Total population increased by more than 50 percent

The total population of Cotabato City in 2007 was 259,153 persons. It was higher by 58.2 percent from 163,849 persons reported in 2000. This means that the population of this chartered city grew annually at a rate of 6.52 percent for the period 2000 to 2007, or an increase of 4.14 percentage points from the annual population growth rate of 2.38 percent from 1995 to 2000.

Of the 37 barangays of Cotabato City, Bagua II registered the highest population and was the fastest growing barangay with 18,552 persons or 7.2 percent of the city�s total population. This was followed by Poblacion (18,201 persons or 7.0 percent) and Bagua (17,298 persons or 6.7 percent). In 2000, the top three barangays of the city in terms of population size were Poblacion VII, Rosary Heights X, and Poblacion. Tamontaka V was the smallest barangay in terms of population size with 2,118 persons in 2007.

Average household size was 6 persons

The household population in 2007 was 257,821 persons, an increase of 59.6 percent from 161,517 persons in 2000. Similarly, there was an increase of 45.4 percent in the number of households from 31,227 in 2000 to 45,403 in 2007. Given these figures, the average household size in the city rose from 5.2 persons in 2000 to 5.7 persons in 2007

Females outnumbered males

In 2007, the proportion of female household population (51.0 percent) was higher than its male counterpart (49.0 percent). This translated to a sex ratio of 96 males per 100 females.

By age group and sex, male population exceeded female population in age groups 0 to 9 years and 40 to 59 years. Females outnumbered males in ages 10 to 39 years, as well as in ages 60 years and over.

Median age was unchanged at 20 years

Cotabato City maintained its median age of 20 years from 2000 to 2007. This means that half of the household population of the city in 2000 and 2007 were below 20 years old.

The top three largest five-year age groups in the household population was observed in 5 to 9 years (13.2 percent), 15 to 19 years (12.2 percent), and 10 to 14 years (11.5 percent).

More than half were of voting age

In 2007, 56.6 percent of the household population belonged to age group 18 years and over, or the so-called voting-age population. This was 0.4 percentage point lower than the proportion of voting-age population (57.0 percent) posted in 2000. Among persons in the voting-age population in 2007, females (51.6 percent) outnumbered the males (48.4 percent).

About 63 dependents for every 100 persons in the working-age population

Approximately 61.5 percent of the household population of Cotabato City belonged to the working-age population (15 to 64 years). About 36.0 percent were young dependents (under 15 years) while 2.5 percent were old dependents (65 years and over). The overall dependency ratio was 63 dependents (59 young and 4 old) per 100 persons in the working-age population.

More than half of women were of childbearing age

Of the 131,374 female household population, 55.5 percent belonged to childbearing ages (15 to 49 years). This proportion was lower than the reported proportion of childbearing-age population in 2000 (56.2 percent).

Almost half were single persons

About three fourths (75.5 percent) of Cotabato City�s household population were 10 years old and over. From this portion of the household population, 48.6 percent were single while 44.9 percent were married. The remaining proportion were either widowed, divorced/separated, had common-law/live-in marital arrangement, or had unknown marital status. In 2000, there were more persons who were reported as married (46.2 percent) than single (46.0 percent). Furthermore, there were more females than males in all the categories for marital status in 2007. This observation is most apparent between males and females in the proportion of widowed.

Majority had reached at most some high school

Of the 228,739 household population 5 years old and over, 31.3 percent had attended or completed elementary education, 28.0 percent had reached high school, 10.8 percent were college undergraduates, and 10.5 percent were academic degree holders.

Generally, there were more females than males who had reached high school, post secondary, and collegiate levels. Among academic degree holders, females (51.9 percent) also outnumbered males (48.1 percent).

Nearly 60 percent of the household population 5 to 24 years old attended school

Of the household population 5 to 24 years old, 59.9 percent had attended school during School Year 2007 to 2008. This means that 40.1 percent of the household population 5 to 24 years old did not attend school.

Most of those attending school belonged to age groups 10 to 14 years (35.1 percent) and 5 to 9 years (32.7 percent). More females (50.3 percent) than males (49.7 percent) attended school during School Year 2007 to 2008.

Average number of households per 100 occupied housing units declined to 102

In 2007, there were 44,411 occupied housing units in Cotabato City. This was 49.1 percent higher than the 29,794 occupied housing units reported in 2000. These figures, when calculated in terms of the number of households, showed that there were 102 households for every 100 occupied housing units in 2007, or 3 households lower than the ratio of 105 households per 100 occupied housing units in 2000.

Most occupied housing units had outer walls made of wood, and roofs made of galvanized iron/aluminum

Of the 44,411 occupied housing units in 2007, close to half (48.9 percent) used wood for the outer walls, while 69.3 percent used galvanized iron/aluminum as materials for the roof. The same construction materials for the outer walls and roofs were mainly used for the occupied housing units in 2000.

Moreover, about one third (33.9 percent) of the occupied housing units had outer walls made of wood, and roofs made of galvanized iron/aluminum.

Majority of households resided in owned or amortized lots

In 2007, more than half (53.3 percent) of the households owned or amortized the lots they occupied, up from 38.04 percent in 2000. Households occupying lots in rent-free arrangement with consent of owner accounted for 21.8 percent, down from 27.3 percent in 2000. Moreover, about 14.3 percent of the households rented their residential lots, down from 18.0 percent in 2000.