Guimaras has fastest growing population among WV’s provinces

Guimaras’ population grew by 1.55 percent in the past five years, the fastest growing among Western Visayas Region provinces, according to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (CPH).

“Based on the 2020 CPH, Guimaras has the least population among the five provinces in Region VI in terms of number, but its population growth from 2015 to 2020 outpaced the other provinces”, Provincial Statistical Officer (PSO) Nelida B. Losare said.

Other provinces with a high Population Growth Rate (PGR) next to Guimaras were Aklan with 1.45 percent and Iloilo (excludeing City of Iloilo) with 1.23 percent.

Negros Occidental posted a slower PGR at 1.04 percent, followed by Antique (1.10) and Capiz (1.18).

“Among the provinces of Western Visayas, Antique and Iloilo registered decrements in the PGR from 2015-2020 compared to PGR for 2010-2015,” Losare said.

Losare also cited that Guimaras has a total population of 187,842, which was officially declared by President Rodrigo Duterte through Proclamation No. 1179 on July 6, 2021.

“It represents the total number of persons living in Guimaras Province as of 12:01 am on May 1, 2020, including Guimarasnon overseas workers that are away at the time of the census but expected to return within five (5) years from the date of the last departure,” she said

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In 2020, Guimaras saw 13,229 more residents compared to its 2015 population, posting a 1.55 percent PGR, higher than the 1.33 percent PGR recorded in 2010-2015 (See Table 1).

The most populous town in Guimaras in 2020 is Buenavista with 52,899 or 28.16 percent of the provincial total.

Buenavista is followed by the municipalities of Nueva Valencia and Jordan, with 42,771 and 39,566 individuals, respectively.

“Municipalities with the least population are San Lorenzo and Sibunag with 29,444 and 23,162 individuals, respectively,” Losare said.

The highest population growth for five-year period was in San Lorenzo with 2.56 percent after gaining 3,332 more persons; followed by Jordan and Nueva Valencia with a PGR of 1.95 and 1.52 percent from 2015 to 2020, respectively.

“The lowest annual PGR was observed in Sibunag with 0.94 percent and Buenavista with 1.01 percent,” Losare said.

Losare said PSA Guimaras won the battle against “hard blocks and challenges” brought by the COVID-19 pandemic in the implementation of the 2020 CPH.

She attributed the success to the brave and hardworking men and women PSA staff and CPH hired personnel, the strong support of the Local Chief Executives, and the cooperation and support of the Guimarasnons.

“Amidst the COVID 19 Pandemic, the PSA was able to release quality and timely information or data that played a significant role in policy-making, development planning, business market analyses, risk reduction, and crisis response, and most especially for good governance,” Losare said. 

The 2020 Census of Population and Housing is the 15th Census of Population since 1903. It is also the 7th Census of Housing since that year.

“The PSA Guimaras will be having a data dissemination forum on August 10, 2021, to officially release the result of the 2020 CPH by municipality and barangay,” Losare said.