Population growth rate increased to 5.53 percent

The total population of Tawi-Tawi, as of May 1, 2000, was 322,317 persons, an increase of 71,599 persons over the 1995 Census of Population results. This translates to an annual population growth rate of 5.53 percent, during the 1995 to 2000 period, higher than the 1.78 percent growth rate in the 1990 to 1995 period. A corresponding increase in the number of households was also recorded at 54,345 households, higher by 8,400 households over the 1995 figure. This resulted to an average household size of 5.93 persons, higher than the average household size recorded in 1995 (5.45 persons) and the 2000 national average of five persons.

Bongao (provincial capital) had the largest share in terms of population 

Bongao, the provincial capital, was the largest municipality in Tawi-Tawi with its population comprising 18.05 percent of the total population of the province. It was followed by Sitangkai (16.37 percent), Languyan (13.04 percent), and Panglima Sugala (Balimbing) (10.34 percent). On the other hand, the least populous municipality was Turtle Island (1.12 percent).

Tawi-Tawi had the smallest population in ARMM

Tawi-Tawi had the smallest population from among the four provinces in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), with 13.36 percent of the 2.4 million persons of the region. At the national level, the province contributed 0.42 percent to the total population of 76.5 million. Yet, Tawi-Tawi had the highest population growth rate in the region.

Tawi-Tawi had a median age of 17 years

Tawi-Tawi had a median age of 17 years, the same as that of 1995. This means that half of the population were below 17 years.

Females outnumbered males

There were 160.3 thousand males and 162.0 thousand females in Tawi-Tawi, or a sex ratio in 2000 of 99 males for every 100 females. In contrast, in 1995, there were 106 males for every 100 females in the province. There were more females in the age group 0 to 39 years, while more males in the 40 years and above age group.

Overall dependency ratio was 73 

Young dependents (0 to 14 years age group) made up 40.73 percent of the total population, while old dependents (65 years and above) comprised 1.47 percent. Thus, the economically active population aged 15 to 64 years was 57.79 percent of the total population in Tawi-Tawi.

The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 73.04, lower than the 1995 ratio of 76.20. This means that for every 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years, there were about 73 dependents, i.e., 70 young dependents and 3 old dependents.

Table A. Total Population and Growth Rates by Province, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: 1995 and 2000

Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing

Voting population comprised more than half the total population

There were 166,009 persons or 51.50 percent of the total population belonging to the voting population (aged 18 years and over), slightly higher than the 1995 figure (50.91 percent).

Proportion of women in childbearing ages increased slightly

In 2000, about 52.27 percent of the female population were in the childbearing ages (15 to 49 years old), slightly higher by 0.24 percentage point from the 1995 figure (52.02 percent).

More females with post secondary education than males

Of the household population five years old and over, 39.93 percent had completed or attended elementary education; 23.67 percent, high school; 8.62 percent were college undergraduates; and 1.10 percent, academic degree holders. Males predominated in all levels except the post secondary level.

Sama Dilaya and Tausug were the two major ethnic groups in Tawi-Tawi

Majority (71.45 percent) of the household population in Tawi-Tawi classified themselves as Sama Dilaya or Tausug (35.82 percent and 35.63 percent, respectively). Others classified themselves as Sama (Samal)/Abaknon (15.21 percent), Jawa Mapun (5.84 percent), Badjao/Sama Dilaut (2.52 percent) or belonged to other ethnic groups (4.43 percent).

More widows than widowers

About 49 percent of the total population 10 years old and over were single, while 45.30 percent were married. The remaining 5.83 percent were either widowed, divorced/separated, with other arrangements or with unknown marital status. There were more single men (51.30 percent) than women (48.70 percent), while there were more widowed females than males (69.37 percent and 30.63 percent, respectively).

One out of five occupied housing units had floor area of 20 to 29 square meters

Of the 52,964 occupied housing units in Tawi-Tawi, about 22 percent had floor area of 20 to 29 square meters. This figure increased by 2.18 percentage points from the 1990 figure (19.94 percent). Housing units with floor area of 30 to 49 square meters followed with 21.37 percent. Only 3.21 percent had floor area of 120 square meters or more.

Proportion of occupied housing units with roof made of galvanized iron increased to 52.18 percent

The proportion of housing units with roof made of galvanized iron/aluminum increased from 37.92 percent in 1990 to 52.18 percent in 2000. On the other hand, the proportion of housing units with roof made of cogon/nipa/anahaw dipped by 17.56 percentage points (55.88 percent in 1990 to 38.32 percent in 2000).

Two out of five occupied housing units had galvanized iron/aluminum for roof, while wood for walls; and, one out of five had cogon/nipa/anahaw for roof and wood for walls.

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