Total Population increases by 0.94 percent annually

Based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (2020 CPH), the province of La Union posted a total population of 822,352 persons as of 01 May 2020. This is an increase of 35,699 persons over the total population of 786,653 persons in 2015 Census of Population (POPCEN). (Figure 1)

Population increases by 9 persons per year for every 1,000 persons

The increase in the population count of the province from 2015 to 2020 translated to an average annual population growth rate (PGR) of 0.94 percent. This means that there were about 9 persons added per year for every 1,000 persons in the population. (Figure 2)

The annual PGR was higher at 1.12 percent during the period 2010 to 2015 and at 1.21 percent during the period 2000 to 2010.

If the average annual PGR recorded at 0.94 percent during the period 2015 to 2020 continues, the population of La Union would double in 74 years.

Sixty years ago, the population of La Union was only 293,330 persons. This population size is more than one-third of the population of the province in 2020 CPH.

City of San Fernando remain as the most populous in 2020

Among the 19 municipalities and the lone city of the province of La Union, the City of San Fernando was the most populous with a population size making up 15.97 percent of the total provincial population. The municipality of Bauang was second with 9.97 percent share, followed by the municipalities of Agoo with 8.39 percent share, Rosario with 7.66 percent share, Naguilian with 6.63 percent share and Aringay with 6.40 percent share. The rest of the municipalities contributed less than 6.0 percent each.

The least populated area was the municipality of Burgos with 51.1 percent share to the total population of the province. It was also the least populated area in 2015.

Urban population of La Union increases by 21.5 thousand

In 2020, 173.2 thousand or 21.1 percent of the total 822.3 thousand population of La Union lived in urban barangays. This represents an increase of 21.5 thousand persons from the 151.7 thousand urban residents in 2015. The rural population or those who lived in barangays classified as rural in 2020 comprised the remaining 649.2 thousand persons or 78.9 percent of the total population. (Table 1)

Level of urbanization improves by 1.8 percentage points

The level of urbanization or the proportion of the total population living in barangays classified as urban was recorded at 21.1 percent in 2020. This is 1.8 percentage points higher than the 19.3 percent level of urbanization in 2015. (Figure 4)

City of San Fernando ranks first in terms of level of urbanization in the province

Of the 20 city/municipalities of La Union, five city/municipalities registered a level of urbanization higher than the provincial level in 2020 (21.1%). City of San Fernando topped the list with 53.2 percent level of urbanization, followed by Bauang (45.8%), San Juan (26.8%), Rosario (26.7%), and Bacnotan (21.8%). (Table 1)

Sex ratio remains at 102 males per 100 females

Of the 820,343 household population in 2020, males accounted for 50.57 percent while females comprised 49.43 percent. These figures resulted to a sex ratio of 102 males for every 100 females, the same sex ratio recorded in 2015. (Figure 5)

Median age increases to 28.50 years

In 2020, the median age of the household population of the province was 28.50 years, which means that half of the population was younger than 28.50 years. This is higher than the median age of 27.12 years that was recorded in 2015.

Children aged 10 to 14 years (9.20%) comprised the largest age group, followed by those in the age groups 15 to 19 years (9.15%) and 5 to 9 years (8.86%). Males outnumbered females in the age groups 0 to 54 years. On the other hand, there were more females than males in the older age groups (55 years and over).

More than three fifths of the household population are of voting age

The voting-age population (18 years and over) accounted for 68.16 percent of the household population of the province in 2020, up from 65.92 percent in 2015. There were more females (50.06%) than males (49.94%) among the voting-age population.

Dependency ratio decreases to 51 dependents per 100 persons in the working age group

In 2020, the young dependents (0 to 14 years) comprised 26.34 percent of the household population while the old dependents (65 years and over) posted a share of 7.61 percent. The working age population (15 to 64 years) accounted for the remaining 66.06 percent.

The overall dependency ratio was 51, which indicates that for every 100 working age population, there were about 51 dependents (40 young dependents and 11 old dependents). This ratio is lower than the dependency ratio in 2015, which was recorded at 54 dependents per 100 working age population.

Males dominate females among the never-married persons

Of the household population 10 years old and over, 41.30 percent were married while 37.65 percent were never married. The rest of the population were categorized as follows: widowed (5.48%), common-law/live-in marital arrangement (13.44%), and divorced/separated (2.13%).

Among the never-married persons, 55.06 percent were males while 44.94 percent were females.

More females than males attained higher levels of education

Of the household population five years old and over, 24.59 percent had attended or completed elementary education while 41.29 percent had reached or finished high school. Moreover, 9.88 percent were college undergraduates and 15.95 percent were academic degree holders. 

Among those with an academic degree, the females (57.13%) outnumbered the males (42.87%). Similarly, more females (64.29%) than males (35.71%) had pursued post baccalaureate courses.

Literacy rate was recorded at 99.01 percent

La Union posted a literacy rate of 99.01 percent among the 752,442 household population aged 5 years and over. Literacy rate was slightly higher among males (50.45%) than among females (49.55%).

Majority of La Union’s household population are Roman Catholics

Among the household population in La Union in 2020, 84.83 percent reported Roman Catholic as their religious affiliation. The next largest religious affiliation in the province was the Iglesia ni Cristo with 2.85 percent followed by Other Religious Affiliation with 1.89 percent and United Church of Christ in the Philippines with 1.38 percent.

Female overseas workers outnumbered their male counterpart

Of the 604,303 household population 15 years old and over in La Union, 5.45 percent (32,912 persons) were overseas workers. Female overseas workers outnumbered their male counterpart with a total share of 59.94 percent of all the overseas workers in La Union. Overseas workers aged 45 years and over made up the largest age group, comprising 27.16 percent of the total overseas workers in the province, followed by those in the age groups 30 to 34 years (18.62%), 35 to 39 years (16.85%), and 25 to 29 years (15.26%).

Average household size is 4.0 persons

The household population of La Union in 2020 was 820,343 persons, higher by 35,697 persons from the household population of 784,646 persons in 2015. 

The number of households in 2020 was recorded at 205,034, higher by 24,359 households compared with the 180,675 households posted in 2015. The average household size in 2020 was 4.0 persons, lower than the average household size of 4.3 persons in 2015.

About four in every five household population has Ilocano as ethnicity

About four in every five (82.08%) of the 820,343 household population in La Union in 2020 reported Ilocano as their ethnicity. Other major ethnicities were Kankanaey (5.19%), Bago (3.02%), Tagalog (2.87%), Pangasinan (1.26%), and Bisaya/Binisaya (1.22%). (Figure 8)

Proportion of persons with registered births in La Union is 99.39 percent

The 2020 CPH revealed that a total of 815,364 persons had their births registered with the Local Civil Registry Offices (LCROs). This is equivalent to 99.39 percent of the 820,343 household population in 2020.

More males than females have registered births

Among the 815,364 household population whose births were registered with the LCRO, 50.58 percent (412,378 persons) were males, while 49.42 percent (402,986 persons) were females. This translates to a sex ratio of 102 males whose births were registered with the LCRO for every 100 females whose births were also registered. (Figure 9)

TECHNICAL NOTES

EXPLANATORY NOTES

The total population presented in this release is based on the 2020 CPH. The population count is declared official for all purposes by the President of the Philippines, pursuant to Proclamation No. 1179 dated 06 July 2021. The total population represents the total number of persons living as of 12:01 AM on 01 May 2020 in the country. It also includes Filipinos in Philippine embassies, consulates, and missions abroad. 

SGD. DANITES E. TEÑIDO, PhD
Chief Statistical Specialist

/KJGH