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Reference Number :
2016-130

Philippine population density increases from 308 to 337 persons per square kilometer

  • TThe population of the Philippines as of August 1, 2015 based on the 2015 Census of Population (POPCEN 2015) was 100.98 million persons.
  • With a total land area of approximately 300,000 square kilometers, the population density of the Philippines in 2015 was posted at 337 persons per square kilometer.  This represents an increase of 29 persons per square kilometer (9.4 percent) from the population density of 308 persons per square kilometer in 2010. In 2000, there were 255 persons residing in every square kilometer of land.

 

 

 

NCR is the most densely populated region, CAR the most sparsely populated

  • Among the country’s 18 administrative regions, the most densely populated was the National Capital Region (NCR), with a population density of 20,785 persons per square kilometer.  This figure is more than 60 times higher than the population density of 337 persons per square kilometer at the national level. This translates to an additional 1,648 persons per square kilometer (8.6 percent) from the 19,137 persons per square kilometer in 2010.  The population density of the NCR in 2000 was 16,032 persons per square kilometer.
  • The most sparsely populated region in 2015 was the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), with 87 persons per square kilometer.

Source: PSA and LMB, DENR

Among provinces, Rizal is most densely populated; Apayao the most sparse

  • Among the country’s 81 provinces, Rizal was the most densely populated with 2,439 residents per square kilometer of land. It was followed by Cavite with 2,410 persons per square kilometer, Laguna with 1,574 persons per square kilometer, Bulacan with 1,183 persons per square kilometer, and Pampanga (excluding Angeles City) with 1,098 persons per square kilometer.

 

Source: PSA and LMB, DENR

  • In contrast, Apayao was the most sparsely populated province with a population density of 26 persons per square kilometer. Next was Abra with 57 residents per square kilometer of land, followed closely by Palawan (excluding Puerto Princesa City) with 58 persons per square kilometer, and Mountain Province and Kalinga, each with 65 persons per square kilometer.

 

Source: PSA and LMB, DENR

Manila has more than 70 thousand residents per square kilometer of land; only 6,130 in Pateros

  • Eight of the 16 highly urbanized cities (HUCs) in the NCR surpassed the regional population density of 20,785 persons per square kilometer. The City of Manila was the most densely populated with 71,263 persons per square kilometer in 2015, followed by the City of Mandaluyong with 41,580 persons per square kilometer and Pasay City with 29,815 persons per square kilometer.
  • The five other HUCs in the NCR which surpassed the regional population density were: Caloocan City (28,387 persons per square kilometer), City of Navotas (27,904 persons per square kilometer), City of Makati (27,010 persons per square kilometer), City of Malabon (23,267 persons per square kilometer), and City of Marikina (20,945 persons per square kilometer).
  • The municipality of Pateros had the least population density in the NCR with 6,138 persons per square kilometer of land.

 

Source: PSA and LMB, DENR

Mandaue City is the most densely populated HUC outside the NCR; Puerto Princesa City is most sparsely populated

  • Of the 17 HUCs outside of the NCR, Mandaue City was the most densely populated with 14,402 persons per square kilometer of land.  It was followed by Lapu-Lapu City with 7,024 persons per square kilometer and Angeles City with 6,496 persons per square kilometer. Other HUCs outside of the NCR with a population density of more than 5,000 persons per square kilometer of land were Baguio City with 6,005 persons per square kilometer and Iloilo City with 5,719 persons per square kilometer.
  • Puerto Princesa City was the most sparsely populated HUC outside of the NCR with 107 persons per square kilometer of land.

 

Source: PSA and LMB, DENR

Seven of the ten most densely populated component cities are in Region IV-A; Ilagan City in Isabela is most sparsely populated

  • In 2015, seven of the top ten most densely populated component cities were located in Region IV-A. Two cities in Region III and another city in Region VII also made it to the top ten.
  • The most densely populated component city in the country was the City of San Pedro in Laguna with 13,547 persons per square kilometer. It was followed by Bacoor City in Cavite with 13,009 persons per square kilometer and Cavite City in Cavite with 9,440 persons per square kilometer.

 

Source: PSA and LMB, DENR

  • Ilagan City in Isabela was the most sparsely populated component city in the country with a population density of 125 persons per square kilometer. It was followed by the City of Borongan in Eastern Samar with 146 persons per square kilometer, City of Bayugan in Agusan del Sur with 150 persons per square kilometer, and City of Tabuk in Kalinga with 158 residents per square kilometer of land. The rest of the country’s ten most sparsely populated component cities are all located in selected provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.

 

Source: PSA and LMB, DENR

Gen. Mariano Alvarez, Cavite has over 16 thousand residents per square kilometer of land; only one person for every square kilometer of land in Kalayaan, Palawan

  • Of the country’s 1,489 municipalities in 2015, General Mariano Alvarez in Cavite was the most densely populated with 16,505 persons per square kilometer of land, followed by Rosario, Cavite with 14, 547 persons per square kilometer. Completing the top five most densely populated municipalities were: Taytay, Rizal (8,224 persons per square kilometer); Cainta, Rizal (7,493 persons per square kilometer); and Marilao, Bulacan (6,579 persons per square kilometer).

                   

Source: PSA and LMB, DENR

  • Kalayaan, Palawan was the most sparsely populated municipality in the country in 2015 with only one person residing for every square kilometer of land.  Other municipalities with a population density of less than ten persons per square kilometers were: Dinapigue, Divilacan, and Maconacon in Isabela; Tineg in Abra; and Alfonso Castaneda in Nueva Vizcaya. Rounding up the ten most sparsely populated municipalities in the country are two municipalities in Abra and one municipality each in Apayao and Ilocos Norte.

 

Source: PSA and LMB, DENR

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