Selected Statistics on Women and Men in Central Visayas (Population, Life Expectancy, Marital Status, Literacy, Education and Economic Participation)

Release Date :

27 March 2024

Reference Number :

2024-SR07-011

Central Visayas Population in 2020 is relatively young

The region’s population remains relatively young as shown by the broad-based population pyramid in 2020. (Figure 1)

Of the 8.05 million household population in 2020, 4.08 million or 50.7 percent were males while 3.97 million or 49.3 percent were females. By age group, 2.46 million or 30.6 percent were under 15 years of age (young dependents). (Table 1)

On the other hand, persons aged 15 to 64 years (working-age or economically-active population) totaled 5.11 million or 63.5 percent while those in age groups 65 years and over (old dependents) comprised the remaining 479.73 thousand or 6.0 percent.

(Table 1)

Moreover, there were more males (44.7 percent) than females (42.3 percent) among the 0 to 54 age group in 2020. Meanwhile, among the older age group (55 years and over), females (7.0 percent) outnumbered the males (6.0 percent). (Table 1)

Table 1. Household Population and Sex Ratio by Age Group,
Region VII: 2020

Age Group

Women

Men

No.

Sex Ratio

REGION VII

3,965,147

49.3

4,081,138

50.7

103

0 - 4

394,182

4.9

423,959

5.3

108

5 - 9

399,180

5.0

431,637

5.4

108

10 - 14

391,981

4.9

419,576

5.2

107

15 - 19

379,988

4.7

397,400

4.9

105

20 - 24

361,173

4.5

373,697

4.6

103

25 - 29

337,835

4.2

350,216

4.4

104

30 - 34

289,228

3.6

308,209

3.8

107

35 - 39

251,292

3.1

268,314

3.3

107

40 - 44

224,494

2.8

237,155

2.9

106

45 - 49

198,430

2.5

206,045

2.6

104

50 - 54

176,971

2.2

179,404

2.2

101

55 - 59

156,170

1.9

155,191

1.9

60 - 64

131,079

1.6

123,750

1.5

65 - 69

100,884

1.3

88,553

1.1

70 - 74

70,150

0.9

55,714

0.7

75 - 79

48,703

0.6

33,456

0.4

80 years and over

53,407

0.7

28,862

0.4

Source: 2020 Census of Population and Housing, Philippine Statistics Authority

Table 2. Total Population of Youth Aged 15-24 By Sex, Age Group, by Province, Region VII: 2020

Province/Age Group

Women

Men

No.

REGION VII

741,161

771,097

BOHOL

124,939

9.0

134,059

9.6

15 - 19

68,835

5.0

73,397

5.3

20 - 24

56,104

4.0

60,662

4.4

CEBU (excluding CITIES OF CEBU, LAPU-LAPU, and MANDAUE)

301,163

9.1

317,644

9.6

15 - 19

155,927

4.7

165,001

5.0

20 - 24

145,236

4.4

152,643

4.6

CITY OF CEBU (Capital)

94,597

9.9

93,531

9.8

15 - 19

44,535

4.6

44,902

4.7

20 - 24

50,062

5.2

48,629

5.1

CITY OF LAPU-LAPU (OPON)

47,431

9.6

47,213

9.5

15 - 19

22,316

4.5

22,730

4.6

20 - 24

25,115

5.1

24,483

4.9

CITY OF MANDAUE

35,144

9.7

35,592

9.9

15 - 19

15,732

4.4

16,120

4.5

20 - 24

19,412

5.4

19,472

5.4

NEGROS ORIENTAL

129,282

9.0

133,975

9.4

15 - 19

68,031

4.8

70,409

4.9

20 - 24

61,251

4.3

63,566

4.4

SIQUIJOR

8,605

8.4

9,083

8.8

15 - 19

4,612

4.5

4,841

4.7

20 - 24

3,993

3.9

4,242

4.1

Source: 2020 Census of Population, Philippine Statistics Authority

Table 2. Total Population of Youth Aged 15-24 By Sex, Age Group, by Province, Region VII: 2020

Province/Age Group

Women

Men

No.

