Human Resources in Samar

Catbalogan, the provincial capital, has the biggest population density of 702.67 persons per sq. km which is over 4 times more than that of Calbayog City.

Shown below is a comparative table from the latest NSO Population Survey (1995-2007)

City / Municipality	1995 Total Population	2000 Total Population	2007 Total Population
Almagro	10,270	10,619	8,650
Basey	40,114	43,809	48,389
Calbayog City	129,216	147,187	163,657
Calbiga	18,070	18,890	20,309
Catbalogan City (Capital)	76,324	84,180	92,454
Daram	33,745	35,532	38,411
Gandara	27,263	28,866	31,222
Hinabangan	12,151	12,120	12,129
Jiabong	15,484	15,397	15,968
Marabut	10,355	12,335	13,745
Matuguinao	5,205	5,361	6,589
Motiong	13,177	13,147	13,549
Pagsanghan	7,350	7,077	7,981
Pinabacdao	11,590	13,167	14,492
San Jorge	11,935	13,376	14,134
San Jose de Buan	5,471	6,438	6,814
San Sebastian	6,381	6,779	7,365
Sta. Margarita	19,146	21,740	23,488
Sta. Rita	28,930	30,118	34,959
Sto. Niño	12,761	12,545	12,777
Tagapul-an	7,949	8,370	8,067
Talalora	6,565	6,580	7,535
Tarangnan	18,791	20,538	22,767
Villareal	22,390	23,604	25,135
Paranas (Wright)	24,235	27,926	27,820
Zumarraga	14,505	15,423	16,743
TOTAL	589,373	641,124	695,149

The total population of Samar based on its 2000 Census of Population was 641,124 with 124,255 households. There was an increase of 51,751 persons or 8.78% over that of 1995, which was 589,373 persons.

Among the 25 municipalities and one city in the province, Calbayog City posted the largest population of 147,187 inhabitants, which is 22.96 percent of the total population of the province. Catbalogan City, the capital city, is the next populated area with 84,180 individuals or 13.13 percent of the total population (please refer to Table 1). The average annual growth rate of the province stood at 1.82 percent from the 1995 figure and 1.85 percent from the 1990 to the year 2000.

Table 1. Total Population and Households by City/Municipality (as of May 1, 2000)

City/Municipality	Total Population	Household Population	Number of Households	Population Density (PPkm²)
1. Almagro	10,619	10,619	2,192	390.40
2. Basey	43,809	43,726	9,013	76.50
3. Calbayog City	147,187	146,811	28,912	163.00
4. Calbiga	18,890	18,885	3,889	93.01
5. Catbalogan City	84,180	83,929	16,100	702.67
6. Daram	35,532	35,532	6,472	343.64
7. Gandara	28,866	28,775	5,588	66.70
8. Hinabangan	12,120	12,109	2,176	32.56
9. Jiabong	15,397	15,397	3,043	227.43
10. Marabut	12,335	12,326	2,383	124.72
11. Matuguinao	5,361	5,340	875	14.72
12. Motiong	13,147	13,147	2,512	75.38
13 Pagsanghan	7,077	7,075	1,498	235.90
14. Paranas	27,926	27,924	5,200	61.05
15 Pinabacdao	13,167	13,150	2,549	80.78
16. San Jorge	13,376	13,259	2,665	55.46
17. San Jose de Buan	6,438	6,426	1,269	17.55
18. San Sebastian	6,779	6,775	1,268	248.32
19. Sta. Margarita	21,740	21,723	4,191	150.55
20. Sta. Rita	30,118	30,108	5,797	135.36
21. Sto. Niño	12,545	12,545	2,477	395.74
22. Tagapul-an	8,370	8,370	1,677	291.64
23. Talalora	6,580	6,575	1,272	202.46
24. Tarangnan	20,538	20,526	4,020	159.21
25. Villareal	23,604	23,604	4,473	98.60
26. Zumarraga	15,423	15,423	2,849	410.19
Total	641,124	640,079	124,255	114.67

Of the total population of the province in 1995, which was 589,373 persons, the males numbered 303,986 or 18,599 persons more than the female population of 285,387. The males represent 51.58 percent and the females at 48.42 percent of the total population. The 1995 census indicated a sex ratio of 106.5 males/100 females and in 1990, was 106.8 males/100 females. There was almost no change in the sex ratio from 1990 to 1995.

The province of Samar continued to have a young population. The bulk of the population was at the younger ages. In 1995, about two-fifths (42.8%) of the total population were under 15 years of age. More than half (53.0%) of the total population were in the productive age group (15-64 years of age), while 4.2 percent were at 65 years of age.

Crowd attending a religious procession in Catbalogan

Dependency ratio of the province was 89 percent in 1995. This means that for every 100 persons in the working age (15 to 64 years old), there were 89 dependents, that is, 81 persons below 15 years of age and about eight persons 65 years old and over. The median age of the population of the province was 18.6 years and the median age for females (18.7 years) was slightly higher than the males at 18.5 years. The 15-49 years old bracket population represents 44.39 percent of the total population. The male population is 23.13 percent, while the females at 21.26 percent. Among the female population, 43.90 percent comprised the reproductive age of 15-49 years old.

In terms of population density of the province, it shows an increase of 9.26 persons per square kilometer, from 105.41 ppkm² in 1995 to 114.67 ppkm² in year 2000 respectively. Catbalogan, which is the capital city, is the most densely populated in the province with 702. 67 ppkm² followed with the municipality of Zumarraga with 410.19 ppkm², and the least populated is the municipality of Matuginao with 14.72 ppkm² (see Table 1).

The number of households in the province rose to 124,255 in the year 2000. There was an increase of 7.59 percent over that of the 1995 figure of 115,493 households. The average household size in the year 2000 was 5.2 persons, which was the same in 1990. In 1995, it was 5.1 persons. The increase in the average household size implies that, for every 100 households, the reported number of members increased by 10 persons.