Population increased at the rate of 3.35 percent annually 

Based on the 2015 Census of Population (POPCEN2015), the municipality of Pugo, La Union posted a total population of 19,636 persons as of August 1, 2015. This is an increase of 3,118persons over the total population of 16,518 persons in 2010 CPH. The increase in the population count from 2010 to 2015 translated to an average annual population growth rate (PGR) of 3.35 percent. This is higher than the 2.08 percent annual PGR of the municipality between the census years 2000 and 2010.

Population increased by 34 persons per year for every 1,000 persons

The increase in the population count in Pugo from 2010 to 2015 translated to an average annual population growth rate (PGR) of 3.35 percent. This means that there were about 34 persons added per year for every 1,000 persons in the population. 

The said annual PGR was higher than the annual PGR of 2.08 percent both during the period 2000 to 2010 and 1990 to 2000. 

If the average annual PGR recorded at 3.35 percent during the period 2010 to 2015 continues, the population of Pugo, La Union would double in 21 years.

Fifty five years ago, the population of Pugo, La Union was only 5,484 persons.  This population size is more than one-fourth of the population in the 2015 Census of Population.

Barangay Cares was the most populous in 2015

Among the 14 barangays in the municipality of Pugo, La Union, barangay Cares was the most populous with a population size making up 13.60 percent of the total municipal population. Barangay San Luis was second with 12.49 percent share, followed by barangay Cuenca with 9.83 percent, Palina with8.71 percent, Saytan with 8.51 percent and Maoasoas Norte with 7.20 percent.

The least populated area was barangay Duplas with3.08 percentshare to the total population of the municipality (604 persons).

Median age increased to 26.43 years

In 2015, the median age of the population in Pugo was 26.43 years, which means that half of the population was younger than 26.43years. This is higher than the median age of 25 years that was recorded in 2010.

Children aged 0 to 4 years (10.60 percent) comprised the largest age group, followed by those in the age groups 5 to 9 years (9.71 percent) and 10 to 14 years (9.16 percent).  Males outnumbered females in the age groups 0 to 64 years.On the other hand, there were more females than males in the older age groups (65 years and over). 

Sex ratio up to 104 males per 100 females

Of the 19,636-household population in 2015, males accounted for 51.09 percent while females comprised 48.91 percent. These figures resulted in a sex ratio of 104 males for every 100 females, an increase insex ratio from 103 recorded in 2010.

More than three fifths of the total population were of voting age

The voting-age population (18 years and over) accounted for 65.16 percent of the household population of Pugo in 2015, up from 63.53 percent in 2010.  There were more males (50.70 percent) than females (49.30 percent) among the voting-age population.

Less than one tenth of the household population were senior citizens

The senior citizens population (60 years and over) accounted for9.12 percent of the household population of the municipality in 2015, up from 7.79 percent in 2010.  There were more females (54.22 percent) than males (45.78 percent) among the senior citizens population.

Dependency ratio decreased to 53 dependents per 100 persons in the working age group

In 2015, the young dependents (0 to 14 years) comprised 29.47 percent of the household population while the old dependents (65 years and over) posted a share of 5.50 percent. The working-age population (15 to 64 years) accounted for the remaining 65.04 percent.

The overall dependency ratio was 53, which indicates that for every 100working-age population, there were about 53 dependents (45 young dependents and 8 old dependents). This ratio is lower than the dependency ratio in 2010, which was recorded at 55 dependents per 100 working age population.

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

Of the household population 10 years old and over, 44.01 percent were married while 41.83 percent were never married. The rest of the population were categorized as follows: widowed (5.08 percent), common-law/live-in marital arrangement (7.82 percent), and divorced/separated (1.26 percent).

Among the never married persons, 56.01 percent were males while 43.99 percent were females.

More females had attained higher levels of education

Of the total population aged five years and over, 26.93 percent had attended or completed elementary education, 43.22 percent had reached or finished high school, 1.87 percent had attended or finished post-secondary schooling,10.79 percent were college undergraduates, and 12.04 percent were academic degree holders.  Among those with an academic degree, the females (57.88 percent) outnumbered the males (42.12 percent).  Similarly, more females (67.50 percent) than males (32.50 percent) had pursued post baccalaureate courses.

Literacy rate was posted at 99.23 percent

Of the household population age 10 years old and over, 99.23 percent were literate. Among those who were literate, males (51.11 percent) slightly outnumbered the females (48.89 percent).

