Population to double in 14 years

The province of Bulacan registered a total population of 2,234,088 persons in the year 2000, up from 1,784,441 persons in 1995. This figure gave the province an average annual growth rate of 4.93 percent, an increase of 1.69 percentage points from the 1990 to 1995 period. The number of households was registered at 463,886, an increase of 104,273 households over the 1995 figure. This gave an average household size of 4.8 persons, a slight decrease from the 1995 and national average of five persons. If the current growth rate continues, the population of Bulacan was expected to double in 14 years.

Bulacan ranked first in Central Luzon Region in terms of population size

Bulacan ranked first in terms of population size among the six provinces (Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales) and two highly urbanized cities (Angeles City and Olongapo City) in Central Luzon, contributing 27.82 percent to the 8 million population of the region. At the national level, the province shared 2.87 percent to the total population of 76.5 million as recorded in the 2000 Census of Population and Housing.

San Jose Del Monte, the biggest municipality in terms of population size

Of the 24 municipalities comprising Bulacan, San Jose Del Monte, was the biggest in terms of population size. This registered a population of 315,807 persons or 14.1 percent of the total provincial population. It was followed by Malolos, the provincial capital (7.85 percent), Meycauayan (7.30 percent), Santa Maria (6.46 percent) and San Miguel (5.54 percent). Doña Remedios Trinidad had the smallest population with 0.61 percent of the total provincial population.

Bulacan had a median age of 23 years

Bulacan had a median age of 23 years. This meant that in 2000, half of the population were below 23 years old. In 1995, the median age was 22 years.

Sex ratio was recorded at 99.96

Females outnumbered their male counterparts with a sex ratio of 99.96 females for every 100 males.

There were 1,315,820 persons or 58.90 percent of the total population belonging to the voting population. The proportion of males (49.32 percent) in the voting age was lower than that of the females (50.68 percent).

More than half of females were in childbearing ages

Out of 1,117,258 females, 594,028 or 53.17 percent belonged to childbearing or reproductive group (15 to 49 years). The highest percentage of which, were those at age group 15 to 19 years (18.53 percent).

Dependency ratio down to 64

The percentage of the total population belonging to age group 0 to 14 years was 35.3 percent. The oldest group (65 years and over) accounted for 3.6 percent, while 61.2 percent were in 15 to 64 years age group (economically active population).The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 64. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years, there were about 64 dependents (58 persons aged 0 to 14 years - young dependents; and six persons aged 65 years and over - old dependents). In 1995, the dependency ratio was recorded at 65.

Females dominated higher levels of education

About 40.46 percent of the household population aged five years and over in Bulacan had attended or completed elementary education; 30.93 percent, high school; 10.77 percent, college undergraduates; 5.07 percent, academic degree holders and only 0.20 percent with post baccalaureate courses. On the other hand, the proportion of children 5 to 6 years old who had completed pre-school and were likely to become Grade I students in the next school year was 2.52 percent (49,015 pupils).

There were more males than females who had attended or finished high school and post secondary education. On the other hand, those who were college undergraduates, had college degree and with post baccalaureate courses were predominantly females.

Nine out of ten were Tagalog

Majority (90.4 percent) of the household population in Bulacan classified themselves as Tagalog. Others were Bisaya/Binisaya (2.22 percent), and Bicol/Bikol (1.95 percent). Other ethnic groups included Ilocano and Cebuano with 1.08 percent and 0.75 percent, respectively.

Married persons outnumbered single persons

Of the total population 10 years old and over in Bulacan, a higher proportion of married persons (48.33 percent) was reported as compared to single persons (41.30 percent). The remaining 10.37 percent were either widowed, divorced/separated, with other arrangements or with unknown marital status.

About 21 percent of the housing units had floor area of 20 to 29 square meters

Twenty one percent of the occupied housing units had floor area of 20 to 29 square meters (20.6 percent). About 20 percent had floor area of 10 to 19 square meters and 30 to 49 square meters. Only 5.4 percent of the occupied housing units had floor area of 120 and over square meters.

Majority of the households used strong materials for their houses

Majority of the households in Bulacan used galvanized iron/aluminum (84.9 percent) and a small percentage still used cogon/nipa/anahaw (2.2 percent) as roof of their houses. As to the construction material of the outer walls, more than half of the occupied housing units had walls made of concrete/brick/stone (57.4 percent), and 24 percent, half concrete/brick/stone and half wood.

Of the total occupied housing units, 55.5 percent had roof made of galvanized iron/aluminum and concrete/brick/stone for walls.

Table1. Total Population Distribution of Top 5 Municipalities by Sex: Bulacan, 2000