Population expected to double in 29 years

Based on the results of the 2000 Census of Population and Housing (Census 2000), Negros Occidental (excluding Bacolod City) was the fourth largest province in terms of population size. It contributed 2.79 percent (2,136,647) persons of the total Philippine population. This figure was higher by 104,806 persons than the 1995 population. It registered an average annual growth of 1.08 percent. If the current rate continues, the population of the province is expected to double in 64 years.

A corresponding increase on the number of households was also observed, from 387,234 households in 1995 to 416,222 households in 2000. This resulted to an average household size of 5.13 persons, lower than the 5.24 average household size recorded in 1995.

City of Kabangkalan was the largest in terms of population size

Aside from Bacolod City, the provincial capital and one of the highly urbanized cities in the Philippines, six out of the nine component cities of the province topped in terms of population size. Of the total provincial population (excluding Bacolod City), the City of Kabangkalan comprised 7.01 percent; Cadiz City, 6.64 percent; Bago City, 6.63 percent; Sagay City, 6.07 percent; San Carlos City, 5.53 percent; and Silay City with 5.04 percent. All of them had more than 100 thousand population. On the other hand, the municipalities of San Benedicto and Candoni were the least populated, both accounting to less than one percent of the total provincial population.

More females in the older age groups

Negros Occidental had 1.087 million males and 1.049 million females. These figures resulted to a sex ratio of 103.59 males for every 100 females. There were more males than females in the age group 0 to 54 years. At older age groups, there were more females than males.

Of the total population, there were 1.165 million persons or 56.55 percent belonging to the voting population (aged 18 years and above). Among the voting population, the proportion was slightly higher for males (50.81 percent) than for females (49.19 percent).

There were 502 thousand females or 47.84 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

In Negros Occidental, 57.17 percent of the population or 1,221,606 persons comprised the economically active population (aged 15 to 64 years). Population aged 0 to 14 years (young dependents) constituted 38.64 percent of the total population while 65 years old and over (old dependents) showed 4.18 percent. The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 74.90, lower than the 1995 ratio of 78.69. This meant that for every 100 economically active persons there were 75 dependents, of whom 68 persons were young dependents and 7 persons were old dependents.

More females pursued higher education

Among the household population aged five years and over, percent had attended/completed elementary education; 24.75 percent, high school; and 3.21 percent post-secondary. Those who had achieved higher education comprised 9.85 percent.

There were more males than females among those who had attended or completed elementary (52.62 percent) and post-secondary courses (53.14 percent) while more females in the other levels of education.

Hiligaynon/Ilonggo and Cebuano comprised 97.88 percent of the household population

Majority of the household population in Negros Occidental classified themselves as either Hiligaynon/Ilonggo (77.68 percent) or Cebuano (20.20) percent. The rest were either Binisaya/Bisaya (0.38 percent), Kankanai/ Kankaney/Kankanaey (0.24 percent), or were from other ethnic groups (1.50 percent).

More never married males than females.

Of the total population aged 10 years and over, 46.33 percent were never married; 44.41 percent, married; 4.52 percent, widowed; 0.62 percent, separated/divorced; and 3.10 percent had other marital arrangements.

Among single persons, 54.37 percent were males and 45.63 were females.

One in every three housing units was newly built

Of the occupied housing units in Negros Occidental, 96.14 percent were single houses, 1.34 percent were duplex while 0.44 percent were multi-residential.

Almost 65 percent of the occupied housing units either needed minor repair or did not need any repair at all. The proportion recorded in 1990 was 65.97 percent. One out of three occupied housing units was relatively new (built from 1996 to 2000).

Strong materials for the roof

In Negros Occidental, 61.03 percent of the total occupied housing units used galvanized iron/aluminum for the roof, higher by 39.41 percentage points than the 1990 proportion (26.12). Likewise, the proportion of housing units that used concrete/brick/stone for the outer walls also increased, from 5.21percent in 1990 to 12.89 percent in 2000. On the other hand, the proportion of housing unit that used bamboo/sawali/cogon/nipa as outer walls declined, from 58.39 percent in 1990 to 39.98 percent in 2000.

Table 1. Total Population Distribution of Top Cities/Municipalities: Negros Occidental, 2000