Seven in every ten school age population currently attending school

Of the 7,243-household population 5-24 years, 66.53 percent were attending school. Of those persons reported to be attending school, 38.29 percent were aged 5-9 years, 36.23 percent were aged 10-14 years, 21.95 percent were aged 15-19 years, and the remaining 3.53 percent were between 20-24 years.

Male gainful workers outnumbered their female counterpart

Of the 13,850-household population 15 years old and over in Pugo, La Union, 67.0 percent (or 9,280persons) were gainful workers. Male gainful workers outnumbered their female counterpart. They comprised 64.83 percent of all the gainful workers from this municipality. Elementary occupations made up the largest percentage (24.55 percent) of the total gainful workers from this municipality in 2015, followed byservice and sales workers (21.50 percent),skilled agricultural forestry and fishery workers (19.96 percent), and plant and machine operators and assemblers (7.98 percent).          

Roman Catholics accounted for 78.0 percent ofPugo’s total population

Among the total population inPugo, La Union in 2015, 78.0 percent reported Roman Catholic as their religious affiliation. The next largest religious affiliation in the municipality was the Evangelicals (Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches) with 7.81 percent.  This was followed by National Council of Churches in the Philippines with 3.80 percent, Iglesiani Cristo with 3.44 percent, and United Church of Christ in the Philippineswith 2.48 percent.

Average household size was 4.1 persons

The number of households in 2015 was recorded at 4,811, higher by 1,197 households compared with the 3,614 households posted in 2010.  The average household size in 2015 was 4.1 persons, lower than the average household size of 4.6 persons in 2010.

TECHINICAL NOTES

• Population growth rate - the rate at which the population is increasing (or decreasing) in a given period due to natural increase and net migration, expressed as a percentage of the base population.

• Total population - the sum of the household population and institutional population. It also includes Filipinos in Philippine embassies, consulates, and missions abroad

• Household population - comprises of persons who belong to a household, the basic criterion of which is the usual place of residence or the place where the person usually resides

• Institutional population - the population enumerated in collective or institutional living quarters such as: dormitories/lodging houses, jails/prisons, military camps, convents/seminaries, and mental hospitals

• Household - a social unit consisting of a person living alone or a group of persons who sleep in the same housing unit and have a common arrangement in the preparation and consumption of food

• Average household size - the average number of persons who live in the household, computed as the household population in a given area divided by the corresponding total number of households in that area

• Head of the household - an adult person, male or female, who is responsible for the organization and care of the household, or who is regarded as such by the members of the household

• Sex ratio - the ratio of males to females in a given population, expressed as the number of males per 100 females

• Age - the interval of time between a person’s date of birth and the census reference date (1 August 2015). Expressed in completed years (as of last birthday), it is recorded in whole number

• Median age - the age at which exactly half of the population is younger than this age and the other half is older than it

• Overall dependency ratio - the ratio of persons in the dependent ages (under 15 years old and over 64 years old) to persons in the economically active or working ages (15 to 64 years old) in the population

• Marital status - the personal status of each individual with reference to the marriage laws or customs of the country

• Religious affiliation - a particular system of beliefs, attitudes, emotions, and behaviors constituting man’s relationship with the powers and principalities of the universe

• School attendance rate - the proportion of persons 5 to 24 years old who were attending school during the School Year June 2015 to March 2016 to school-age population (5 to 24 years old)

• Simple literacy rate - the proportion of persons aged 10 years and over who are able to read and write a simple message in any language or dialect

• Highest grade / year completed - the highest grade or year completed in school, college or university

• Usual activity / occupation - the kind of job or business, which a person aged 15 years and over was engaged in most of the time during the 12 months preceding the census

• Overseas worker - a household member (15 years old and over) who is out of the country due to an overseas employment

The 2015 Census of Population (POPCEN 2015) was undertaken by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in August 2015 as mandated by Republic Act No. 10625, otherwise known as the Philippine Statistics Act of 2013.  It was the 14^th census of population that was undertaken since the first census in 1903. POPCEN 2015 was designed to take an inventory of the total population all over the Philippines and collect information about their characteristics. Census day for the POPCEN 2015 was August 1, 2015 (12:01 a.m.).  POPCEN 2015 made use of the de jure concept of enumeration wherein households and persons are enumerated in the area where they usually reside as of the census reference date. Enumeration lasted for about 25 days, from 10 August to 6 September 2015. Enumeration was extended until 15 September 2015 for large provinces and some highly urbanized cities.

            NIÑO E. TUAZON

(Supervising Statistical Specialist)

             Officer-in-Charge