Population reached 2.75 million

As of May 1, 2000, the total population of Northern Mindanao, which covers the provinces of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental; and the city of Cagayan de Oro, was 2,747,585 persons. This implied an increase of 264,313 persons over the 1995 census figure or an average annual population growth rate of 2.19 percent, lower than the annual population growth rate recorded during the 1990 to 1995 period (2.32 percent). If the average annual growth rate continues at 2.19 percent, the population of the region is expected to double in 32 years, increasing on the average, by 60,172 persons a year or about seven persons per hour.

Four in every seven persons were economically active

In Northern Mindanao region, about 58 percent of the population belonged to productive ages or economically active persons (15 to 64 years old). On the other hand, the young dependents (aged 0 to 14 years) accounted for about 39 percent while four percent were old dependents (aged 65 years and over). The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 73. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15-64 years, there were about 73 dependents, i.e., 67 young dependents and six old dependents.

Half of the population were below 20 years

Northern Mindanao had a median age of 20 years. This meant that half of the population were below 20 years old. The province of Misamis Occidental had the highest median age of 22 years. This was followed by the island province of Camiguin and the city of Cagayan de Oro, both with 21 years while the province of Misamis Oriental had 20 years. On the other hand, the province of Bukidnon had the youngest at 17 years.

Sex ratio recorded at 104

In 2000, the sex ratio in Northern Mindanao was recorded at 104. This meant that in this region, there were 104 males for every 100 females.

Three in every four persons were Roman Catholics

Majority of the total household population in Northern Mindanao were Roman Catholics. It comprised more than 78 percent of the total household population, followed by Aglipayan (five percent) and Evangelicals (three percent). The remaining 14 percent belonged to Seventh Day Adventist, Iglesia ni Cristo, or other religions.

Most of the population were literate

In 2000, more than 91 percent of the total household population aged 10 years old and over in Northern Mindanao were literate. Literacy rate for females was slightly higher (92 percent) than their male counterparts (91 percent).

Average number of children ever born was three

In Northern Mindanao, ever-married women (15 to 49 years) in reproductive ages had on the average, three children during their reproductive period. The number of children ever born was relatively low at the younger age group 15 to 19 years and continued to increase as they became older.

More male overseas contract workers

In 2000, there were 14,681 overseas contract workers or about 0.54 percent of the total household population. It was noted that among them, males (56 percent) outnumbered females (44 percent). The median age of overseas workers in Northern Mindanao was 31 years. This meant that half of the overseas workers were below 31 years old. Male overseas workers had a median age of 33 years while their female counterparts had 29 years.

Four in every seven households drew water for drinking and/or cooking from community water system

The main source of water for drinking and/or cooking by the households was community water system, accounting for more than 58 percent. About 30 percent of the total number of households in Northern Mindanao region had their own faucet and more than 28 percent shared faucet from community water system for drinking and/or cooking. The island province of Camiguin had the highest proportion (92 percent) of households that drew water for drinking and/or cooking from community water system while the province of Misamis Occidental had the lowest with only about 45 percent. However, about 20 percent of the households in the region still depended on spring, lake, river, rain, etc. as their main source of water for drinking and/or cooking.

Most households used electricity for lighting

Electricity was the main source of lighting of more than 58 percent of the total households in the region. About 39 percent had used kerosene or gaas. Cagayan de Oro City had the highest proportion of households that used electricity for lighting constituting more than 86 percent. This was followed by the province of Misamis Occidental with about 63 percent. On the other hand, the province of Bukidnon had the lowest (42 percent).

Most households burned their garbage

Of the total households, about 55 percent preferred burning as their usual manner of garbage disposal. More than 19 percent of the households had their garbage picked up by garbage truck while about 13 percent dumped their garbage in individual pit. The rest of the households disposed their garbage either by composting, burying or feeding to animals.

Two in every five households had television set

Of the total 542,071 households in Northern Mindanao region, about 71 percent had radio/cassette and more than 40 percent had television set. About eight percent reported to have telephone or cellular phone while about nine percent had motorized vehicle.

Thirty seven percent of households owned a land

In 2000, 37 percent of the total households in Northern Mindanao region owned a land. A large proportion of the households (29.23 percent) had an agricultural land (3.31 percent of households acquired the land through Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) or were Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB)) and 25.92 percent through other means); 17 percent, residential land other than where the households currently resided and more than two percent had land other than residential and agricultural.

Three in every four households owned/ amortized the houses they occupied

Of the total 542,071 households in Northern Mindanao region, about 75 percent owned or amortized the houses they occupied; 14 percent, occupied for free with consent of owner; and about seven percent households were renters.