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Number: 2002-99
Date Released: July 30, 2002
COTABATO: Close to One Million Persons
(Results from the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, NSO)

Population growth rate decreased to 2.30 percent

The 2000 Census of Population and Housing (Census 2000) results showed that Cotabato registered a total population of 958,643 persons, higher by 95,977 persons over the 1995 Census of Population (POPCEN) results. This figure recorded a 2.30 percent annual population growth rate, lower by 0.38 percentage point than the annual population growth rate during the 1990 to 1995 period. A corresponding increase on the number of households was also recorded at 188,581 households, higher by 28,691 households over the 1995 figure. This resulted to an average household size of 5.08 persons, slightly higher than the average household size (5.07 persons) recorded five years ago and the national average of five persons.

Midsayap the most populated municipality

Of the eighteen municipalities in the province of Cotabato, the municipality of Midsayap was the largest in terms of population size, comprising 11.03 percent of the total population of the province. This was followed by the City of Kidapawan (10.56 percent), the provincial capital, and M’lang (8.15 percent). The least populous was the municipality of Antipas (2.07 percent).

Cotabato ranked first in Central Mindanao

Cotabato was the most populated province among the three provinces and three highly urbanized cities in Central Mindanao with 36.9 percent of the 2.6 million persons of the region. At the national level, the province contributed 1.25 percent to the total population of 76.5 million.

Half of the population below 19 years old

Cotabato had a median age of 19 years, slightly higher than the 1995 median age of 18 years. This meant that half of the population was below 19 years old.

Sex ratio recorded at 104.5

There were 489.9 thousand males and 468.6 thousand females in Cotabato. This gave a sex ratio of 104.5 males for every 100 females. There were more males in almost all age groups except in the 80 years and over age group.

Two in every five females belonged to the childbearing age group

Women in childbearing or reproductive age group (15 to 49 years) comprised 49.22 percent of the total female population.

Voting population more than half of the total population

There were 506,631 persons or 52.84 percent of the total population belonging to the voting age population (18 years and over). Among them, the proportion of males was higher (51.76 percent) than that of the females (48.24 percent).

Three dependents out of four economically active persons

More than 56 percent belonged to the economically active population (aged 15 to 64 years). About 40 percent were young dependents (aged 0 to 14 years) while three percent were old dependents (aged 65 years and above). The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 76.83, lower than the 1995 ratio of 81.49. 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 degree holders

About 46 percent of the total population had attended or completed elementary education; 26.66 percent, high school; 2.30 percent, post secondary education; 2.24 percent were academic degree holders; 7.86 percent were college undergraduates; and 0.34 percent had post-baccalaureate studies.

Males dominated among those who had finished elementary education (54.2 percent) as compared to the females (45.8 percent). On the other hand, females dominated in the higher levels of education.

Thirty two percent Hiligaynons/Ilonggos

About 32 percent of the household population in Cotabato classified themselves as Hiligaynon/Ilonggo. Other ethnic groups included Cebuano (22.64 percent), Maguindanao (17.75 percent), Ilocano (6.88 percent) Karay-a (4.70 percent), Manobo/Ata Manobo (4.37 percent), and Boholano (3.60 percent).

About 47 percent married

Married persons accounted for 46.59 percent of the total population 10 years old and over, lower than the 1995 figure (49.27 percent) by 2.68 percentage points. Single persons comprised 45.37 percent in 2000 lower than the 1995 figure (46.07 percent) while the widowed (3.82 percent) slightly increased as compared to the 1995 figure (3.40 percent). Those with other marital arrangements increased from 1.19 percent in 1995 to 2.76 percent in 2000.

Single houses most preferred

In 2000, most of the occupied housing units (96.77 percent) in Cotabato were single houses, lower than the 98.18 percent recorded in 1990. About three out of five occupied housing units needed no repair or if needed one, with minor repair only, while one in five needed major repair.

Three out of five occupied housing units had roof made of galvanized iron/aluminum

About 60 percent of the occupied housing units had roof made of galvanized iron/aluminum, higher than the 1990 figure of 37.72 percent. On the other hand, roof made of cogon/nipa/anahaw declined from 55.98 percent in 1990 to 32.23 percent in 2000. As to construction material of the outer walls, the use of concrete/brick/stone rose from 3.98 percent in 1990 to 11.55 percent in 2000.

