Population expected to double in 29 years

Pangasinan, with a total population of 2,434,086 based on the results of 2000 Census of Population and Housing (Census 2000), was the largest province in the country. This figure was higher by 255,674 persons than the 1995 population. It registered an average annual growth of 2.40 percent, higher than the 1.41 percent growth rate during the 1990 to 1995 period. If the current rate continues, the population of the province is expected to double in 29 years. Likewise, a corresponding increase on the number of households was also observed, from 415,160 households in 1995 to 477,819 households in 2000. This resulted to an average household size of 5.09 persons, lower than the 5.24 average household size recorded in 1995.

San Carlos City was the largest in terms of population size

Among the 45 municipalities and three cities of Pangasinan, San Carlos City had the largest population comprising 6.34 percent of the total provincial population. Followed next were Dagupan City (5.35 percent), the municipality of Malasiqui (4.65 percent) and City of Urdaneta (4.58 percent). Lingayen, the provincial capital, ranked sixth with 3.65 percent. On the other hand, the least populated was the municipality of Sto. Tomas accounting for 0.51 percent of the total provincial population.

More males than females

Pangasinan had 1,221 thousand males and 1,212 thousand females. These figures resulted to a sex ratio of 101 males for every 100 females. There were more males than females in the age group 0 to 44 years. At older age groups, there were more females than males.

Of the total population, there were 1,387 thousand persons or 56.99 percent belonging to the voting population (aged 18 years and above). Among the voting population, the proportion was slightly higher for females (50.46 percent) than for males (49.54 percent).

There were 594,456 or 49 percent of the total females in the childbearing or reproductive ages (15 to 49 years).

Three out of five persons belonged to economically active population

Almost 59 percent of the population comprised the economically active population (aged 15 to 64 years). Population aged 0 to 14 years (young dependents) constituted 36.54 percent of the total population while 4.97 percent for 65 years old and over (old dependents). The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 70.97, lower than the 1995 ratio of 77.36. This meant that for every 100 economically active persons there were 71 dependents, of which, 62 persons were young dependents and 9 persons, old dependents.

More female degree holders than males

Among the household population aged five years and over,37.98 percent had attended/completed elementary education; and 34.30 percent, high school. Those who had achieved higher education comprised 18.95 percent.

There were more males than females among those who had attended or completed high school (51.49 percent) and post-secondary courses (56.25 percent). On the other hand, there were more females who had attended/completed elementary (50.72 percent), were college undergraduates (50.77 percent), academic degree holders (59.05 percent), and attended/completed post baccalaureate courses (63.31 percent).

Pangasinan and Ilocano comprised 91.85 percent of the household population

Majority of the household population in Pangasinan classified themselves as either Pangasinan/Panggalato (47.60 percent) or Ilocano (44.25) percent. The rest were either Tagalog (3.79 percent), Bolinao (1.96 percent), or were from other ethnic groups (2.41 percent).

More widows than widowers

Of the total population aged 10 years and over, 46.95 percent were married; 43.08 percent, never married; 4.89 percent, widowed; 0.79 percent, separated/divorced persons; and 2.77 percent had other marital arrangements.

Three out of four widowed persons were females.

Majority of the housing units were single houses

Of the occupied housing units in Pangasinan, 96.62 percent were single houses, 1.29 percent were duplex while 0.62 percent were multi-residential.

Majority (70.72 percent) of the occupied housing units either needed minor repair or did not need any repair at all. This was lower by 2.63 percentage points from the 1990 figure (68.09 percent). One out of three occupied housing units was relatively new (built from 1996 to 2000.

Roof and outer walls of most houses were made of strong materials

About 78 percent of the total occupied housing units in Pangasinan used galvanized iron/aluminum for the roof, higher by 21.03 percentage points than the 1990 proportion (56.48). Likewise, the proportion of housing units that used concrete/brick/stone for the outer walls also increased, from 18.61 percent in 1990 to 37.91 percent in 2000. On the hand, the proportion of housing unit that used bamboo/sawali/cogon/nipa as outer walls declined, from 47.21 percent in 1990 to 29.21percent in 2000.

Table 1. Total Population Distribution of Top Five Municipalities: Pangasinan, 2000