Population growth rate increased to 3.15 percent

The Census 2000 results showed that Sulu registered a total population of 619,668 persons, higher by 83,467 persons over the 1995 Census of Population results. This figure recorded a 3.15 percent growth rate, from a growth rate of 2.50 percent in the 1990 to 1995 period. A corresponding increase on the number of households was also recorded at 19,151 households, higher by 1,437 households over the 1995 figure. This resulted to an average household size of 6.31 persons, higher than the average household size recorded in 1995 (5.54 persons).

Jolo (provincial capital), the largest in terms of population

Jolo (provincial capital) was the largest among the 18 municipalities in Sulu. It registered a population of 87,998 or 14.20 percent of the total population of the province. It was followed by Talipao (11.78 percent), Siasi (9.53 percent), Parang (8.87 percent), and Indanan (8.62 percent). Hadji Panglima Tahil (Marungas), on the other hand, had the smallest population with 0.86 percent.

Sulu ranked third in ARMM

Sulu ranked third in terms of population among the four provinces in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with 25.69 percent of the 2.4 million persons in the region. At the national level, the province contributed 0.81 percent to the total population of 76.5 million.

Half of the population below 19 years old

Sulu 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 96.16

There were 303.7 thousand males and 315.9 thousand females in Sulu. This gave a sex ratio of 96.16 males for every 100 females. There were more males in the age groups 10 to 14, 40 to 44, and 50 to 79 years.

Three dependents out of five economically active persons

About 60.9 percent belonged to the economically active population aged 15 to 64 years. About 37 percent were young dependents (aged 0 to 14 years) while 1.83 percent were old dependents (aged 65 years and above). The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 64.2, lower than the 1995 ratio of 69.84. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years, there were about 64 dependents, i.e., 61 young dependents and 3 old dependents.

More females with higher education

About 35 percent of the population five years old and over had attended or completed elementary; 15.38 percent, high school; 0.64 percent, post secondary education; and 7.88 percent had attended or finished higher level of education.

There was an almost equal proportion of males and females among those who had attended or finished elementary. On the other hand, there were more females who had attended/completed high school (50.95 percent) and higher education (52.11 percent).

More than four out of five were Tausug

About 85.27 percent of the household population classified themselves as Tausug. Other ethnic groups included Sama (Samal)/Abaknon (7.96 percent), Badjao, Sama Dilaut (2.13 percent), Ibanag (0.44 percent), and Kinaray-a (0.19 percent).

More single persons than married

Single persons accounted for 51.68 percent of the total persons 10 years old and over, lower than the 1995 figure (53.12 percent). Married persons comprised 40.28 percent in 2000 lower than in 1995 (43.71 percent) while the widowed (3.21 percent) slightly increased compared to the 1995 figure (2.56 percent). Those with other arrangements increased from only 0.01 percent in 1995 to 1.18 percent in 2000.

Single houses were most preferred

In 2000, most (92.16 percent) of the housing units in Sulu were single houses, lower than the 98.62 percent recorded in 1990. About three out of five of the occupied housing units needed no repair or if needed one, with minor repair only. About 17.35 percent needed major repair.

More than one out of five occupied housing units had floor area of 20 to 29 square meters

Out of 95,662 occupied housing units in Sulu, more than one out of five (21.68 percent) had floor area of 20 to 29 square meters. This was followed by housing units with floor area of 10 to 19 square meters (21.10 percent) and with less than 10 square meters (18.25 percent). Only 2.63 percent had 120 square meters or more.

More than half of the occupied housing units had roof made of cogon/nipa/anahaw

About 56.71 percent of the occupied housing units had roof made of cogon/nipa/anahaw, lower than the 1990 figure of 83.78 percent. On the other hand, roof made of galvanized iron/aluminum increased from 9.27 percent in 1990 to 27.01 percent in 2000. As to construction material of the outer walls, the proportion of wood rose from 9.38 percent in 1990 to 32.30 percent in 2000.

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