REGION VII

741,161

771,097

BOHOL

124,939

9.0

134,059

9.6

15 - 19

68,835

5.0

73,397

5.3

20 - 24

56,104

4.0

60,662

4.4

CEBU (excluding CITIES OF CEBU, LAPU-LAPU, and MANDAUE)

301,163

9.1

317,644

9.6

15 - 19

155,927

4.7

165,001

5.0

20 - 24

145,236

4.4

152,643

4.6

CITY OF CEBU (Capital)

94,597

9.9

93,531

9.8

15 - 19

44,535

4.6

44,902

4.7

20 - 24

50,062

5.2

48,629

5.1

CITY OF LAPU-LAPU (OPON)

47,431

9.6

47,213

9.5

15 - 19

22,316

4.5

22,730

4.6

20 - 24

25,115

5.1

24,483

4.9

CITY OF MANDAUE

35,144

9.7

35,592

9.9

15 - 19

15,732

4.4

16,120

4.5

20 - 24

19,412

5.4

19,472

5.4

NEGROS ORIENTAL

129,282

9.0

133,975

9.4

15 - 19

68,031

4.8

70,409

4.9

20 - 24

61,251

4.3

63,566

4.4

SIQUIJOR

8,605

8.4

9,083

8.8

15 - 19

4,612

4.5

4,841

4.7

20 - 24

3,993

3.9

4,242

4.1

Source: 2020 Census of Population, Philippine Statistics Authority

In 2020, there were more men (51.0 percent) than women (49.0 percent) among the youth in the region. Same trend was seen in all provinces except for the City of Cebu and City of Lapu-Lapu where youth women were more than the youth men. (Table 2)

In 2020, more than half or 55.0 percent of the senior citizens in the region were women. In all age groups for senior citizens, population of women were relatively higher than men. (Figure 2)

Women live longer than men

Females who are born between 2000 to 2040 are expected to live longer by 5 years than their male counterparts in Central Visayas. The life expectancy at birth for those born at this period is 75.1 years for females and 70.1 years for male. This is projected to improve further in 2035 to 2040 when life expectancy at birth is expected to rise to 78.9 years for females and 73.9 for males. The gap between the projected life expectancy between female and male is expected to narrow down from 5.3 in 2000-2005 to 5.0 in 2035-2040. (Figure 3)

More single men than women in Central Visayas

Of the household population 10 years and over in 2020, there were more single men than women in the region with 54.3 percent and 45.7 percent, respectively. However, women outnumbered men among married, widowed, common-law/live-in, divorced/separated and unknown status population. (Table 3)

Table 3. Household Population 10 Years Old and Over by Age Group, Sex, Marital Status, Region VII: 2020

Sex and Age Group

Household Population
10 Years Old
and over

Marital Status

Single

Married

Common-law / Live-in

Widowed

Divorced/ Separated/ Annulled

Unknown

Male

Below 20

816,976

788,610

9,830

18,303

122

20 - 24

373,697

263,366

32,353

77,051

196

711

25 - 29

350,216

145,870

90,756

111,248

413

1,906

30 - 34

308,209

74,354

139,890

89,789

859

3,298

35 - 39

268,314

40,072

160,007

62,183

1,381

4,657

40 - 44

237,155

23,927

162,088

43,169

2,488

5,474

45 - 49

206,045

14,981

151,409

30,400

3,967

5,280

50 - 54

179,404

9,809

137,591

21,814

5,819

4,368

55 - 59

155,191

5,791

121,149

16,397

7,967

3,880

60 - 64

123,750

3,740

95,577

11,537

9,990

2,900

65 - 69

88,553

2,333

66,511

7,214

10,601

1,891

70 - 74

55,714

1,329

39,572

3,925

9,808

1,077

75 - 79

33,456

735

21,835

2,091

8,320

472

80 years and over

28,862

801

15,038

1,650

11,075

297

Total

3,225,542

1,375,718

1,243,606

496,771

72,972

36,333

142

Female

Below 20

771,969

723,945

11,861

35,338

126

656

20 - 24

361,173

205,789

51,463

100,888

361

2,637

25 - 29

337,835

99,352

120,840

111,817

911

4,886

30 - 34

289,228

46,115

156,078

78,598

1,962

6,447

35 - 39

251,292

24,683

163,987

51,923

3,323

7,361

40 - 44

224,494

15,155

159,366

36,312

5,949

7,699

45 - 49

198,430

10,616

146,087

25,701

9,297

6,713

50 - 54

176,971

8,227

129,254

18,688

15,062

5,734

55 - 59

156,170

6,232

109,473

13,892

21,651

4,914

60 - 64

131,079

5,300

83,785

9,927

28,333

3,712

65 - 69

100,884

3,758

56,506

6,833

31,343

2,436

70 - 74

70,150

2,887

31,946

4,274

29,845

1,191

75 - 79

48,703

2,149

17,248

2,603

26,134

564

80 years and over

53,407

2,851

11,742

2,958

35,423

417

Total

3,171,785

1,157,059

1,249,636

499,752

209,720

55,367

251

Overall Total

6,397,327

2,532,777

2,493,242

996,523

282,692

91,700

393

Source: 2020 Census of Population and Housing, Philippine Statistics Authority

More women are literate than men in 2019

In 2019, women posted a simple literacy rate of 96.9 percent. This figure is higher compared to that of men at 94.8 percent. Consequently, women had a higher functional literacy rate at 91.0 percent compared to that of men at 87.2 percent. (Figure 4)

