Population of Lucena City increased at the rate of 2.31 percent annually

Based on the 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH), Lucena City, a highly urbanized city in the province of Quezon, posted a total population of 246,392 persons as of May 1, 2010.  This is larger by 50,317 persons compared to its total population of 196,075 persons counted in the 2000 CPH.  The increase in the population count from 2000 to 2010 translated to an average annual population growth rate (PGR) of 2.31 percent.  This is lower than the 2.67 percent annual PGR of the city between the census years 1990 and 2000.

If the average annual PGR recorded at 2.31 percent during the period 2000 to 2010 continues, the population of Lucena City would double in 30 years.

Forty years ago, the population of Lucena City was only 77,006 persons.  This population size is one third of the population of the city in the 2010 CPH.

Ibabang Dupay was the most populous barangay

Among the 33 barangays comprising Lucena City, barangay Ibabang Dupay was the most populous with a population size making up 12.1 percent of the total population of the city.  This was followed by Gulang-gulang (11.2 percent), Ibabang Iyam (9.2 percent), Dalahican (8.7 percent), Cotta (8.2 percent), Ilayang Iyam (4.9 percent), Market View  and Mayao Crossing (4.7 percent each), and Isabang (4.1 percent). The rest of the barangays contributed less than 4.0 percent each.

The least populated barangay was Barangay 6 (Pob.) with 0.3 percent share to the total population of the city. It was also the least populated barangay in 2000.

Sex ratio was 99 males per 100 females

Of the 245,242 household population in 2010, females accounted for 50.3 percent while males comprised 49.7 percent.  These figures resulted in a sex ratio of 99 males for every 100 females, which is similar to the sex ratio recorded in 2000 (98 males per 100 females).

Median age increased to 23.3 years

In 2010, the median age of the population of the city was 23.3 years, which means that half of the population was younger than 23.3 years. This is higher than the median age of 21.4 years that was recorded in 2000.

Moreover, more than three in every 10 persons (33.2 percent) were under 15 years old.  Children aged 0 to 4 years (11.4 percent) comprised the largest age group, followed closely by those in the age groups 10 to 14 years (10.9 percent) and 5 to 9 years (10.8 percent).  Males outnumbered females in the age groups 0 to 14 years, 25 to 29 years, and 35 to 39 years. On the other hand, there were more females than males in the age groups 15 to 24 years and 35 years and over.

Three fifths of the population were of voting age

The voting-age population (18 years and over) accounted for 60.3 percent of the household population of the city in 2010, up from 57.0 percent in 2000.  There were more females (51.4 percent) than males (48.6 percent) among the voting-age population.

Dependency ratio decreased to 58 dependents per 100 persons in the working age group

In 2010, the young dependents (0 to 14 years) comprised 33.2 percent of the household population while the old dependents (65 years and over) posted a share of 3.7 percent. The working-age population (15 to 64 years) accounted for the remaining 63.2 percent.        

The overall dependency ratio was 58, which indicates that for every 100 working-age population, there were about 58 dependents (52 young dependents and six old dependents). This ratio is lower than the dependency ratio in 2000, which was recorded at 66 dependents per 100 working-age population (61 young dependents and five old dependents).

There were more males than females among the never-married persons

Of the household population 10 years old and over, 44.4 percent were married while 42.7 percent were never married. The rest of the population were categorized as follows: widowed (4.4 percent), in common-law/live-in marital arrangement (6.6 percent), and divorced/separated (1.5 percent).

Among the never-married persons, 52.8 percent were males while 47.2 percent were females.  For the rest of the categories for marital status, the females outnumbered the males.

More females had attained higher levels of education

f the household population aged five years and over, 31.4 percent had attended or completed elementary education, 36.1 percent had reached or finished high school, 11.2 percent were college undergraduates, and 11.7 percent were academic degree holders.  Among those with an academic degree, the females (55.4 percent) outnumbered the males (44.6 percent).  Similarly, more females (60.7 percent) than males (39.3 percent) had pursued post baccalaureate courses.

Persons with disability comprised 1.1 percent of the population in the city

In 2010, around 2,800 persons or 1.1 percent of the 245,242 household population had a disability.  This proportion of persons with disability (PWD) is similar to the proportion in 2000, which was 1.2 percent of the 195,248 household population of the city during that year.  The number of PWD for the same year was around 2,300.

There were more females than males among those with functional difficulty

Of the 217,304 household population five years and over, 2.1 percent (or 4,489 persons) had at least one type of functional difficulty either in seeing, hearing, walking or climbing steps, remembering or concentrating, self-caring (bathing or dressing), or communicating.  There were more females (55.7 percent) than males (44.3 percent) among those persons with at least one type of functional difficulty.

Moreover, of the total 4,489 persons aged five years and over with at least one type of functional difficulty, 70.7 percent reported difficulty in seeing, even if wearing eyeglasses.  There were 22.1 percent who had difficulty in walking or climbing steps; 18.8 percent had difficulty in hearing, even if using a hearing aid; 14.3 percent had difficulty in remembering or concentrating; 13.8 percent had difficulty in communicating; and 11.7 percent had difficulty in self-caring (bathing or dressing).

Male overseas workers outnumbered their female counterparts

Of the 190,754 household population 10 years old and over in Lucena City, 2.5 percent (or 4,791 persons) were overseas workers.  Male overseas workers outnumbered their female counterparts as they comprised 57.6 percent of all overseas workers from this city.  Overseas workers aged 45 years old and over made up the largest age group, comprising 26.7 percent of the total overseas workers from this city in 2010, followed by the age groups 35 to 39 years (15.8 percent), 30 to 34 years (15.2 percent) and 25 to 29 years (14.0 percent).

Average household size was 4.5 persons

The number of households in 2010 was recorded at 54,488, higher by 14,227 households compared with the 40,261 households posted in 2000.  The average household size in 2010 was 4.5 persons, lower than the average household size of 4.8 persons in 2000.

There were 103 households per 100 occupied housing units

A total of 53,104 occupied housing units were recorded in Lucena City in 2010.  This translates to a ratio of 103 households for every 100 occupied housing units, with 4.6 persons per occupied housing unit.  In 2000, there were 103 households per 100 occupied housing units and 5.0 persons per occupied housing unit.

Occupied housing units with outer walls and roofs made of strong materials increased

In 2010, more than half (52.9 percent) of the occupied housing units in the city had outer walls made of concrete/brick/stone, up from 35.9 percent in 2000.  The proportion of occupied housing units with outer walls made of wood decreased from 23.1 percent in 2000 to 17.2 percent in 2010.  Those with walls made of bamboo/sawali/cogon decreased from 7.0 percent to 5.6 percent.  Meanwhile, majority (88.0 percent) of the occupied housing units in 2010 had roofs made of galvanized iron/aluminum.  This is higher than the proportion recorded in 2000 at 79.8 percent.

Majority of the households lived in lots that they owned or amortized          

In 2010, of the total 54,488 households, 56.9 percent owned or amortized the lots that they occupied.  The corresponding figure in 2000 was lower at 41.8 percent.

Moreover, 22.4 percent of the households occupied lots which were rent-free but with consent of the owner, 16.3 percent rented the lots that they occupied while 3.6 percent occupied lots which were rent-free but without consent of the owner.