Population. Over the last ten years, population growth in the region ranged from 12.22% to 45.54% with Davao City registering the highest rate and Davao Oriental the lowest (See Figure Below). The 2002 National Statistics Census recorded a total household population in the region of 3,760.61 with an average household size of 4.86.

Health. The projected regional life expectancy for males is 64.71 and for females, it is slightly higher at 71.51.  There is a total of 118 government doctors, 97 dentists, 198 nurses, and 918 midwives distributed across the 64 rural health units and 1,008 barangay health stations that cater to the health service needs of the people in the region.  

Ethnolinguistic and religious groups. Among the prominent early lumad groups are Bagobo, B’la-an, Tagacaolo, Kulaman, Ata, Mansaka, and Mandaya most of whom have since moved to upland areas away from the coast. The Calaganes have continued to reside in the coast between Padada and Sta. Cruz while descendants of the Culamanes are mainly around Malalag. The Manobos occupied areas along the Agusan river in Compostela Valley, while the Mansakas are around the interior of the Hijo river in Tagum City. The Samales, described as Moro-Mandaya mestizos, are related to the sea-faring Bajao Muslims and are the prominent residents of Samal island.
           
Various Muslim trading groups are prominent though migratory residents can be found occupying the mouths of the Tuganay, Hijo Davao del Norte and Matiao rivers in Compostela Valley; barangays in Darong, Talomo, Lanang in Davao City and in the municipalities of Malita and Jose Abad Santos. These communities regard themselves as descendants of the subjects of the Sultan of Buayan of Maguindanao in 1840s. To date, inter-tribal rivalries among Muslims and the intransigence of some of them continue to undermine their conduct of daily life.

The trade history of the region tells of Manila-based entrepreneurs and other migrants who took advantage of the flourishing trade, notably of the forest products. Recollect and Jesuit missionaries based in Caraga, Davao Oriental undertook the Christianization of the peoples in eastern Mindanao. The establishment of reducciones led to the recognition of village settlements, precursors of today’s barangays. Presbyterian and other missions also contributed to the development of   educational institutions in the area.
           
Apart from the descendants of original lumad and Muslim tribes, Spanish, American, Chinese, Indonesian (Maroris), and Japanese descendants are scattered in the region. Migrants from the Tagalog region, Bohol, Cebu, and Iloilo comprise an interesting mix of culture and languages. The program of the National Land Settlements Administration brought in more migrants, particularly to Monkayo, Compostela Valley.  Figure 5 shows the major languages in the region.

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