Simple literacy rate among women in Central Visayas increased by 1.31 percentage points while those of men decreased by 0.18 percentage points, respectively, from 2008 to 2019. The literacy rate for women improved from 95.60 percent in 2008 to 96.91 percent in 2019, while the literacy rate for men also increased from 94.60 percent to 94.78 percent in the same period. It can be noted that, however, the literacy rate among women has been consistently higher than men from 2008 to 2019. (Figure 5)

In terms of functional literacy, women in Central Visayas achieved higher functional literacy rate than men from 2008 to 2019. In general, both functional literacy rates of women and men improved from 2008 to 2019. (Figure 6)

Table 4. Basic Literacy Rate of Population 10 Years Old and Over by Sex and Age Group, Region VII: 2008, 2013 and 2019

Year

Population 10 Years and Over

Basic Literacy Rate

(In thousands)

(In percent)

Male

Female

Male

Female

2008

2,647

2,637

94.6

95.6

10 - 14

442

400

95.1

97.9

15 - 19

397

410

96.7

98.8

20 - 24

292

268

97.6

97.4

25 - 29

272

249

96.0

97.8

30 - 39

451

459

93.5

96.4

40 - 49

346

347

95.3

97.0

50 - 59

228

239

94.5

93.8

60 and over

218

265

84.7

82.4

2013

2,841

2,814

95.5

96.9

10 - 14

384

359

98.3

99.4

15 - 19

382

360

99.0

99.1

20 - 24

342

329

95.7

98.8

25 - 29

294

282

97.6

98.6

30 - 39

489

474

94.8

97.7

40 - 49

395

385

93.6

95.6

50 - 59

287

292

95.8

95.3

60 and over

269

333

87.3

89.7

2019

3,153

3,105

94.8

96.9

10 - 14

406

383

98.3

99.4

15 - 19

382

363

99.0

99.1

20 - 24

365

347

95.7

98.8

25 - 29

334

315

97.6

98.6

30 - 39

572

541

94.8

97.7

40 - 49

438

424

93.6

95.6

50 - 59

329

331

95.8

95.3

60 and over

327

402

87.3

89.7

Note: The Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey is conducted every five years

Source: 2008, 2013, and 2019 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), Philippine Statistics Authority

Generally, basic literacy rates of women by age group in Central Visayas were higher compared to men except the age group of 50-59 in 2008, 2013 and 2019, age group of 60 and over in 2008, and age group of 20-24 in 2008. (Table 4)

Table 5. Functional Literacy Rate of Population 10 to 64 years old by Sex and Age Group, Region VII: 2008, 2013, 2019

Year

Population 10 Years and Over

(In thousands)

Functional Literacy Rate

(In percent)

Male

Female

Male

Female

2008

2,499

2,449

84.4

88.8

10 - 14

442

400

79.0

86.9

15 - 19

419

90.8

91.6

20 - 24

270

259

92.3

95.6

25 - 29

260

246

89.0

96.2

30 - 39

470

461

81.7

89.3

40 - 49

332

347

82.3

85.5

50 - 59

236

240

79.6

80.8

60 and over

77.1

73.5

2013

2,667

2,585

84.8

89.8

10 - 14

384

359

80.2

83.4

15 - 19

382

360

90.9

95.7

20 - 24

342

329

92.3

96.3

25 - 29

294

282

91.3

94.3

30 - 39

489

474

82.1

90.5

40 - 49

395

385

80.9

86.8

50 - 59

287

292

82.3

84.1

60 and over

103

69.4

83.2

2019

2,946

2,833

87.2

91.0

10 - 14

719

80.6

83.7

15 - 19

677

684

92.0

95.2

20 - 24

646

656

95.8

96.7

25 - 29

591

593

92.7

96.8

30 - 39

1,013

1,018

91.1

95.8

40 - 49

776

798

86.2

90.5

50 - 59

583

623

72.6

81.7

60 and over

213

244

76.8

76.2

Note: The Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey is conducted every five years

