Population reached 5.2 million

The total population of Southern Mindanao*, as of May 1, 2000, was 5,189,335 persons. This implied an increase of 585,177 persons over the 1995 census figure or an average annual population growth rate of 2.6 percent, slightly lower than the annual population growth rate recorded during the 1990 to 1995 period (2.64 percent. If the average annual growth rate continues at 2.6 percent, the population of the region is expected to double in 26 years increasing, on the average, by 134,923 persons a year or about 15 persons per hour.

Economically active persons increased by about 66 percent

As the population of the region grew, the economically active persons increased by about 66 percent, from 1.8 million persons in 1995 to more than 3 million persons in 2000. They comprised about 59 percent of the total population of the region. In 1995, it was 56 percent. About 38 percent were young dependents (aged 0-14 years) while about 3 percent were old dependents (aged 65 years and over). The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 70, lower than the 1995 ratio of 78. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15-64 years, there were about 70 dependents, i.e. 65 young dependents and 5 old dependents.

Southern Mindanao had a median age of 20 years

Southern Mindanao had a median age of 20 years. This meant that in 2000, half of the population were below 20 years old. In 1995, the median age was 19 years. Davao City had the highest median age of 22 years, followed by the province of Davao del Norte with 21 years. The provinces of Davao del Sur and South Cotabato both had the same median age of 20 years while the province of Davao Oriental and the city of General Santos also tied up with the same median age of 19 years. On the other hand, the provinces of Sarangani and Compostela Valley both had the youngest at 18 years.

Sex ratio recorded at 104

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

Seven in every ten persons were Roman Catholics

Majority of the total household population in Southern Mindanao were Roman Catholics. They comprised about 73 percent of the total household population, followed by Evangelicals (9 percent) and Islam (4 percent). The remaining 14 percent belonged to other religions that include Iglesia ni Cristo, Other Protestant and others.

Nine in every ten persons were literates

In 2000, about nine in every ten persons aged ten years and over (90 percent) in Southern Mindanao were literates. It was noted that males and females posted almost the same literacy rates (89.8 percent and 90.5 percent, respectively). Davao City had the highest literacy rate where more than 95 percent of its population were able to read and write a simple message. On the other hand, the province of Sarangani had the lowest literacy rate at 80.4 percent.

Three in every 8 persons with impairment had low vision

In 2000, there were 57,482 persons in Southern Mindanao with impairment. About 38 percent of them had low vision. The next most predominant impairments were mental retardation and partial blindness, both shared eight percent each.

Among those with disability, the proportion for males was higher than females (52 percent vs. 48 percent) except for those who had low vision in which the females constituted about 52 percent.

The average number of children ever born was three

In Southern Mindanao, married women in reproductive ages had three children ever born on the average, during their reproductive period. The number of births was relatively low at the younger age group 15 to 19 years and continue to increase as they became older. On the other hand, the average age at first marriage was 21 years. It was noted that among the cities and provinces in Southern Mindanao, Sarangani had the youngest average age at first marriage (19 years) and Davao City had the oldest (22 years).

More female overseas contract workers

In 2000, there were 35,236 overseas contract workers or about 0.68 percent of the total household population. It was noted that among them, females (58 percent) outnumbered males (42 percent). The median age of overseas workers in Southern Mindanao was 29 years. This meant that half of the overseas workers were below 29 years old. Male overseas workers had a median age of 32 years while their female counterparts had 22 years.

Close to half of the households burned their garbage

Of the total households, over 48 percent preferred burning as the manner of garbage disposal. About 24 percent of the households had their garbage picked up by a garbage truck while about 15 percent dumped their garbage in individual pit.

Electricity, main source of lighting

Electricity was the main source of lighting of about 59 percent of the total households in the region. About 38 percent had used kerosene or gaas. General Santos City had the highest proportion (85 percent) of households that used electricity. This was followed by Davao City with more than 80 percent. On the other hand, the province of Sarangani had the lowest proportion with 37 percent.

Two in every five households drew water for drinking and cooking from community water system

The main source of water used for drinking and cooking by the households was community water system. More than 24 percent of the households in Southern Mindanao had their own faucet and more than 19 percent got water from shared faucet from community water system. Davao City had the highest proportion (75 percent) of the total households that used water for drinking and/or cooking from community water system while Sarangani had the lowest (25 percent). However, more than 18 percent of the households in the region still depended on spring, lake, river, rain, etc. as a main source of water used for drinking and/or cooking.

Most households had radio/cassette and television set in their home

Of the total 1,066,199 households in Southern Mindanao, more than 76 percent had at least one household convenience. A large proportion of the total households had radio/cassette (71 percent) and more than 41 percent had television set. Only about more than eight percent reported to have telephone or cellular phone while about 10 percent had motorized vehicle.

Thirty six percent of the households owned a land

In 2000, about 36 percent of the total households in Southern Mindanao owned a land. Most of the households had an agricultural land accounting for 28.83 percent (this included 3.58 percent of households who acquired the land through Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) or were Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB)). About 14 percent had residential land other than the land occupied by the households, and more than two percent, other than residential and agricultural.

Seven in every 10 households owned/ amortized the houses they occupied

Of the total one million households in Southern Mindanao, about 72 percent owned or amortized the houses they occupied; 16 percent, occupied for free with consent of owner; and eight percent were renter.