As of May 1, 2000, the total population of Central Mindanao which covers the provinces of Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat; and the cities of Iligan, Marawi and Cotabato, was 2,598,210 persons. This implied an increase of 238,402 persons over the 1995 census figure or an average annual population growth rate of 2.08 percent, slightly lower than the annual population growth rate recorded during the 1990 to 1995 period (2.83 percent). If the average annual growth rate continues at 2.08 percent, the population of the region is expected to double in 33 years, increasing on the average, by 54,043 persons a year or about 6 persons per hour.