THE Philippine population continues to grow with the country now being ranked as the 13th most populous country in the world.

According to the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), the number of Filipinos are expected to hit the 115-million mark by the end of 2023.

The latest census as of 2020 showed that the country’s population was at more than 109 million.

This is 1.6 percent higher with the annual population growth.

“Ang Pilipinas ang 13th most populous country around the world at 7th in the Asia-Pacific region,” CPD officer in charge Lolito Tacardon said.
 

The same survey also said that many Filipinos are considered part of the working age population, aged between 15 and 64 years old.

“Malaki po ang chance natin na ma-accelerate ang ating economic development,” Tacardon said.

He also said that the number of Filipinos that are considered as part of the dependent ages of 0 to 14 years old has decreased over the past few years.

Meanwhile, the total fertility rate or average number of children that are born to a woman is 2.

“If manageable po yung bilang ng anak ng bawat pamilya, magkakaroon ng mas malaking investment para sa kanilang kalusugan, pag-aaral at other needs,” Tacardon said.

While the Philippines’ demographics has been “steady” in the past decades, the government has seen an increase in the number of teenage pregnancies in the country, Tacardon said.

“Pabata nang pabata na teenage pregnancy… Among 0-14 years old, dumadami yung bilang ng mas maagang nabubuntis,” he said.