Philippine population seen to rise to 142 mln by 2045

The Philippine population is projected to balloon to 142 million by 2045, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Tuesday.

The increase in the population is expected even with the projected slowing down in average annual population growth rate, from 1.73 percent during 2010-2015 to 0.65 percent during 2040-2045, it said.

The statistics agency said that Region IV-A or Calabarzon in northern part of the country remains the largest in terms of population size even until 2045, with 20.1 million, followed by the National Capital Region and Central Luzon with 14.5 million each.

Western Visayas and Central Visayas come next with 10.4 million each. The Cordillera AdministrativeRegion will continue to report the smallest population with 2.6 million by year 2045.

The 2045 population projection was based on the 2010 census count, showing that there were 93 million Filipinos during that time.

"The age structure of the population of the country from 2010 through 2045 presents an opportunity of economic-demographic advantage. A bulge appears in the working age population, 15-64 years old, for the entire projection period matched by a projected narrowing proportion of young dependents under age 15, from 34 percent to 21 percent between 2010 and 2045," PSA said. Endit