Esperanza, the oldest town in northern Agusan del Sur, used to be the largest municipality in the province in terms of the land area until the late 20th century. However, several municipalities were established out of its territories, namely Las Nieves, San Luis, Sibagat, and Bayugan, which eventually became a city and have since surpassed Esperanza in terms of economy and population.
The land area of the municipality covers 1,355.48 square kilometers or 523.35 square miles, which makes up 13.57% of Agusan del Sur’s entire area. According to the 2020 Census, the population of the municipality was 59,353, comprising 8.03% of the total population of Agusan del Sur province, and 2.12% of the overall population of the Caraga region. With these statistics, the population density is estimated to be 44 inhabitants per square kilometer or 113 inhabitants per square mile.
Esperanza has 47 barangays. The graph and table below show the population per barangay for the years 2015 and 2020.
Barangay
Population (2020)
Population (2015)
Agsabu
931
812
Aguinaldo
729
540
Anolingan
1,449
1,649
Bakingking
424
496
Balubo
913
816
Bentahon
1,078
1,084
Bunaguit
1,839
1,192
Catmonon
1,938
1,733
Cebulan
690
432
Concordia
811
935
Crossing Luna
1,441
1,381
Cubo
817
877
Dakutan
3,453
3,391
Duangan
1,658
1,610
Guadalupe
4,111
4,046
Guibonon
329
502
Hawilian
2,747
2,358
Kalabuan
326
283
Kinamaybay
885
683
Labao
980
930
Langag
1,125
1,197
Maasin
1,099
1,091
Mac-Arthur
222
200
Mahagcot
951
841
Maliwanag
262
296
Milagros
1,508
1,172
Nato
2,039
1,732
New Gingoog
503
495
Odiong
598
622
Oro
2,183
1,922
Piglawigan
2,055
1,882
Poblacion
5,219
4,778
Remedios
1,611
1,447
Salug
1,433
1,238
San Isidro
396
385
San Jose
197
150
San Toribio
2,103
2,424
San Vicente
388
765
Santa Fe
2,254
1,990
Segunda
342
293
Sinakungan
443
464
Tagabase
883
827
Taganahaw
402
382
Tagbalili
1,051
546
Tahina
1,226
769
Tandang Sora
854
768
Valentina
457
375
Economy
Fiscal Year
Annual Regular Income
2009
167,227,368.66
2010
179,714,722.59
2011
194,675,404.82
2012
192,976,051.01
2013
190,277,807.36
2014
220,839,585.43
2015
252,756,116.40
2016
279,583,540.42
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
Population
Census date
Population
1903
–
1918
–
1939
–
1948
–
1960
–
1970
37,816
1975
43,603
1980
56,367
1990
78,725
1995
89,999
2000
93,623
2007
95,032
2010
99,361
2015
103,202
2020
109,499
Esperanza’s population increased by 56,459 people over 102 years, rising from 2,894 individuals in 1918 to 59,353 in 2020. According to the latest census figures in 2020, there was a positive growth rate of 1.69%, resulting in an increase of 4,552 individuals from the previous population of 54,801 in 2015.
Location
Distances
Based on the great-circle distance (the shortest distance between two points over the surface of the Earth), the cities closest to Esperanza are Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte, Gingoog, Misamis Oriental, Tandag, Surigao del Sur, and Malaybalay, Bukidnon. The nearest municipalities are Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur, San Luis, Agusan del Sur, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, and Magallanes, Agusan del Norte. Its distance from the national capital is 828.64 kilometers (514.90 miles). The following list delineates such distance measurements.
Great-circle distance
Nearest towns
Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte, 8.16 kilometers (5.07 miles) to the Northwest (N37°W)