COTABATO

The province of Cotabato is bounded on the north by the province of Bukidnon, on the northwest by Maguindanao, on the south by Sultan Kudarat, and on the east by Davao del Sur. Cotabato derived its name from the Maguindanao words "kuta wato", meaning "stone fort." Cotabato was once the largest province in the Philippines until it was subdivided in 1966 when South Cotabato was created as a separate province. On November 22, 1973 under PD No. 341, the provinces of North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat were created out of the remaining Old Cotabato. North Cotabato was renamed to Cotabato under Batas Pambansa Bilang 660 approved on December 19, 1983.

Rice and corn are the widely cultivated crops in the province. Cotabato is also one of the biggest producers of rubber in the country.

Source: Fast Facts About Philippine Provinces
By: Conrado M. Lancion, Jr.(Tahanan Books, Manila)

(Sgd.) CARMELITA N. ERICTA
Administrator

Table 1. Population Distribution of Top Five Municipalities by Sex: Cotabato, 2000

Municipalities Total Population Percent Male Female
Cotabato 958,643 100.00 489,963 468,680
     Midsayap 105,760 11.03 53,161 52,599
     City of Kidapawan Capital) 101,205 10.56 51,278 49,927
     M'lang 78,170 8.15 39,974 38,196
     Pikit 68,455 7.14 34,345 34,110
     Makilala 63,039 6.58 32,612 30,427
     Kabacan 61,998 6.47 31,155 30,843
     Other Municipalities 60,146 43.80 30,947 29,199
Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing

Table 2. Total Population by Age Group, Sex and Sex Ratio: Cotabato, 2000

Age Group Total Population Male Female Sex Ratio
Cotabato 958,643 489,963 468,680 104.5
     Under 1 22,795 11,570 11,225 103.1
     1 to 4 102,061 51,507 50,554 101.9
     5 to 9 135,678 68,825 66,853 102.9
     10 to 14 125,225 63,849 61,376 104.0
     15 to 19 106,143 53,924 52,219 103.3
     20 to 24 84,694 43,515 41,179 105.7
     25 to 29 72,536 37,050 35,486 104.4
     30 to 34 65,647 33,543 32,104 104.5
     35 to 39 58,401 29,983 28,418 105.5
     40 to 44 48,271 25,162 23,109 108.9
     45 to 49 38,056 19,894 18,162 109.5
     50 to 54 28,486 14,875 13,611 109.3
     55 to 59 21,481 11,231 10,250 109.6
     60 to 64 18,412 9,597 8,815 108.9
     65 to 69 12,235 6,268 5,967 105.0
     70 to 74 8,622 4,386 4,236 103.5
     75 to 79 5,044 2,531 2,513 100.7
     80 & Over 4,856 2,253 2,603 86.6
Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing

Table 3. Household Population 5 Years Old and Over by Highest Educational Attainment and Sex: Cotabato, 2000

Highest Educational Attainment Household Population
5 Years Old & Over		 Male Female
Cotabato 832,452 425,813 406,639
     No Grade Completed 82,316 40,425 41,891
     Pre-School 19,848 9,811 10,037
     Elementary 381,751 206,893 174,858
      High School 221,973 110,101 111,872
     Post Secondary 19,155 9,322 9,833
     College Undergraduate 65,459 30,700 34,759
     Academic Degree Holder 18,648 7,157 11,491
     Post Baccalaureate 2,861 1,116 1,755
     Not Stated 20,471 10,288 10,143
Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing

Table 4. Household Population by Ethnicity and Sex: Cotabato, 2000

Ethnicity Both Sexes Male Female
Cotabato 957,294 488,890 458,404
     Hiligaynon/Ilonggo 303,296 155,599 147,697
     Cebuano 216,767 110,470 106,297
     Maguindanao 169,919 85,544 84,375
     Ilocano 65,832 33,732 32,100
     Karay-a 44,960 23,184 21,776
     Manobo/Ata-Manobo 41,862 21,315 20,547
     Boholano 34,448 17,919 16,529
     Others 71,364 36,517 34,847
     Not Reported 8,846 4,610 4,236
Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing

