While some islands are much more populated than others, the overall population density of the Philippines is 939 people per square mile (363 people per square kilometer).
- The Philippines 2020 population is estimated at 109,581,078 people based on UN data.
- The Philippines population is equivalent to 1.41% of the total world population.
- The Philippines ranks number 13 in the list of highest density populations in the world.
- The population density in the Philippines is 368 people per km2 (952 per sm2).
- The total land area is 298,170 km2 (115,124 sm2)
- 47.5 % of the population is urban (52,008,603 people in 2020)
- The most commonly spoken indigenous languages are Tagalog and Cebuano, with 23.8 million (45 million speakers as Filipino) and 16 million speakers, respectively.
- The median age in the Philippines is 25.7 years.
Philippines Age Breakdown
Philippines Age Breakdown | Image Source
By Region
Among the 17 regions of the Philippines, NCR was the most densely populated region, with a population density of 20,785 persons per square kilometer. The number is 60 times higher than the population density of the country which is 337 persons per square kilometer. CAR is the most sparsely populated region with 87 persons per square kilometer.
READ MORE: Regions of the Philippines
Population Density | Image Source
By Province
The top three most densely populated provinces in the country are in Luzon – Rizal with 2,439 persons per square kilometer, Cavite with 2,410 persons per square kilometer, and Laguna with 1,574 persons per square kilometer. Apayao is the most sparsely populated province in the country, with 26 persons per square kilometer.
READ MORE: Provinces of the Philippines
Ten Most Densely Populated Provinces | Image Source
15 Most Sparsely Populated Provinces | Image Source
Manila
Since the city’s inauguration in 1571, Manila has quickly become one of the fastest growing cities in the world, and as of the last census, 1.7 million people call the capital city home.
The Filipino capital comes in at number one on the most densely populated city in the world with a staggering 41,500 people per square mile. If you are looking to come to the Philippines for a peaceful seaside getaway, it is probably best that you exit the main part of town and head to an island nearby the mainland, of which, luckily enough, there are no shortage!
Metro Manila Population Density | Image Source
By City
In the National Capital Region (NCR), the City of Manila is the most densely populated city with 71,263 persons per square kilometer while the municipality of Pateros had the most sparse population with 6,138 persons per square kilometer of land.
Outside NCR, the top three most densely populated highly urbanized cities are Mandaue City with 14,402 persons per square kilometer, Lapu-Lapu City with 7,024 persons per square kilometer, and Angeles City with 6,496 persons per square kilometer. Puerto Princesa is the most sparsely populated highly urbanized city with 107 persons per square kilometer of land.
The top three most densely populated component cities are San Pedro (Laguna) with 13,547 persons per square kilometer, Bacoor (Cavite) with 13,009 persons per square kilometer, and Cavite City (Cavite) with 9,440 persons per square kilometer. Ilagan City (Isabela) is the most sparsely populated component city with 125 persons per square kilometer.

Population Density of Cities Outside NCR | Image Source
10 Most Densely Populated Component Cities | Image Source
10 Most Sparsely Populated Component Cities | Image Source
By Municipality
Among the 1,489 municipalities in the country, the top three most densely populated municipalities are General Mariano Alvarez (Cavite) with 16,505 persons per square kilometer, Rosario (Cavite) with 14,547 persons per square kilometer, and Taytay (Rizal) with 8,224 persons per square kilometer.
The Municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan is the least populated municipality with only one person per square kilometer.
READ MORE: Cities & Towns in the Philippines
10 Most Densely Populated Municipalities | Image Source
10 Most Sparsely Populated Municipalities | Image Source
