PALO, Leyte-The Philippine population will continue to increase this New Year, 2018, and is projected to reach around 107,190,081 by the end of the same year.
The figure was based on projections made by the Commission on Population (Popcom) using the latest population census of 2015 by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
“Based on the above projections, the Philippine population will increase by 1.8 million by the end of 2018, growing at a rate of 1.69 percent,” Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez III stated in a press statement issued by its regional office based here.
“That means we will be adding 4,965 Filipinos per day or 206 every hour in 2018,” Perez continued.
A noticeable increase will also be among women of reproductive age.
By the end of 2018, there will be around 27,713,110 women of reproductive age (aged 15-49), an increase of over 400,000 from the previous year’s projection. These women are usually the beneficiaries of reproductive health services under the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health law.
With the increasing trend of pregnancies among 10-14 year-old girls, the number of women and girls of reproductive age would be 33,114,606 (30.5% of the population).
Adolescent girls 10-19 years old next year will increase to 10,697,289. While there is an increase in absolute numbers, the percentage of adolescents in the population is projected to decline to 9.42% for girls 10-19 (from 9.53% in 2017).
Throughout the estimated population age structure, the younger age groups are declining in percentage share compared to 2017 projections: 0-4, 0-14, 10-19 and 15-49). The steepest declines will be seen in the 0-14 (0.30 % decline) and 10-19 (0.23 % decline).
The 15-64 age group increased by .16% from 63.72% to 63.88%. This means that there will be an increasing workforce and older persons, as well as a decreasing population under 14.
This leads to fewer children being born providing an opportunity for demographic dividend which the government can capitalize on.
By year-end 2018 there will be 8,013,059 Filipinos over 60, constituting 8.2% of Filipinos. Of this group, 5,082,049 will be 65 and older. Most countries are considered aging if they have at least 7% of the population over 65 years old. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
