63 percent, an increase of 1.69 percentage points from the 1995 figure.

One out of four housing units had floor area of 20 to 29 square meters

About one out of four occupied housing units (23.33 percent) had floor area of 20 to 29 square meters, 22.76 percent with 10 to 19 square meters, and less than three percent with 120 and over square meters.

Two-thirds of the occupied housing units had roof made of galvanized iron/aluminum

Among the 188,133 occupied housing units in Cagayan, the proportion of roof made of galvanized iron/aluminum was 66.32 percent. As to the combination of construction materials used for roof and outer walls, 30.47 percent of the occupied housing units were made of galvanized iron/aluminum for roof and concrete/brick/stone for outer walls.

Table 1. Total Population of Top Ten City/ Municipalities and Sex: Cagayan, 2000