Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)

Summary data
Map of the Philippines highlighting Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
Typeregion
Island groupMindanao
Provinces5
Cities2 (until 2020, now 3; includes Cotabato City)
Municipalities116
Barangays (2021)2,490
Coastal/Landlockedcoastal
Marine waterbodiesSulu Sea, Celebes Sea
Area (2013)36,650.95 km2 (14,151.01 sq mi)
Population (2020)4,404,288
Density (2020)120 / km2 (311 / sq mi)

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, officially designated as BARMM, is an administrative region in the Philippines grouped under the Mindanao island group. It covers 5 provinces, namely, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur (both created from the partitioned Maguindanao), Sulu (until September 9, 2024), and Tawi‑Tawi. The regional center is the City of Cotabato.

Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 4,404,288. This represented 16.78% of the overall population of the Mindanao island group, or 4.04% of the entire population of the Philippines. Based on these figures, the population density is computed at 120 inhabitants per square kilometer or 311 inhabitants per square mile.

Map

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is bordered, clockwise from the Northeast, by Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN, the Moro Gulf, Celebes Sea, and the Sulu Sea.

details
Map of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2021Map of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2021 highlighting its regional center, component provinces and their capitals, and nearby major citiesBasilan (except Isabela City)Lanao del SurMaguindanaoSuluTawi-Tawi

Local government units

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has 5 provinces, 116 municipalities, and 3 cities. As of 2021, the total number of barangays in the region was 2,490.

On December 15, 2020, the number of cities in BARMM increased to three (3) after Cotabato City was officially transferred to the jurisdiction of the region following the 2019 Bangsamoro autonomy plebiscite.

details
Local government units of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
NameTypePopulation (2020)Population (2015)Annual Population Growth Rate (2015‑2020)Area (2013), in km2Density (2020), per km2City countMun countBrgy count
Basilanprovince426,207346,5794.45%3,453.42123111210
Lanao del Surprovince1,195,5181,045,4292.86%15,055.51791391,159
Maguindanao *former province1,342,1791,173,9332.86%9,968.31135036508
Suluprovince1,000,108824,7314.14%4,547.16220019410
Tawi-Tawiprovince440,276390,7152.55%3,626.55121011203
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Total4,404,2883,781,3873.26%36,650.9512021162,490

Demographics

Population by age group

According to the 2015 Census, the age group with the highest population in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is 5 to 9, with 554,328 individuals. Conversely, the age group with the lowest population is 80 and over, with 8,480 individuals.

Age distribution

Population of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao by age group (2015 census)
Age groupPopulation (2015)Age group percentage
Under 186,5052.29%
1 to 4450,62811.92%
5 to 9554,32814.66%
10 to 14499,56313.21%
15 to 19421,44011.15%
20 to 24326,0838.62%
25 to 29288,7777.64%
30 to 34248,3836.57%
35 to 39245,0076.48%
40 to 44202,0725.34%
45 to 49163,5364.32%
50 to 54109,9242.91%
55 to 5972,9931.93%
60 to 6446,7441.24%
65 to 6929,8760.79%
70 to 7417,5600.46%
75 to 799,4880.25%
80 and over8,4800.22%
Total3,781,387100.00%
  • Youth Dependency Ratio: 74.87
  • Old Age Dependency Ratio: 3.08
  • Total Dependency Ratio: 77.95
  • Median Age: 18.56

Historical population

The population of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao grew from 195,374 in 1903 to 4,404,288 in 2020, an increase of 4,208,914 people over the course of 117 years. The latest census figures in 2020 denote a positive annualized growth rate of 3.26%, or an increase of 622,901 people, from the previous population of 3,781,387 in 2015.

Trends in population growth

Population of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (1903‑2020)
Census datePopulationAnnualized Growth Rate
195,374–
313,8943.04%
527,8612.63%
697,9272.91%
1,205,4274.92%
1,405,2301.51%
1,417,3270.17%
1,564,4011.99%
2,108,0613.03%
2,362,3002.16%
2,803,0453.74%
4,120,7955.46%
3,256,140-8.22%
3,781,3872.89%
4,404,2883.26%

The total number of registered voters or electorate in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for the year 2019 was 2,172,959.

Notes

  1. Unless otherwise specified, population count (excluding percentages) and land area figures are derived from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
  2. Data on registered voters is from the Commission on Elections.
  3. Maps utilize OpenStreetMap data available under the Open Data Commons Open Database License.
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