Population to double in 28 years

The province of Oriental Mindoro registered a total population of 681,818 persons in the 2000 Census of Population and Housing. This figure exceeded 73,202 persons as compared to 608,616 persons recorded in the 1995 Census of Population.

The annual population growth rate recorded at 2.46 percent in the 1995-2000 period showed an improvement since 1970 when it broke the downward trend, although still below the level in 1970. The current growth rate was 0.55 percentage point higher than the 1990-1995 period of 1.91 percent. If the current growth rate continues, the population of Oriental Mindoro is expected to double in the year 2028.

The number of households also rose to 134,453 households, from 119,197 households in 1995. The average household size was 5.07 persons, slight decrease from 1995 (5.10 persons) and a little higher than the national average of five persons.

Population of Oriental Mindoro ranked seventh in Southern Tagalog

Oriental Mindoro ranked seventh in terms of population among the 11 provinces in Southern Tagalog (Region IV), contributing 5.78 percent to the 11.8 million population of the region. At the national level, Oriental Mindoro shared only 0.89 percent out of 76.5 million Philippine population.

Calapan City, the provincial capital, reached a hundred thousand total population

Out of the 14 municipalities and one component city comprising Oriental Mindoro, Calapan City, the provincial capital, was the biggest in terms of population size. This registered a municipal population of 105,910 persons or 15.53 percent of the provincial population. Naujan (12.30 percent) and Pinamalayan (10.70 percent) followed in the second and third rank, respectively in terms of population size.

Oriental Mindoro had a median age of 19 years

About half of the population of Oriental Mindoro were below 19 years of age. In 1995 the median was 18 years.

Sex ratio was recorded at 103.3

The males outnumbered their female counterparts with a sex ratio of 103.34 males for every 100 females. There were more males in the age group 0-54 years while females for the rest.

Dependency ratio down to 81.64

;As a result of the decrease in the proportion of population aged 0 to 14 years (from 43.12 percent in 1995 to 41.49 percent in 2000) and the increase in the proportion of 15 to 64 year-age group (from 53.76 percent in 1995 to 55.05 percent in 2000), the overall dependency ratio dropped to 81.64 percent, from 86.01 percent in 1995.

One in every two females, 15 to 49 years were in childbearing ages

Almost half (47.17 percent) of females were in childbearing or reproductive age group (15 to 49 years). The highest percentage of which, were those at the youngest age group 15 to 19 years (10.51 percent).

More females than male degree holders

About half of the household population five years old and over had attended or completed elementary education (49.68 percent); one-fourth (25.38 percent), high school; less than 10 percent were college undergraduates or academic degree holders; and 0.12 percent, post baccalaureate courses.

There were more males who had attended/ finished elementary and post secondary education, while females for the rest. Among the academic degree holders, females almost doubled its number as compared to the males.

Four out of five were Tagalog

Four-fifths of the population in Oriental Mindoro classified themselves as Tagalog (81.12 percent). Bisaya/Binisaya contributed 8.56 percent while Mangyan, the natives of Mindoro accounted only 2.79 percent. Other ethnic groups included were Ilocano (1.57 percent), Romblon/Rombloanon (1.44 percent) and Hanunuo (1.13 percent).

Married and single persons were almost equal in number

More than two-fifths each of the population in Oriental Mindoro were reported married (44.92 percent) and single (42.93 percent). The remaining 12.15 percent were either with other arrangements, widowed, separated/divorced or with unknown marital status.

Households preferred 10-19 square meters floor area

One-fourth (26.61 percent) of the occupied housing units had floor area of 10-19 square meters, while 23.47 percent had less than 10 square meters. Both ranges of floor areas suffered decreases as compared with the 1990 Census (28.53 percent and 26 percent, respectively in 1990). On the other hand, the least preferred floor area was 90 to 119 square meters (2.29 percent).

Almost all of the housing units were single houses

Most of the occupied housing units were single (96.08 percent). Three-fifths of the building condition in Oriental Mindoro needed no repair or if needed one, with minor repair only (60.84 percent). Almost 40 percent of these housing units were built in 1996-2000.

Half of the housing units shifted to galvanized iron/aluminum for the roof

The proportion of occupied housing units with roofs made of galvanized iron/aluminum rose from 26.97 percent in 1990 to 52.01 percent in 2000. In 1990, the most preferred roof was cogon/nipa/anahaw (67.01 percent). As to the construction materials of the outer walls, bamboo/ sawali/cogon/nipa/anahaw still prevailed inspite of the decline from 54.36 percent in 1990 to 33.85 percent in 2000.

Table 1. Total Population Distribution of Top 10 Municipalities by Sex: Oriental Mindoro, 2000