Besao, Province of Mountain Province

Summary data
Typemunicipality
Island groupLuzon
RegionCordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
ProvinceMountain Province
Barangay count14
Postal code2618
Coastal/Landlockedlandlocked
Marine waterbodiesnone (landlocked)
Philippine major island(s)Luzon
Area (2013)173.62 km2 (67.04 sq mi)
Population (2020)6,873
Density (2020)40 / km2 (103 / sq mi)
Coordinates17° 6' North, 120° 51' East (17.0952, 120.8560)
Estimated elevation above sea level1,393.8 meters (4,571.6 feet)

Besao is a municipality in the landlocked province of Mountain Province.

The municipality has a land area of 173.62 square kilometers or 67.04 square miles which constitutes 7.27% of Mountain Province's total area. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 6,873. This represented 4.34% of the total population of Mountain Province, or 0.38% of the overall population of the Cordillera Administrative Region. Based on these figures, the population density is computed at 40 inhabitants per square kilometer or 103 inhabitants per square mile.

Barangays

Besao has 14 barangays as shown in the following table.

Demographic profile of barangays
Local government units of Besao
BarangayPopulation percentage (2020)Population (2020)Population (2015)Change (2015‑2020)Annual Population Growth Rate (2015‑2020)
Agawa5.18%356400-11.00%-2.42%
Ambaguio2.75%189256-26.17%-6.19%
Banguitan9.18%631669-5.68%-1.22%
Besao East4.20%289319-9.40%-2.06%
Besao West5.47%376387-2.84%-0.61%
Catengan8.44%5805662.47%0.52%
Gueday9.05%622683-8.93%-1.95%
Kin-iway12.38%8517907.72%1.58%
Lacmaan2.68%184211-12.80%-2.84%
Laylaya12.70%8738018.99%1.83%
Padangan6.17%424465-8.82%-1.92%
Payeo5.94%408417-2.16%-0.46%
Suquib4.26%293314-6.69%-1.45%
Tamboan11.60%7977624.59%0.95%
Besao Total6,8737,040-2.37%-0.50%

Economy

The annual regular revenue of Besao for the fiscal year of 2016 was 58,849,629.20.

details
Annual regular income of Besao (2009‑2016)
Fiscal YearAnnual Regular IncomeChange
200934,087,683.11
201035,879,931.275.26%
201138,779,231.978.08%
201237,618,203.51-2.99%
201341,787,224.0811.08%
201447,146,478.6412.83%
201553,521,147.6813.52%
201658,849,629.209.96%

End notes:

  • Annual Regular Income = Locally Sourced Revenue + Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) Current Year + Other Shares from National Tax Collection
  • Locally Sourced Revenue = Real Property Tax (General Fund) + Tax on Business + Other Taxes + Regulatory Fees + Service/User Charges + Receipts from Economic Enterprises

Demographics

Households

The household population of Besao in the 2015 Census was 7,035 broken down into 1,712 households or an average of 4.11 members per household.

details
Number of households in Besao (1990‑2015)
Census dateHousehold populationNumber of householdsAverage household size
8,4121,7214.89
9,0541,7605.14
10,0551,7705.68
7,2951,6414.45
7,8181,8304.27
7,0351,7124.11

Population by age group

According to the 2015 Census, the age group with the highest population in Besao is 10 to 14, with 826 individuals. Conversely, the age group with the lowest population is Under 1, with 104 individuals.

details
Population of Besao by age group (2015 census)
Age groupPopulation (2015)Age group percentage
Under 11041.48%
1 to 45607.95%
5 to 975110.67%
10 to 1482611.73%
15 to 197019.96%
20 to 245537.86%
25 to 295277.49%
30 to 344906.96%
35 to 393945.60%
40 to 443645.17%
45 to 493484.94%
50 to 543194.53%
55 to 593024.29%
60 to 642183.10%
65 to 691792.54%
70 to 741401.99%
75 to 791251.78%
80 and over1391.97%
Total7,040100.00%
  • Youth Dependency Ratio: 53.15
  • Old Age Dependency Ratio: 13.83
  • Total Dependency Ratio: 66.98
  • Median Age: 25.24

Historical population

The population of Besao grew from 4,642 in 1918 to 6,873 in 2020, an increase of 2,231 people over the course of 102 years. The latest census figures in 2020 denote a negative growth rate of 0.50%, or a decrease of 167 people, from the previous population of 7,040 in 2015.

details
Population of Besao (1903‑2020)
Census datePopulationGrowth rate
4,642
5,1440.51%
5,7991.24%
8,1743.06%
9,2861.26%
7,051-5.38%
9,0935.22%
8,473-0.70%
9,1471.44%
9,8751.66%
7,295-4.09%
7,8182.55%
7,040-1.98%
6,873-0.50%

The total number of registered voters or electorate in Besao for the year 2019 was 5,118, broken down into 2,707 males and 2,411 females.

Location

The municipal center of Besao is situated at approximately 17° 6' North, 120° 51' East, in the island of Luzon. Elevation at these coordinates is estimated at 1,393.8 meters or 4,571.6 feet above mean sea level.

Distances

Based on the great-circle distance (the shortest distance between two points over the surface of the Earth), the cities closest to Besao are Candon, Ilocos Sur, Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Tabuk, Kalinga, San Fernando, La Union, Baguio, and Santiago, Isabela. The nearest municipalities are Sagada, Mountain Province, Tadian, Mountain Province, Sabangan, Mountain Province, Bauko, Mountain Province, Bontoc, Mountain Province, and Cervantes, Ilocos Sur. Its distance from the national capital is 277.47 kilometers (172.41 miles). The following list delineates such distance measurements.

great-circle distance

Nearest towns

Nearest cities

  • Candon, Ilocos Sur, 44.71 kilometers (27.78 miles) to the West‑Northwest (N76°W)
  • Vigan, Ilocos Sur, 72.69 kilometers (45.17 miles) to the Northwest (N43°W)
  • Tabuk, Kalinga, 77.21 kilometers (47.97 miles) to the East‑Northeast (N57°E)
  • San Fernando, La Union, 78.14 kilometers (48.55 miles) to the Southwest (S47°W)
  • Baguio, 80.63 kilometers (50.10 miles) to the South‑Southwest (S20°W)
  • Santiago, Isabela, 86.22 kilometers (53.58 miles) to the East‑Southeast (S58°E)

Distance from Manila: 277.47 kilometers (172.41 miles) to the South (S3°E)

Notes

  1. Unless otherwise specified, population count (excluding percentages), household data, and land area figures are derived from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
  2. Data on registered voters is from the Commission on Elections.
  3. Data on annual regular income is from the Bureau of Local Government Finance, Department of Finance
  4. Postal code information is from the Philippine Postal Corporation.
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