Demographic Characteristics 

1.4.1    Population in Various Censuses 

As of 1995 Censuses of Population, out of 18 municipalities in the province of Cotabato, the municipality of Carmen ranked 9^th (40, 261) with a population size comprising 4.7 percent of the total population of the province. The first census over conducted in Carmen was on December 31, 1918 which reflected a population of 1,686. However, when it was created as a municipality distict from its municipality of Kabacan on November 15, 1956, the population count of February 15, 1960 registered a population of 25, 768. The differences between the five censal years (1970 & 1980) was heavily noted, an increase of 12,939 in 1980 or 56.36 over that of 1975 census. A minimal increase of 318 persons was observed between 1980 and 1990. Between 1990 and 1995, a difference of 11.18 percent or 4,048 persons was noted.

Population Enumerated In Various Censuses: 1918-1995

Municipality of Carmen

Population

The largest population count was in May 1970 with a population of 42, 840, a decrease of 19, 884 persons was observed five years thereafter in 1975.

 1.4.2        Projected Population

Carmen’s population is expected to reach 44, 761 in 2001 and 54, 168 in 2010.

1.4.3        Population Distribution By Barangay 

Out of the 28 barangays of the municipality, barangay Poblacion has the most number of people- 7,131 or 17.71 percent of the total municipal population. Ranked 2^nd is barangay Malapag with 8.29 percent or 3,338 persons. The least populated is barangay Kibenes with 399. 

1.4.4        Population Projection By Barangay 

By the year 2001, barangay Poblacion will have 7,928 and by 2010, 9,594 population. Kibenes will still have the least population of 444 persons in 2001 and 537 in 2010. 

1.4.5        Population Density 

          Carmen has a land area of 72,230 hectares. With a population of 40,261 as of 1995, density was placed at 0.56 persons per hectare while urban density was 12.60 and rural density was 0.46 persons per hectare. For the next five years, that is, 2005, density is expected at 0.68 persons per hectare while urban and rural density at 15.26 and 0.56 persons per hectare respectively. 

          From these figures, it can be gleaned that Carmen’s density is still far below the standard low density which is placed at 150 persons per hectare. 

1.4.6        Population Distribution By Urban-Rural 

           By National Statistics Office definition of an urban and rural barangay and as of the 1995 census only barangay Poblacion is considered as urban and the other 27 barangays are considered rural in character. The percent of urbanity or urbanization level of Carmen is computed at 17.71 percent. The rural population make up the 82.29 percent of the population. For Carmen, its urban population will reach 8,629 and 9,593 in the years 2005 and 2010 respectively while the rural population is projected at 40,093 by 2005 and 44,575 by 2010. 

1.4.7          Population By Number of Households/Households Population

             In this usage, a household consists of persons who are related by kinship ties, like parents and children. In some instances, several generation of families ties are represented in one household while, still in others, even distant relatives are members of the households. Based on this relationship, there are 8,278 households which consist of a person living alone or group of persons who sleep in the same housing unit and have a common arrangement in the preparation and consumption of food. 

The average households in the municipality rose to 8,278 in 1990 to 5.4 persons in 1995.The number of households in the municipality rose to 8,278 in 1995 from 6,961 in 1990 registration an increase of 1,317 households over the 1990 figure.

1.4.8        Population Distribution By Sex

             Males slightly outnumbered the females by 1,513. Male population is 20,887 while the female population is 19,374. Among the age groups, the largest are those within ages 5-9 with 3,112 population as against the females with 2,943.

1.4.9        Population Distribution By Age Group 

            As expected, the population of each age group decreases with the increase in age. The age-sex structure of the population in Carmen form a pyramid with a broad base as children under 5 years old made up 16.45 percent of the total population of the municipality. 

The population less than 15 years old constituted 31.49 percent of the total population. 

            The age group 15 to 64 years old made up 66.56 percent while the elderly population or those aged 65 old and over, 197 percent of the total municipal population. 

1.4.10    Labor Force and Dependency Ratio 

             Persons within the age bracket below 15 to 65 and above are considered the dependent population. Carmen’s dependent population total to 13,465 while those in ages 15 to 64 which are its productive population total to 26,796. Carmen’s total dependency ratio is placed at 50.25% its young dependency ratio-47.31% and its old dependency ration, 2.96%. Employment data as of 2001, estimates the distribution of the following workers in the different economic activities such as: 

*    Agriculture                        -           15,874

*    Trades/services                 -           2,483

*    Government services          -           1,874

*    Private services                 -              812

*    Manufacturing                   -              687

*    Transportation                  -              480

*    Construction                     -              444

       TOTAL                            -           22,654 

          Age Group             Total Population   

          0 – 14                           12,676

       15-64                            24,796

       65 and above                  789

       TOTAL                           40,261 

1.4.11    Population By Highest Grade Completed 

            Of the population 5 years old and over in 1995, 69.72 percent attended or completed elementary education. About 22.22 percent reached or completed secondary education (high school) and 5.72 percent were some college education while the other 2.34 percent are not reported to have had any schooling at all. Based on this data, it could be stated that Carmen’s literacy is placed at 97.66 percent.

1.4.12    Population By Marital Status 

            In 1995 married persons accounted for 55.08 percent (15,195Z) of the total population 10 years old and over. The never-married made up 41.85 percent and widowed persons 2.72 percent. There was a higher percentage of single men (23.18 percent) than women (18.67 percent). By contrast, a higher percentage of widowed persons were reported among females – 510 or 1.85 percent over 0.87 percent or 239 among males. Legally married males. Legally married males were also slightly higher 7,706 or 27.97 percent over females which was posted at 7,489 or 27.15 percent. 

1.4.13    Population By Religious Affiliation 

            Among religious affiliated, the Roman Catholics ranks second with 33.84 percent of its total population while Islam make-up 37.16% while those within the Protestant denomination make-up 24% while the remaining 5% have not stated their religious affiliation as of the 1995 Census. 

1.4.14    Population By Mother Tongue 

            As of the 1995 Census, Maguindanao was the predominant dialect by  population. Of the total population, 36.54 percent spoke Maguindanao. Ranked second was Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) which was reported at 24.49 percent and Cebuano 21.42 percent. Ilocano was posted at 2.69 percent and Manobo 12.17. There are still other dialects spoken aside from these and there are 5 persons speaking Chinese and 1 with still another foreign language.

Population Size and Growth 

     Based on the 1990 Census on Population and Housing, the total population of Carmen is 36,213, or 4.7% of the total population of the Province of Cotabato. Growth rate is at 4.15%. The household population was 36,191 and the number of households was 6,961, which is 4.94% of the total households of Cotabato province. Average household size is 5.2. Barangay Poblacion has the biggest population (17%) followed by Barangay Malapag (7.8%) and Barangay Liliongan (6.1%). Barangay Kilala has the smallest population at 0.8%. 

Population Density/ Urban-Rural Population 

      Population density is 0.50 person/ha or 5 persons/sq.km. Of this total population, 20% or 7,243 persons are urban population while 80% or 28,970 persons live in rural areas. 

Population by Sex/Age Structure

      Male population is 52% or 18,831 persons and female population is 48% or 17,382 persons. Children with ages 0-15 make up 40.90% or 14,811 persons; labor force with ages ranging from 15-64 make 55.35% or 20,044 persons; and 1,358 persons aged 65 and up comprise 3.75% of the total population 15 yrs. old and over (21,402), 10,071 males and 4,730 females in the labor force are unemployed. Although they are in the labor force, 242 males and 775 females are unemployed. Six hundred ninety-one (691) males and 4,892 females are not in the labor force.