• The population of Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) as of August 1, 2015 was 4,545,276 based on the 2015 Census of Population (POPCEN 2015).

• The 2015 population of the region is higher by 435,705 compared with the population of 4.11 million in 2010, and by 1,323,107 compared with the population of 3.22 million in 2000.  Refer to Table 1.

• The population of Region XII increased by 1.94 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 2.46 percent. See Table 2.

• Among the four provinces comprising the region, Cotabato (North Cotabato) had the biggest population in 2015 with 1.38 million, followed by South Cotabato (excluding General Santos City) with 915 thousand,  and Sultan Kudarat with 812 thousand. Sarangani had the smallest population with 544 thousand. Refer to Table 3.

• General Santos City (Dadiangas), the only highly urbanized city in the region posted a population of 594 thousand.

• Cotabato City, on the other hand, had a population of 299 thousand. This city is an independent component city in Region XII whose province, Maguindanao, is under the regional jurisdiction o f the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

• The total population of Region XII accounted for about 4.5 percent of the Philippine population in 2015. 

                            * Independent Component City of the Province of Maguindanao

• Cotabato (North Cotabato) was the fastest growing province in the region with an average annual population growth rate (PGR) of 2.27 percent during the period 2010 to 2015. It was followed by South Cotabato (excluding General Santos City) with a PGR of 1.94 percent and Sarangani (1.67 percent). Sultan Kudarat posted the lowest provincial PGR of 1.60 percent. See Table 4.

• General Santos City (Dadiangas) posted a PGR of 1.91 percent.

• Cotabato City, meanwhile, had a PGR of 1.86 percent.

                            * Independent Component City of the Province of Maguindanao

• Region XII is composed of one highly urbanized city, four component cities, 45 municipalities, and 1,195 barangays.

• Among the cities (excluding General Santos City) and municipalities in the region, the largest in terms of population size is Cotabato City, Maguindanao with 299,438 persons. It was followed by the City of Koronadal, South Cotabato with 174,942 persons and Pikit, Cotabato (North Cotabato) with 154,441 persons. Refer to Table 5.

                                  * Excluding General Santos City

• Antipas in Cotabato is the least populous city/municipality in Region XII with 25,304 persons. It was followed by Columbio in Sultan Kudarat (33,258) and Aleosan in Cotabato (39,405). See Table 6.

                                  * Excluding General Santos City

• Of the 1,195 barangays in Region XII, the largest in terms of population size is Calumpang in General Santos City, South Cotabato with 75,342 persons. It was followed by Fatima with 66,460 persons and Labangal with 61,713 persons, both in General Santos City, South Cotabato. The rest of the top ten most populous barangays in the region are located either in the province of South Cotabato or in the province of Cotabato (North Cotabato). Refer to Table 7.