Population reached 2.1 million

Caraga Region covers the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur; and Butuan City. Its population as of May 1, 2000 was 2,095,367 persons. This implied an increase of 152,680 persons over the 1995 census figure or an average annual growth rate of 1.63 percent, slightly lower than the annual population growth rate recorded during the 1990 to 1995 period (1.82 percent). If the average annual population growth rate continues at 1.63 percent, the population of the region is expected to double in 42 years, increasing, on the average, by 34,154 persons a year or about 4 persons per hour.

Economically active persons increased by more than nine percent

As the population of the region grew, the economically active persons (15 to 64 years old) increased by more than nine percent, from 1.07 million persons in 1995 to 1.16 million persons in 2000. They comprised about 56 percent of the total population of the region. In 1995, it was 55 percent. About 41 percent were young dependents (aged 0-14 years) while about 4 percent were old dependents (aged 65 years and over). The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 80, lower than the 1995 ratio of 82. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15-64 years, there were about 80 dependents, i.e. 73 young dependents and 7 old dependents.

Caraga had a median age was 19 years

Caraga region had a median age of 19 years. This meant that in 2000, half of its population were below 19 years old. The provinces of Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte and Butuan City had the highest median age of 20 years while Surigao del Sur had 19 years. On the other hand, the province of Agusan del Sur had the youngest at 18 years.

Sex ratio recorded at 105

In 2000, the sex ratio in Caraga was recorded at 105. This meant that in this region, there were 105 males for every 100 females.

Aglipayans made up six percent

Majority of the total household population in Caraga Region were Roman Catholics. It comprised more than 74 percent of the total household population, followed by Aglipayan (6 percent) and Evangelicals (5 percent). The remaining 15 percent belonged to other religions that included Iglesia ni Cristo, Seventh Day Adventist and others.

Average number of children was 3.4

In Caraga Region, married women in reproductive ages had at least 3.4 children during their reproductive period. This meant that there were 34 children born to every ten ever married women aged 15-49 years. The number of births was relatively low at the younger age group 15-19 years and continue to increase as they became older.

Average age at first marriage was 21 years old

In 2000, the average age at first marriage in Caraga Region was 21 years. It was noted that among the provinces in Caraga Region, Agusan del Sur had the youngest average age at first marriage (20 years) while the other three provinces, including Butuan City had 21 years.

More male overseas contract workers

In 2000, there were 10,279 overseas contract workers or about 0.49 percent of the total household population. Among them, males (53 percent) outnumbered their female counterparts (47 percent). The median age of overseas workers in Caraga was 31 years. This meant that half of the overseas workers were below 31 years old. Male overseas workers had a median age of 34 years while their female counterparts had 28 years.

Half of the households drew water for drinking and/or cooking from community water system

The main source of water for drinking and/or cooking by the households was community water system. More than 20 percent of the total number of households in Caraga Region had their own faucet and more than 29 percent had shared faucet from community water system. Surigao del Norte had the highest proportion (68 percent) of households that used water from community water system while Agusan del Sur had the lowest (28 percent). However, more than 16 percent of the households in the region still depended on spring, lake, river, rain, etc. as their main source of water used for their drinking and/or cooking.

Electricity, main source of lighting

Electricity was the main source of lighting of about 54 percent of the total households in the region. About 43 percent had used kerosene or gaas. Butuan City had the largest proportion of households that used electricity for lighting which constituted about 70 percent of its total households, followed by the province of Surigao del Norte with about 57 percent. On the other hand, the province of Agusan del Sur had the smallest proportion with about 41 percent.

Close to fifty percent of households burned their garbage

Of the total households, over 47 percent preferred burning as their usual manner of garbage disposal. About 16 percent of the households had their garbage picked up by garbage truck while over 16 percent dumped their garbage in individual pit.

One in three households used Cebuano

Cebuano was the spoken dialect in most households accounting for about 30 percent of the total number of households; followed by Bisaya/Binisaya, 28 percent; and Surigaonon, 22 percent.

Most households had radio/cassette and television set

In 2000, about 69 percent of the total households in Caraga Region were reported to have at least one household convenience. A large proportion of the households (64 percent) had radio/cassette and more than 32 percent had television set. About six percent reported to have telephone or cellular phone while about eight percent had motorized vehicle.

Thirty-six percent of households owned an agricultural land 

In 2000, 42 percent of the total households in Caraga Region owned a land. About 36 percent of the households owned an agricultural land (this included 4.21 percent of households who acquired the land through Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) or were Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB)); 16 percent, residential land other than where the households currently resided; and 3.98 percent, land other than the residential and agricultural.

Seven in every nine households owned/ amortized the houses they occupied

Of the total 393,362 households in Caraga Region, about 78 percent owned or amortized the houses they occupied; 13 percent, occupied for free with consent of owner; and more than five percent were renters.

Table 1. Population Distribution by Province/City: Caraga, 2000