Demographic Features

The population of Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo is estimated at 122,591 with an annual growth rate of 2.8% as compared to 2.9% for the region. (Source: 2010 PHC report).  This is made up of 60,240 males and 64,351 females constituting 48% and 52% respectively. The population has a sex ratio of 96.6 as against the regional ratio of 98.4. The average density of population is 97.5 persons per square kilometre, which is higher than the regional average of 35.2 people per square kilometre. There are one hundred and ninety one (202) communities in the District. Demographic and socio- Economic Characteristics of the district are shown below.

The economically active population that can contribute to production constitute 43.1% of the population. This indicates a potential for the local economy grow. However the youth of school going age constitute 40.1 %. This signals the need to provide more school infrastructure to provide access.the present population indicates a dependency ratio of 1:1.7. The data revealed a high population growth rate. This is due to cultural practices such as Early and polygamous marriages and inadequate education on Family Planning. It is also indicated in the table that the District has a dependent population of 46.9% which put more strain on household low incomes, thereby, deepening poverty levels. It also puts pressure on the few socio- economic facilities. The district is basically rural as only 16.1% of the population is urban dwellers.

Spatial Distribution of Population

There are five urban settlements with population of 5,000 and above. They are Bunkpurugu, Nakpanduri, Binde, Bimbagu and Nasuan. The people in the urban settlement constitute about 18.1% of the total population of the District. Thus, the District is mainly rural of about 81.9% of the total population. Since all the major social and economic infrastructure and services are located in the urban areas majority of the people are either deprived totally of utilizing these facilities or have limited access to them. Any programme aimed at alleviating poverty of the needy and vulnerable should best target the rural communities.

KEY DEVELOPENT ISSUES

•    High population growth rate
•    High dependent population
•    Inadequate education on family planning
•    Early marriages

Migration

Migration out of the district is higher than migration into the district. This situation has serious implications for the socio-economic as well as Agricultural development of the district with respect to the loss of productive labour force. 

A majority of the out-migrants are the youth who move out of the district, for both pull and push factors accounting for these phenomena; moving away from parental control and traditions, search for employment and better livelihood in the cities, pursuit of further and search for quality education and also peer group influence. The destination of a majority of these youth include; Tamale, Kumasi, Accra and neighbouring Togo to whom the district shares boundaries. One of the serious effects of this phenomenon is its promotion of the spread of HIV/AIDS in the district.

Immigrants in the district constitute traders(70%) who patronize the local market with their produce and items, while 30% are professionals who are posted to work in various institutions in the district.