Demographics
The population of Santa Rita Samar in the 2015 census was 41,591 people, with a density of 100/km2 (260/sq mi). The predominant language is Waray. Cebuano is also spoken to an extent. In the 2000 Census, Warays comprised 97.78% (366,787) of the total provincial population of 375,124 at that time. Kapampangan came second at 0.55% (2,067), Bisaya/Binisaya 0.43% (1,613), Cebuano at 0.18% (680), and Tagalog at 0.17% (621).
Religion
The people of the province are devoted Christians where a majority adhere to Roman Catholicism. The dominant Catholic faith influences the events of the provincial education, politics and social functions of the people. Other Christians usually form the remaining groups of believers such as the Born-again Christians, Protestants, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Iglesia Ni Cristo, Baptists, Methodists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Seventh-day Adventists. Non Christians (mostly Muslims) are also found.
Population by age group
According to the 2015 Census, the age group with the highest population in Santa Rita is 10 to 14, with 5,401 individuals. Conversely, the age group with the lowest population is 80 and over, with 328 individuals.
Combining age groups together, those aged 14 and below, consisting of the young dependent population which includes infants/babies, children and young adolescents/teenagers, make up an aggregate of 38.89% (16,175). Those aged 15 up to 64, roughly, the economically active population and actual or potential members of the workforce, constitute a total of 55.96% (23,275). Finally, the old dependent population consisting of the senior citizens, those aged 65 and over, total 5.15% (2,141) in all.
The computed Age Dependency Ratios mean that among the population of Santa Rita, there are 70 youth dependents to every 100 of the working age population; there are 9 aged/senior citizens to every 100 of the working population; and overall, there are 79 dependents (young and old-age) to every 100 of the working population.
The median age of 20 indicates that half of the entire population of Santa Rita are aged less than 20 and the other half are over the age of 20.
| Age group | Population (2015) | Age group percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | 1,057 | 2.54% |
| 1 to 4 | 4,336 | 10.43% |
| 5 to 9 | 5,381 | 12.94% |
| 10 to 14 | 5,401 | 12.99% |
| 15 to 19 | 4,653 | 11.19% |
| 20 to 24 | 3,676 | 8.84% |
| 25 to 29 | 2,831 | 6.81% |
| 30 to 34 | 2,376 | 5.71% |
| 35 to 39 | 2,149 | 5.17% |
| 40 to 44 | 2,034 | 4.89% |
| 45 to 49 | 1,869 | 4.49% |
| 50 to 54 | 1,489 | 3.58% |
| 55 to 59 | 1,267 | 3.05% |
| 60 to 64 | 931 | 2.24% |
| 65 to 69 | 791 | 1.90% |
| 70 to 74 | 609 | 1.46% |
| 75 to 79 | 413 | 0.99% |
| 80 and over | 328 | 0.79% |
| Total | 41,591 | 100.00% |
|
||
External Resources:
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 4,110 | — |
| 1918 | 7,245 | +3.85% |
| 1939 | 9,949 | +1.52% |
| 1948 | 14,838 | +4.54% |
| 1960 | 18,808 | +2.00% |
| 1970 | 20,713 | +0.97% |
| 1975 | 24,054 | +3.04% |
| 1980 | 21,640 | −2.09% |
| 1990 | 25,202 | +1.54% |
| 1995 | 28,930 | +2.62% |
| 2000 | 30,118 | +0.87% |
| 2007 | 34,959 | +2.08% |
| 2010 | 38,082 | +3.16% |
| 2015 | 41,591 | +1.69% |
| Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [3] [7] [8][9] | ||
Historical Population
The population of Santa Rita grew from 18,808 in 1960 to 41,591 in 2015, an increase of 22,783 people. The latest census figures in 2015 denote a positive growth rate of 1.69%, or an increase of 3,509 people, from the previous population of 38,082 in 2010.
| Census date | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 18,808 | – | |
| 20,713 | 0.95% | |
| 24,054 | 3.05% | |
| 21,640 | -2.09% | |
| 25,202 | 1.54% | |
| 28,930 | 2.62% | |
| 30,118 | 0.87% | |
| 34,959 | 2.08% | |
| 38,082 | 3.16% | |
| 41,591 | 1.69% |