Malaybalay is originally the home of the Bukidnon "lumads" or natives, but there has been an influx of settlers and immigrants from the Visayas and Luzon for the last four decades contributing to the growth of the population.
The original inhabitants, the Bukidnons, have retreated to the hinterlands as the migrants continued to occupy and dominate the population centers in the city.
Malaybalay City is the second most populous political subdivision in the province, after Valencia City.

The historical growth of population of the city showed a variable pattern of growth (See Figure).
The first census of population was made in 1918 with Malaybalay having only 16,428 inhabitants.
The 21 years from 1918 to 1939 was a low-growth period with the city's population growing at a 0.6% annually.
This was then followed by a period of population decline until the post-World War II era, declining by 1.5% per year.
The 12-year period from 1948 to 1960 is a period of high growth, when the city's population almost doubled from its 1948 level.
This pace of growth continued until 1970, growing 6.7%.
In 1970, Malaybalay has 65,918 inhabitants.
A 5-year period of declining growth followed, the population dropped to 60,779.
After the decline, Malaybalay's population has been increasing since then, growing by 3.4% from 1990 to 1995 and by 1.9% from 1995 to 2000.

The city is predominantly rural, with only 16% of the population in urban areas, 40% in urbanizing barangays and 46% in rural areas.
Population is evenly distributed in the urban and rural areas.
The urban areas are generally found on the confines of the Sayre Highway (also known in the city as "Fortich Street") that traverses the city.
The main urban population is found in the Poblacion-Casisang-Sumpong area.
Secondary population centers includes barangays Aglayan, Bangcud, Kalasungay and San Jose.

Malaybalay has one of the lowest average population density in the province, second only to Impasug-ong with only 146 persons per square kilometer although there are barangays, especially in the Poblacion area, with high population density.

Cebuano and Binukid are prevailing mediums of communication in the city.
More than half of the city's population are speakers of these languages.
Other languages such as Maranao are spoken by the Maranaos.
Hiligaynon is also spoken by the descendants of the Hiligaynon/Ilonggo settlers in the city.
Malaybalay is originally the home of the Bukidnon "lumads" or natives, but there has been an influx of settlers and immigrants from the Visayas and Luzon for the last four decades contributing to the growth of the population. The original inhabitants, the Bukidnons, have retreated to the hinterlands as the migrants continued to occupy and dominate the population centers in the city. Malaybalay City is the second most populous political subdivision in the province, after Valencia City.
The historical growth of population of the city showed a variable pattern of growth (See Figure). The first census of population was made in 1918 with Malaybalay having only 16,428 inhabitants. The 21 years from 1918 to 1939 was a low-growth period with the city's population growing at a 0.6% annually. This was then followed by a period of population decline until the post-World War II era, declining by 1.5% per year. The 12-year period from 1948 to 1960 is a period of high growth, when the city's population almost doubled from its 1948 level. This pace of growth continued until 1970, growing 6.7%. In 1970, Malaybalay has 65,918 inhabitants. A 5-year period of declining growth followed, the population dropped to 60,779. After the decline, Malaybalay's population has been increasing since then, growing by 3.4% from 1990 to 1995 and by 1.9% from 1995 to 2000.
The city is predominantly rural, with only 16% of the population in urban areas, 40% in urbanizing barangays and 46% in rural areas. Population is evenly distributed in the urban and rural areas. The urban areas are generally found on the confines of the Sayre Highway (also known in the city as "Fortich Street") that traverses the city. The main urban population is found in the Poblacion-Casisang-Sumpong area. Secondary population centers includes barangays Aglayan, Bangcud, Kalasungay and San Jose.
Malaybalay has one of the lowest average population density in the province, second only to Impasug-ong with only 146 persons per square kilometer although there are barangays, especially in the Poblacion area, with high population density.
Cebuano and Binukid are prevailing mediums of communication in the city. More than half of the city's population are speakers of these languages. Other languages such as Maranao are spoken by the Maranaos. Hiligaynon is also spoken by the descendants of the Hiligaynon/Ilonggo settlers in the city.
Malaybalay