Population to double in 23 years

The total population of Bohol based on the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, was 1,139,130 persons, an increase of 144,690 persons over the 1995 census results. From only 592 thousand in 1960, the population had almost doubled after 40 years.

The population of Bohol grew at the average annual growth rate of 2.95 percent during the intercensal period 1995-2000. This was the highest population growth rate ever recorded in Bohol since 1903 and a ballooning 2.06 percentage points difference from that of 1990-1995 period. If this growth rate continues, the population of Bohol is expected to double in about 23 years.

The number of households likewise rose from 191,657 households in 1995 to 213,215 households in 2000. The average household size recorded was 5.34 persons, higher than the figure five years ago (5.18 persons) and the national average of five persons.

Bohol ranked second in Central Visayas 

Central Visayas comprises four provinces (Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor) and two highly urbanized cities (Cebu City, Mandaue City). Bohol ranked second in terms of population size constituting one-fifth (19.93 percent) of the 5.7 million population of the region. Nationwide, the province contributed 1.49 percent to the total population of 76.5 million.

Tagbilaran City, the provincial capital, was the most populated

Among 47 municipalities and the lone city, Tagbilaran City (provincial capital) was the largest in terms of population size. This registered a population of 77,700 persons or 6.82 percent of the total provincial population, followed by Ubay (5.25 percent) and Talibon (4.75 percent). Corella had the smallest population with 0.44 percent.

Half of the population were below 22 years

Bohol had a median age of 22 years, 21 in 1995. This meant that in 2000, about half of the population were below 22 years old.

Males outnumbered females

There were more males than females in the age group 0 to 44 years. On the other hand, females dominated in the rest of the age groups. The sex ratio of 101.6 males for every 100 females in 2000 was almost the same as the 1995 figure (101.4).

Dependency ratio down to 78.56

The population in the productive ages, that is 15 to 64 years, represented 57.97 percent of the total population. The proportion of those aged 65 years and over was 6.25 percent. The youngest group (0-14 years) was 35.78 percent.

The 2000 dependency ratio was 72.50, down from 80.43 in 1995. This meant that for every 100 persons in the working age group (15-64 years), there were 73 dependents in 2000, that is, 62 persons aged 0 to 14 years (young dependents) and 11 persons aged 65 years and over (old dependents).

More than half a million voters 

The number of voters in Bohol was posted at 658,059 persons or 57.77 percent of the total population. There was an almost 50-50 distribution of voters in terms of gender, i.e., 50.06 percent for the females and 49.94 percent for the males.

Almost half of the female population belonged to the reproductive age group

In 2000, there were 565 thousand females in Bohol. Almost 50 percent of the females (47.58 percent) were in childbearing age (15-49 years old). The concentration of which, was in the 15 to 19 years age group (10.26 percent).

Females dominated higher levels of education

Among those household population aged five years and over, more than half (51.59 percent) had attended/finished elementary education; one-fourth (24.11 percent), high school; and 12.04 percent with college education.

Females dominated the higher levels of education with 13.22 percent.

Nine out of ten were Boholanos

Bohol takes pride in their own ethnicity, as Boholanos, composed mainly of 93.80 percent of the entire household population. Cebuano (3.66 percent) and Bisaya/Binisaya (0.78 percent) followed. The remaining 1.76 percent were either Tagalog, Hiligaynon/Ilongo or belonged to other ethnic groups.

More single men than women

About 46.71 percent of the total population 10 years old and over were single, while 44.53 percent were married. The remaining 8.56 percent were either widowed, separated/divorced, with other arrangements or with unknown marital status.

Single persons were mostly males (53.07 percent).

Housing units had median floor area of 28.08 square meters

One out of four housing units had floor area of 10 to 19 square meters (25.71 percent), one-fifth had 20 to 29 square meters (20.79 percent) and close to one-fifth (17.13 percent) had 30 to 49 square meters.

Occupied housing units had median floor area of 28.08 square meters. This meant that, half of the housing units had floor area of below 28.08 square meters.

Single houses were most preferred

A large proportion of the occupied housing units in Bohol were single houses (97.53 percent). This was lower by 1.35 percentage points from the 1990 figure. Three-fifths (58.38 percent) of these housing units did not need any repair or if needed one, with minor repair only. However, almost 20 percent needed major repair. In addition, three-tenths (28.45 percent) of the housing units were built from 1996 to 2000.

Households used strong materials for the roof and light materials for the walls

As to the construction materials used, 28.68 percent of the housing units used bamboo/sawali/ cogon/nipa/anahaw for the outer walls, while 73.15 percent used galvanized iron/aluminum for the roof.

Housing units using both the bamboo/ sawali/cogon/nipa for the walls and galvanized iron/aluminum recorded 12.34 percent.

Table1. Total Population Distribution of Top 10 Municipalities by Sex: Bohol, 2000