Table 5. Total Population 10 Years Old and Over by Age Group and Marital Status: Cotabato, 2000

Age Group Total Population
10 Yrs Old & Over		 Single Married Widowed Divorced/
Separated		 Others Unknown
Cotabato 698,109 316,716 325,224 26,699 4,040 19,302 6,128
     Below 20 231,368 217,337 7,668 309 151 2,176 3,727
     20 – 24 84,694 53,887 25,726 259 270 3,523 1,029
     25 – 29 72,536 22,775 45,211 481 366 3,236 467
     30 – 34 65,647 9,706 51,757 810 495 2,638 241
     35 – 39 58,401 4,686 49,549 1,227 579 2,217 143
     40 – 44 48,271 2,791 41,151 1,836 600 1,780 113
     45 – 49 38,056 1,720 32,087 2,309 499 1,343 98
     50–54 28,486 1,196 23,278 2,704 388 863 57
     55 – 59 21,481 783 16,940 2,884 239 589 46
     60 – 64 18,412 664 13,463 3,577 215 432 61
     65 – 69 12,235 429 8,351 3,072 108 228 47
     70 – 74 8,622 335 5,239 2,790 70 159 29
     75 – 79 5,044 196 2,782 1,949 25 65 27
     80 & Over 4,856 211 2,022 2,492 35 53 43
Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing

Table 6. Occupied Housing Units by Construction Materials of Outer Walls and Roof: Cotabato, 2000

CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS OF THE
OUTER WALLS		 Total
Occupied
Housing
Units		 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS OF THE ROOF
Galvanized
Iron/
Aluminum		 Tile/
Concrete/
Clay Tile		 Half
Galvanized,
Iron/Half
Concrete		 Cogon/
Nipa/
Anahaw		 Wood Makeshift/
Salvaged/
Improvised
Materials		 Asbestos/
Others
Not Reported
Cotabato 185,939 112,178 441 4,383 59,909 4,550 1,225 3,253
     Bamboo/Sawali/Nipa 77,200 27,586 - 898 46,725 867 396 728
     Wood 58,398 41,428 123 930 11,993 3,473 274 177
     Half Concrete/Brick/Stone
     and Half Wood		 23,133 20,440 69 2,235 246 94 43 6
     Concrete/Brick/Stone 21,470 21,032 170 144 76 33 4 11
     Others/Not Reported 3,701 849 69 57 361 38 11 2,316
     Makeshift/Salvaged/Improvised
     Materials		 1,290 343 - 18 419 8 490 12
     Galvanized Iron/ Aluminum 655 439 4 100 74 32 3 3
     No walls 92 61 6 1 15 5 4 0
Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing

 

TECHNICAL NOTES

Average Household Size – average number of people who live in the household

Growth Rate – the rate at which the population is increasing (or decreasing) in a given year due to natural increase and net migration, expressed as a percentage of the base population

Median Age – the age at which exactly half of the population is young and half is old

Sex Ratio – the ratio of males to females in a given population expressed as the number of males per 100 females

Age-Dependency Ratio – the ratio of persons in the "dependent" ages (under 15 years and over 64 years) to those in the "economically productive" ages (15 to 64 years old) in the population

Household – a social unit consisting of a person or a group of persons who sleep in the same housing unit and have common arrangements in the preparation and consumption of food

The 2000 Census of Population and Housing (Census 2000) was undertaken by the National Statistics Office (NSO) in May 2000, as mandated by Commonwealth Act No.591, Batas Pambansa Blg. 72 and Executive Order No 121. It was the 11th census of population and 5th census of housing undertaken in this country since the first census in 1903. It was designed to take an inventory of the total population and housing units all over the Philippines and to collect information about their characteristics. Census day for the Census 2000 was May 1, 2000 (12:01 a.m.). Enumeration started on May 1, 2000 and lasted for about 30 days.

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Page last revised: July 30, 2002