Population growth rate increased to 1.64 percent

The 2000 Census of Population and Housing (Census 2000) results showed that Davao Oriental registered a total population of 446,191 persons, higher by 32,719 persons over the 1995 results. This figure translated to 1.64 percent annual growth rate, from 0.87 percent during the 1990 to 1995 period. A corresponding increase on the number of households was also recorded, from 78,553 in 1995 to 86,569 households in 2000. This resulted to an average household size of 5.15 persons, lower than the average household size of 5.26 in 1995.

Davao Oriental registered the lowest growth rate in Southern Mindanao

Davao Oriental had the lowest growth rate among the six provinces (Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Sarangani and South Cotabato) and two highly urbanized cities (Davao City and General Santos City) in Southern Mindanao (Region XI).

Mati was the most populated municipality

Among the 11 municipalities comprising Davao Oriental, Mati, the provincial capital, was the highest in terms of population. This registered a population of 105,908 or 23.74 percent of the total population of the province. It was followed by Lupon (12.80 percent), Baganga (9.66 percent) and Governor Generoso (9.57 percent). Boston had the smallest population with 2.30 percent of the provincial total.

Table A. Population Growth Rate by Province, Region XI: 2000

Half of the population were below 19 years old

Davao Oriental had a median age of 19 years, higher than the 1995 median age of 17.

Sex ratio was recorded at 106.53

There were 230.2 thousand males and 216.0 thousand females in Davao Oriental. This gave a sex ratio of 106.53 males for every 100 females.

Three dependents for every four economically active persons

Almost 57 percent of the population of Davao Oriental belonged to the economically active population aged 15 to 64 years. About 40 percent were young dependents (aged 0 to 14 years) while almost four percent were old dependents (aged 65 years and over). The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 76.7, lower than the 1995 ratio of 82.6. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years, there were about 77 dependents, i.e., 71 young dependents and six old dependents.

More female than male degree holders

More than 55 percent of household population five years old and over had attended or completed elementary education. Almost 23 percent had attended or completed high school while six percent were college undergraduates. More than one percent each were academic degree holders and had attended or finished post secondary education. There were more males than females among those who had attended or finished elementary (54.62 percent). On the other hand, there were more females who had attended/completed high school, college and post baccalaureate courses. Among the academic degree holders, three out of five were females.

Most were Davaweños

More than 30 percent of the household population classified themselves as Davaweños. Other ethnic groups included Bisaya/Binisaya (18.51 percent), Cebuano (18.17 percent), Mandaya (14.95 percent) and Boholano (4.78 percent), and Kalagan (3.20 percent).

The proportion of married persons dropped by 6.01 percentage points

Married persons accounted for 45.14 percent of the total persons 10 years old and over, lower than the 1995 figure (51.15 percent). Single persons comprised 44.71 percent in 2000 from 44.32 percent in 1995. The proportion for widowed (3.63 percent) in 2000 was higher than in 1995 (2.59 percent). The remaining 6.52 percent of the persons 10 years old and over includes divorced and others.

Housing unit occupancy rate was almost 100 percent

Out of 84,779 housing units in Davao Oriental, 84,765 units (99.98 percent) were occupied by 86,569 households (445,733 persons). This rate of occupancy was higher than that of the 1990 figure (96.51 percent). It recorded a ratio of 1.02 households for every occupied housing unit or 5.26 persons per occupied housing unit.

Single houses were most preferred

A very large proportion (96.59 percent) of the total occupied housing units in Davao Oriental in 2000 were single houses. This was lower by 0.75 percentage point from the 1990 figure. Almost 68 percent of the occupied housing units did not need any repair or if ever, needed minor repair only, while almost 19 percent needed major repair. Moreover, two out of five occupied housing units were built from 1996 to 2000.

Half of the housing units had roof made of cogon/nipa/anahaw

The proportion of occupied housing units with roofs made of cogon/nipa/anahaw declined from 62.14 percent in 1990 to only 53.69 percent in 2000. On the other hand, roofs made of galvanized iron/aluminum rose from 24.13 percent in 1990 to 34.90 percent in 2000. As to construction material of the outer walls, the use of bamboo/sawali/cogon/nipa declined from 61.02 percent in 1990 to 51.45 percent in 2000. The proportion of households using galvanized iron/aluminum for the outer walls was almost the same as in 1990, from 0.39 percent in 1990 to 0.35 percent in 2000.

 

DAVAO ORIENTAL Davao Oriental is the easternmost province of Mindanao. The province follows the highly irregular northeastern coast of Mindanao facing the Pacific Ocean from Cateel Bay down to Cape San Agustin. The province is bounded in the west by Compostela Valley and Davao Gulf. It is bounded in the north by the province of Agusan del Sur and a very small sliver of Surigao del Sur. On its south is the Philippine Sea. Mountains that rise in the west dominate the province's topography, interspersed with low hills and plateaus and coastal lowlands and swamps toward the east.

Table 1. Population Distribution by Sex and Municipality: Davao Oriental, 2000