Source: 2008, 2013 and 2019 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), Philippine Statistics Authority

Functional literacy rates of women by age group in Central Visayas were higher than that of men except for age group 60 and over in 2008 and 2019. In 2013, women functional literacy rates were higher at all age groups compared to men. Functional literacy rate of women at age group 25 – 29 was the highest among women age groups at 96.8 percent in 2019. Furthermore, age group 20-24 among men recorded the highest functional literacy at 95.8 percent in 2019. (Table 5)

More men were enrolled in basic public schools, but more female enrolled in basic private schools of Central Visayas in S.Y. 2021-2022

Table 6. Enrolment in Public Schools by Level of Education, Sex, and Province, Region VII: S.Y. 2021 – 2022

Level of Education/ Province/City

Girls

Boys

No.

Kinder & Elementary

Region VII

512,649

47.62

563,874

52.38

Bohol

85,131

47.62

96,640

52.38

Cebu

323,203

47.75

353,715

52.25

Negros Oriental

98,570

47.84

107,472

52.16

Siquijor

5,745

48.72

6,047

51.28

Secondary (Junior)

Region VII

275,196

48.35

294,037

51.65

Bohol

44,176

47.53

48,773

52.47

Cebu

176,524

48.12

190,295

51.88

Negros Oriental

51,295

49.87

51,557

50.13

Siquijor

3,201

48.40

3,412

51.6

Secondary (Senior)

Region VII

114,272

48.99

118,970

51.01

Bohol

23,754

48.58

25,144

51.42

Cebu

65,783

48.01

71,227

51.99

Negros Oriental

23,340

52.63

21,011

47.37

Siquijor

1,395

46.77

1,588

53.23

Source: Department of Education VII

There were more males than females enrolled in public kindergarten and elementary, junior secondary, and senior secondary schools in the region during S.Y. 2021-2022. However, when looking at the provinces in the region, it can be noted that there were more females than males enrolled in public senior secondary schools in Negros Oriental of the same school year. (Table 6)

Table 7. Enrolment in Private Schools by Level of Education, Sex and Province, Region VII: S.Y. 2021 – 2022

Level of Education/ Province/City

Girls

Boys

No.

Kinder & Elementary

Region VII

37,790

48.50

40,135

51.50

Bohol

5,692

48.36

6,078

51.64

Cebu

28,034

48.66

29,580

51.34

Negros Oriental

3,781

47.43

4,191

52.57

Siquijor

283

49.74

286

50.26

Secondary (Junior)

Region VII

43,205

50.11

43,008

49.89

Bohol

10,096

48.38

10,772

51.62

Cebu

28,644

50.80

27,742

49.20

Negros Oriental

4,212

50.30

4,162

49.70

Siquijor

253

43.25

332

56.75

Secondary (Senior)

Region VII

58,947

54.19

49,827

45.81

Bohol

7,374

50.97

7,092

49.03

Cebu

46,490

54.80

38,340

45.20

Negros Oriental

4,817

54.40

4,037

45.60

Siquijor

266

42.63

358

57.37

Source: Department of Education VII

There were more females than males enrolled in private junior and senior secondary schools in the region during S.Y. 2021-2022. However, there were more males enrolled in private kindergarten and elementary schools than females in the same school year. (Table 7)

Economic Participation of currently married women in Central Visayas have significantly increased over time

Table 8. Percent Distribution of Current Married Women Aged 15-49 who Earned Cash in the past 12 months, by the Person who Decides how Earnings are Used, Region VII: 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2022

Person who decides how earnings are used

Self only/ Mainly

Mainly husband

No. of Women Respondents

Year

wife

Jointly

Other

Missing

Total

2003

68.0

28.8

2.7

0.5

0.0

100

399

2008

42.8

51.9

5.3

0.0

100

306

2013

45.9

50.5

2.7

0.0

0.8

100

392

2017

54.0

44.0

2.0

0.0

100

504

2022

55.4

41.0

3.5

0.0

100

601

Note: Details may not add up to totals due to rounding

Source: National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), Philippine Statistics Authority

In 2022, the percentage of married women in Central Visayas who decide jointly with their husband or partner on how earnings are to be used decreased to 41.0 percent from 44.0 percent in 2017, while those who decide solely by themselves increased to 55.4 percent from 54.0 percent in 2017. (Table 8)

Approved by:

ARIEL E. FLORENDO

Regional Director

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Special Release on Women and Men

Statistics on Women and Men in Central Visayas (Population, Life Expectancy, Marital Status, Employment, Literacy, and Education)

Republic of the Philippines

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