Jolo, Province of Sulu

Summary data
Typemunicipality
Island groupMindanao
RegionBangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)
ProvinceSulu
Barangay count8
Postal code7400
Coastal/Landlockedcoastal
Marine waterbodiesSulu Sea
Philippine major island(s)Jolo
Area (2013)126.40 km2 (48.80 sq mi)
Population (2020)137,266
Density (2020)1,086 / km2 (2,813 / sq mi)
Coordinates6° 3' North, 121° 0' East (6.0536, 121.0002)
Estimated elevation above sea level6.6 meters (21.5 feet)

Jolo is a coastal municipality in the island province of Sulu. It serves as the provincial capital.

The municipality has a land area of 126.40 square kilometers or 48.80 square miles which constitutes 2.78% of Sulu's total area. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 137,266. This represented 13.73% of the total population of Sulu province, or 3.12% of the overall population of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Based on these figures, the population density is computed at 1,086 inhabitants per square kilometer or 2,813 inhabitants per square mile.

Barangays

Jolo has 8 barangays as shown in the following table.

Demographic profile of barangays
Local government units of Jolo
BarangayPopulation percentage (2020)Population (2020)Population (2015)Change (2015‑2020)Annual Population Growth Rate (2015‑2020)
Alat8.28%11,36810,27710.62%2.15%
Asturias19.67%26,99723,08516.95%3.35%
Bus-bus28.16%38,65036,6505.46%1.12%
Chinese Pier5.62%7,7186,57517.38%3.43%
San Raymundo12.42%17,05116,1435.62%1.16%
Takut-takut5.92%8,1237,5008.31%1.69%
Tulay10.85%14,89113,8917.20%1.47%
Walled City9.08%12,46811,4438.96%1.82%
Jolo Total137,266125,5649.32%1.89%

Economy

The annual regular revenue of Jolo for the fiscal year of 2016 was ₱194,192,459.56.

details
Annual regular income of Jolo (2009‑2016)
Fiscal YearAnnual Regular IncomeChange
2009126,897,471.02–
2010134,452,135.085.95%
2011144,658,668.897.59%
2012141,557,283.18-2.14%
2013133,375,361.97-5.78%
2014154,867,550.1516.11%
2015175,269,288.2513.17%
2016194,192,459.5610.80%

End notes:

  • Annual Regular Income = Locally Sourced Revenue + Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) Current Year + Other Shares from National Tax Collection
  • Locally Sourced Revenue = Real Property Tax (General Fund) + Tax on Business + Other Taxes + Regulatory Fees + Service/User Charges + Receipts from Economic Enterprises

Demographics

Households

The household population of Jolo in the 2015 Census was 125,419 broken down into 19,443 households or an average of 6.45 members per household.

details
Number of households in Jolo (1990‑2015)
Census dateHousehold populationNumber of householdsAverage household size
52,9038,6896.09
76,87113,7465.59
87,92712,8146.86
140,17021,6246.48
118,30718,3966.43
125,41919,4436.45

Population by age group

According to the 2015 Census, the age group with the highest population in Jolo is 5 to 9, with 17,260 individuals. Conversely, the age group with the lowest population is 80 and over, with 225 individuals.

details
Population of Jolo by age group (2015 census)
Age groupPopulation (2015)Age group percentage
Under 12,4181.93%
1 to 414,38011.45%
5 to 917,26013.75%
10 to 1416,43613.09%
15 to 1915,79912.58%
20 to 2412,3119.80%
25 to 299,6787.71%
30 to 347,7746.19%
35 to 397,3935.89%
40 to 446,1664.91%
45 to 495,3984.30%
50 to 544,0123.20%
55 to 592,6842.14%
60 to 641,7931.43%
65 to 691,0570.84%
70 to 745300.42%
75 to 792500.20%
80 and over2250.18%
Total125,564100.00%
  • Youth Dependency Ratio: 69.16
  • Old Age Dependency Ratio: 2.82
  • Total Dependency Ratio: 71.98
  • Median Age: 18.89

Historical population

The population of Jolo grew from 44,718 in 1903 to 137,266 in 2020, an increase of 92,548 people over the course of 117 years. The latest census figures in 2020 denote a positive growth rate of 1.89%, or an increase of 11,702 people, from the previous population of 125,564 in 2015.

details
Population of Jolo (1903‑2020)
Census datePopulationGrowth rate
44,718–
20,230-4.89%
12,571-2.35%
18,2823.92%
33,2595.40%
46,5863.35%
37,623-4.20%
52,4296.86%
53,0550.12%
76,9487.21%
87,9982.92%
140,3076.65%
118,307-6.02%
125,5641.14%
137,2661.89%

The total number of registered voters or electorate in Jolo for the year 2019 was 50,272, broken down into 23,624 males and 26,648 females.

Location

The municipal center of Jolo is situated at approximately 6° 3' North, 121° 0' East, in the island of Jolo. Elevation at these coordinates is estimated at 6.6 meters or 21.5 feet above mean sea level.

Distances

Based on the great-circle distance (the shortest distance between two points over the surface of the Earth), the cities closest to Jolo are Isabela City, Basilan, Lamitan, Basilan, Zamboanga City, Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur, Tangub, Misamis Occidental, and Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte. The nearest municipalities are Hadji Panglima Tahil, Sulu, Indanan, Sulu, Patikul, Sulu, Maimbung, Sulu, Talipao, Sulu, and Parang, Sulu. Its distance from the national capital is 944.22 kilometers (586.71 miles). The following list delineates such distance measurements.

great-circle distance

Nearest towns

  • Hadji Panglima Tahil, Sulu, 7.55 kilometers (4.69 miles) to the North‑Northwest (N30°W)
  • Indanan, Sulu, 9.68 kilometers (6.01 miles) to the South‑Southwest (S21°W)
  • Patikul, Sulu, 12.09 kilometers (7.51 miles) to the East‑Northeast (N72°E)
  • Maimbung, Sulu, 13.63 kilometers (8.47 miles) to the South (S11°E)
  • Talipao, Sulu, 15.15 kilometers (9.41 miles) to the Southeast (S55°E)
  • Parang, Sulu, 18.89 kilometers (11.73 miles) to the Southwest (S34°W)

Nearest cities

Distance from Manila: 944.22 kilometers (586.71 miles) to the North (N0°W)

Notes

  1. Unless otherwise specified, population count (excluding percentages), household data, and land area figures are derived from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
  2. Data on registered voters is from the Commission on Elections.
  3. Data on annual regular income is from the Bureau of Local Government Finance, Department of Finance
  4. Postal code information is from the Philippine Postal Corporation.
(Back to top)