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Release Date :
Reference Number :
2016-079
  • The population of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as of August 1, 2015 was 3,781,387 based on the 2015 Census of Population (POPCEN 2015).

Table 1. Population of the Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao
(Based on the 2000, 2010, and 2015 Censuses)

Census Year Census Reference Date Population
(in millions)
2000 May 1, 2000 2.80
2010 May 1, 2010 3.26
2015 August 1, 2015 3.78
     
  • The 2015 population of the region is higher by 525,247 compared with the 2010 population of 3.26 million, and by 978,342 thousand compared with the 2000 population of 2.80 million.  Refer to Table 1.
  • The population of ARMM increased by 2.89 percent annually, on average, during the period 2010 to 2015. By comparison, the rate at which the region’s population grew during the period 2000 to 2010 was higher at 1.51 percent. See Table 2.
Table 2. Annual Population Growth Rate:
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
(Based on the 2000, 2010, and 215 Censuses)
Reference Period Annual Population Growth Rate
(in percent)
2010-2015 2.89
2000-2010 1.51
  • Among the five provinces comprising the region, Maguindanao (excluding Cotabato City) had the biggest population in 2015 with 1.17 million, followed by Lanao del Sur with 1.05 million, Sulu with 825 thousand, and Tawi-Tawi with 391 thousand. Basilan (excluding the City of Isabela) had the smallest population with 347 thousand. Refer to Table 3.
  • The total population of ARMM accounted for about 3.7 percent of the Philippine population in 2015. 
Table 3. Population by Province: 
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
(Based on the 2000, 2010, and 2015 Censuses)
Province Population (in thousands)
2000 2010 2015
Basilan (excluding the City of Isabela) 260 293 347
Lanao del Sur 800 933 1,045
Maguindanao (excluding Cotabato City) 801 945 1,174
Sulu 620 718 825
Tawi-Tawi 322 367 391
  • Maguindanao (excluding Cotabato City) was the fastest growing province in the region with an average annual population growth rate (PGR) of 4.22 percent during the period 2010 to 2015. It was followed by Basilan (excluding the City of Isabela) with a PGR of 3.23 percent, Sulu (2.66 percent), and Lanao del Sur (2.18 percent). Tawi-Tawi posted the lowest provincial PGR of 1.22 percent. See Table 4.
Table 4. Annual Population Growth Rate by Province:
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
(Based on the 2000, 2010, and 2015 Censuses)
Province Population Growth Rate
2010-2015 2000-2010
Basilan (excluding City of Isabela) 3.23 1.22
Lanao del Sur 2.18 1.55
Maguindanao (excluding Cotabato City) 4.22 1.66
Sulu 2.66 1.49
Tawi-Tawi 1.22 1.29
  • ARMM is composed of two component cities, 116 municipalities, and 2,490 barangays.
  • Among the cities and municipalities in the region, the largest in terms of population size is Marawi City, Lanao del Sur with 201,785 persons. It was followed by Jolo, Sulu with 125,564 persons and Bongao, Tawi-Tawi with 100,527 persons. Refer to Table 5.
Table 5. Top Ten Most Populous Cities/Municipalities:
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 2015
Rank City/Municipality Province Population
1 Marawi City Lanao del Sur 201,785
2 Jolo Sulu 125,564
3 Bongao Tawi-Tawi 100,527
4 Datu Odin Sinsuat (Dinaig) Maguindanao 99,210
5 Sultan Kudarat (Nuling) Maguindanao 95,201
6 Parang Maguindanao 89,194
7 Indanan Sulu 80,883
8 Talipao Sulu 80,255
9 City of Lamitan Basilan 74,782
10 Siasi Sulu 67,705
  • The Municipality of Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi is the least populous city/municipality in ARMM with 4,727 persons. It was followed by Hadji Panglima Tahil in Sulu (6,375) and Lumbaca-Unayan in Lanao del Sur (7,260). Six other municipalities in the province of Lanao del Sur and one municipality in the province of Maguindanao comprise the rest of the ten least populous cities/municipalities in the region. See Table 6.
Table 6. Ten Least Populous Cities/Municipalities:
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 2015
Rank City/Municipality Province Population
1 Turtle Islands Tawi-Tawi 4,727
2 Hadji Panglima Tahil Sulu 6,375
3 Lumbaca-Unayan Lanao del Sur 7,260
4 Bumbaran Lanao del Sur 10,401
5 Tagoloan II Lanao del Sur 11,169
6 Sultan Dumalondong Lanao del Sur 11,298
7 Datu Unsay Maguindanao 11,813
8 Pualas Lanao del Sur 12,866
9 Pagayawan (Tatarikan) Lanao del Sur 13,139
10 Calanogas Lanao del Sur 13,750

 

  • Of the 2,490 barangays in ARMM, the largest in terms of population size is Bus-bus in Jolo, Sulu with 36,650 persons. It was followed by Poblacion in Buluan, Maguindanao with 25,370 persons and Asturias in Jolo, Sulu with 23,085 persons. Refer to Table 7.
Table 7. Top Ten Most Populous Barangays:
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 2015
Rank Barangay City/Municipality/Province Population
1 Bus-bus Jolo, Sulu 36,650
2 Poblacion Buluan, Maguindanao 25,370
3 Asturias Jolo, Sulu 23,085
4 Anuling Patikul, Sulu 17,504
5 Landasan (Sarmiento) Parang, Maguindanao 16,971
6 San Raymundo Jolo, Sulu 16,143
7 Kajatian Indanan, Sulu 15,845
8 Dalican Poblacion Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao 14,094
9 Tulay Jolo, Sulu 13,891
10 Bongao Poblacion Bongao, Tawi-Tawi 12,503

 

Download: Total Population by City, Municipality, and Barangay of ARMM

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