IN FOCUS: SOCCSKSARGEN REGION Population to double in 14 years The population of General Santos City, as of May 2000 was 411,822 persons. This was up by 84,649 persons as compared to 327,173 persons recorded in the 1995 Census of Population. For the period 1995 to 2000, the annual population growth rate for General Santos City was 5.05 percent, slightly lower than the 5.14 percent annual population growth rate during the 1990 to 1995 period. This was more than twice as much as the national annual population growth rate of 2.36 percent. If the current annual population growth rate of the province continues, the population of General Santos City was expected to double in 14 years. The highest population growth rate recorded for General Santos City since 1970 was during the intercensal period 1975 to 1980 at an annual population growth rate of 10.42 percent. The lowest was during the period 1970 to 1975 at 1.21 percent. The number of households increased to 86,595 as compared to 65,509 households in 1995. The average household size recorded in 2000 Census of Population and Housing (Census 2000) was 4.74 persons, lower than the 1995 figure of 4.97 persons and the national average of five persons. General Santos City ranked seventh in Southern Mindanao Region General Santos City ranked seventh in terms of population size among the six provinces (Compostela Valley, Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Sarangani and South Cotabato) and two highly urbanized cities (General Santos City and Davao City) in Southern Mindanao. This city contributed 7.94 percent to the 5.2 million population in the region. At the national level, the city shared 0.54 percent to the total population of 76.5 million as recorded in the Census 2000. Barangay Fatima was the largest in terms of population size Of the 26 barangays comprising General Santos City, Barangay Fatima contributed the biggest proportion (11.67 percent) to the total population of the city. Barangays Calumpang and Labangal followed with 11.62 and 11.40 percent, respectively. Barangay Olympog was the smallest in terms of population with 2,285 persons or 0.55 percent of the population of the city. General Santos City had a median age of 19 years The city had a young population with a median age of 19 years. This meant that in 2000, half of the population were below 19 years old. Male population outnumbered their female counterparts with a sex ratio of 101.55 males for every 100 females. There were more males than females in the age group 0 to 14 years and 25 to 64 years. On the other hand, females dominated their male counterparts in the age group 15 to 24 and 65 years and over. In 2000, overall dependency ratio was 65 The proportion of the total population belonging to the age group 0 to 14 years was 37.2 percent. The oldest group (65 years and over) accounted for 2.3 percent of the city population while 60.5 percent belonged to the economically active population aged 15 to 64 years. The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 65.35. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years, there were about 65 dependents (61 persons aged 0 to 14 years – young dependents; and 4 persons aged 65 years and over – old dependents). Females had higher levels of education About 36 percent of household population five years old and over had completed or attended elementary education; 32.37 percent, high school; and 4.72 percent were academic degree holders. By sex, males dominated the elementary (53.35 percent) and post secondary levels (50.96 percent). Females dominated the higher levels of education, from college to post baccalaureate levels. Home of the Cebuanos About 57.1 percent of the population of General Santos City classified themselves as Cebuano, 18.3 percent as Hiligaynon/Ilongo, and 4.5 percent as Tagalog. One out of eight persons in General Santos City belonged to other ethnic groups. More single men than women About 45.75 percent of the total population 10 years old and over were married while 43.56 percent were single. The remaining 11 percent were either widowed, separated/divorced, with other arrangements or with unknown marital status. Single persons were mostly men (52.40 percent) as compared to 47.6 percent for women. The proportion of widowed females was noticeably higher (75 percent) than the males (25 percent). Drop by or visit any nearest National Statistics Office around the SOuth Cotabato Cotabato Sultan Kudarat SARangani GENeral Santos Region for queries, data requests and information.

COTABATO Population: 958,643 people Land Area: 6,565.90 sq. km. Growth Rate: 2.19% HH Population: 856,675 Capital: Kidapawan City   SULTAN KUDARAT Population: 586,505 people Land Area: 5,097.94 sq. km Town Capital: Isulan   SOCSARGEN South Cotabato Population: 690,728 people Land Area: 3,706 sq. km. Capital: Koronadal City Sarangani Population: 410,622 people Land Area: 5,097.94 sq. km Capital: Alabel Top 5 Most Populated Areas Municipality/City Total Pop. Fatima 48,080 Calumpang 47,872 Labangal 46,960 Lagao 42,903 Bula 32,420 source: NSO, 2000 CPH Top 5 Ethnic Groups Ethnicity Total Pop. Cebuano 234,597 Hiligaynon/Ilongo 75,118 Tagalog 18,594 Maguindanao 15,915 Bilaan 12,170 source: NSO, 2000 CPH