Population to double in 28 years

The population of Davao del Sur, as of May 1, 2000, was 758,801 persons. This was up by 81,732 persons as compared to 677,069 persons in the 1995 Census of Population.

The highest annual population growth rate recorded for Davao del Sur since 1903 was during the intercensal period 1948 to 1960 at an annual population growth rate of 9.83 percent. The lowest was during the period 1903 to 1918 at 0.91 percent. The annual population growth rate for the period 1995 to 2000 was 2.47 percent. If the current growth rate continues, the population of Davao del Sur was expected to double in 28 years.

In 2000, the number of households was 157,054 with an average household size of 4.83 persons, slightly lower than the national average of five persons.

Davao del Sur, the second biggest province in Southern Mindanao in terms of population

In terms of population, Davao del Sur ranked second, next to Davao City, among the six provinces (Compostela Valley, Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Sarangani and South Cotabato) and two highly urbanized cities (Davao City and General Santos City) contributing 14.62 percent to the 5.2 million population of the region. At the national level, the province shared 0.99 percent to the total population of 76.5 million as recorded in the 2000 Census of Population and Housing.

Digos, the provincial capital, was the most populated

Of the 15 municipalities comprising Davao del Sur, Digos, the provincial capital, was the biggest in terms of population. This registered a population of 125,171 persons or 16.50 percent of the total provincial population. It was followed by Malita (13.18 percent) and Sta. Cruz (8.87 percent). Padada and Sarangani had the smallest population with 3.18 percent and 2.42 percent of the total population, respectively.

Median age of 20 years

Davao del Sur 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.

Sex ratio was recorded at 105

Males outnumbered their female counterparts with a recorded sex ratio of 104.94 males for every 100 females.

Dependency ratio down to 75

The percentage of the total population belonging to age group 0 to 14 years was 39.34 percent. The oldest group (65 years and over) accounted for 3.43 percent, while 57.23 percent were in 15 to 64 years age group (economically active population).

The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 74.74. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years, there were about 75 dependents (69 persons aged 0 to 14 years – young dependents; and six persons aged 65 years and over – old dependents). In 1995, the dependency ratio was recorded at 78.

More than half of the voting population were men

There were 409,084 persons or 53.91 percent of the total population belonging to the voting population. The proportion of males (51.44 percent) was higher than that of the females (48.56 percent).

More than half of female population were in child bearing age

Out of 370,250 females in the province, 198,651 or 53.65 percent belonged to childbearing or reproductive age (15 to 49 years). The highest percentage of which, were those in the 15 to 19 years age group (21.68 percent).

Females dominated higher levels of education

More than half (51.58 percent) of the household population aged five years and over had attended or completed elementary education; 22.22 percent, high school; six percent, college undergraduates; two percent, academic degree holders; and only 0.27 percent with post baccalaureate courses. On the other hand, the proportion of children 5 to 6 years old who had completed pre-school and were likely to become Grade I students in the next school year was 1.44 percent.

There were more males than females who were incoming grade 1, who had attended or finished elementary and post secondary education. On the other hand, those who had attended or finished high school, college undergraduates, had college degree and with post baccalaureate courses were dominated by females.

One out of every two were Cebuanos

Of the total household population (50.7 percent) in Davao del Sur classified themselves as Cebuanos. The rest were either Bisaya/Binisaya (9.8 percent), Tagakaolo (8.9 percent), Bilaan (8.7 percent) or belonged to other ethnic groups (13.8 percent).

Almost equal proportion of single and married persons

There was an almost equal proportion of single (43.05 percent) and married (43.93 percent) persons. The remaining 13.01 percent were either widowed, divorced/separated, with other marital arrangements or with unknown marital status.

One of three of the occupied housing units had floor area of 10 to 19 square meters

Out of 155,327 occupied housing units, 32.9 percent had floor area of 10 to 19 square meters. The median floor area in 2000 was 16 square meters as compared to 25 square meters in 1995.

Over one-third of occupied housing units were made of bamboo/sawali/cogon/nipa for outer walls and cogon/nipa/anahaw for roof

About 49 percent of the households in Davao del Sur used galvanized iron/aluminum and 42.89 percent used cogon/nipa/anahaw as roof of their houses. As to the construction material of the outer walls, bamboo/sawali/cogon/nipa (50.74 percent) and wood (24.30 percent) were predominantly used in the province.

Of the total occupied housing units, 37.07 percent had roof made up of cogon/nipa/anahaw and walls made of bamboo/sawali/cogon/nipa.