Based on the results of the 2007 Census of Population, the country’s population density is 260 persons per square kilometer or a 15.6 percent increase from 2000.  Metro Manila, the country’s center of economic activity and the most densely populated region, has 26 times the density of people in CALABARZON and 41 times that of Central Luzon.  With a land area of only 619.5 square kilometers and a population of 11,553,427, Metro Manila has a population density of 18,650 persons per square kilometer in 2007, an increase of 16.3 percent or 2,617 persons per square kilometer from 2000.  The least populous region  is CAR with only 78 persons per square kilometer in 2007.

Table 1. Population Density and Gross Domestic Product  (GDP) by Region

1/ Latest available by region
2/ Includes Mimaropa

ARMM posted the highest increase in population density at 50.0 percent while CALABARZON is the second at 26.0 percent and SOCCSKSARGEN is the third at 18.9 percent.  Zamboanga Peninsula had the lowest increase at 4.4 percent. 

Economic growth and opportunities that abound  attract people to flock to the more affluent areas.  This is true for the top four regions consisting of Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Central Luzon and Central Visayas in terms of population density vis-a-vis the gross domestic product. 

Among the provinces, the top ten populous provinces in 2007 are all in Luzon, four of which are in CALABARZON, three in Central Luzon, two in Ilocos Region and one in Bicol Region. Rizal is the most congested province, with population density of 1,916, followed by Cavite with 1,843, Laguna with 1,356, Bulacan with 1,019 and Pampanga with 927. The proximity of these provinces to Metro Manila and the boom of housing projects in these areas as well as the presence of economic zones and industrial parks in some of these areas may have contributed to the increase in their population.

Sources of data: National Statistics Office, Lands Management Bureau and NSCB.