Demographics of the Philippines
Encyclopedia
Demographics of the Philippines are records of human
population in the country, including its population density
, ethnicity
, education level, health, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects of the population. According to the 2007 Census, the population of the Philippines
was 88,574,614. As of 2010, the estimated population is 94,349,600.
The Negrito
form a minority of the population. The majority of Filipinos (about 95%) are made up of various ethnolinguistic Austronesian
ethnic groups who descended from a population of Taiwanese aborigines
, who settled in the Philippines about 6,000 years ago. The indigenous population are closely related to Micronesians, Guamanians, Palauans, Malaysians, Indonesians
and other Pacific Island people. Mestizos
, those of part Filipino descent mixed with Spanish, Mexican, American, Chinese, and other ethnic groups form a minority of the population.
The most commonly spoken language is Filipino
, which is based on the Tagalog language. Filipino and English
are the official languages. Additionally, there are between 120 to 170 distinct indigenous Philippine languages (depending on their classification), a dozen of which have over one million speakers and are recognized as official regional languages. Spanish
and Arabic
are recognized as voluntary and optional languages in the Philippine constitution. Christianity is the main religion, with Roman Catholicism making up the majority of the population. Other religions include Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and those with no religion.
The people of the Philippines are known as Filipinos. Throughout the colonial era the term "Filipino" originally referred to the Spaniards, and mestizos. The definition was later applied to include all citizens, regardless of ethnic origin.
descent. The largest of these groups are the Visayan, Tagalog
, Ilocano
, Bicolano
, Moro, the Kapampangan
and among others. The indigenous peoples of the Philippines
form a minority of the population. Other ethnic groups include the Spaniard, Indian, Chinese
, American, Japanese, Arab, and other ethnic groups from other countries.
Various degrees of interracial marriage
between ethnic groups have resulted in the formation of a new ethnic group of people, collectively known as Filipino mestizo
s.
, based on Tagalog. Visayan languages (also called Bisaya or Binisaya) are widely spoken throughout the Visayas, and in some parts of Mindanao. The Ilokano language is the lingua franca of the Northern Luzon.
English
is considered an official language for purposes of communication and instruction. Consequently, it is widely spoken and understood. Other non-indigenous languages spoken are Spanish, Chinese
, and Arabic
.
, 5% are adherents of Islam
, and 10% are Protestant Christians, Iglesia ni Cristo
(Church of Christ), Philippine Independent Church
, Mormon, as well as those of other religions, such as Buddhism
, Hinduism
, Judaism, and those with no religion form a minority of the population.
Roman Catholics and Protestants were converted during the four centuries of Western influence by Spain, and the United States. Under Spanish rule, much of the population was converted to Christianity.
Orthodox
Christians also live in Philippines. Protestant Christianity arrived in the Philippines during the 20th century, introduced by American missionaries.
Islam
was brought to the Sulu Archipelago in the 14th century by Makhdum Karim
, an Arab trader, and to Mindanao island by Rajah Kabungsuwan, a Malaccan nobleman. From then onwards, Muslim princes carried on expeditions to propagate Islam. While Islam was easily displaced over the years among the peoples of Luzon, and the Visayas, it retained a foothold in the central parts of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.
Other religions include Judaism
, Mahayana Buddhism, often mixed with Taoist beliefs, Hinduism
, and Sikhism
. Animism
and Paganism
are also followed.
up to kindergarten
. At about seven years of age, children enter a elementary school (6 to 7 years). This is followed by high school (4 years). Students then apply for college entrance examinations (CEE), after which they enter university (3 to 5 years). Other institutions include private school
, preparatory school
, international school
, and science high school
. School year in the Philippines starts from June, and ends in March with a two-month summer break from April to May, one week of semestral break in October, and a week or two during Christmas and New Year holidays.
There were 13,400 villages, nearly 75% of which had fewer than 600 inhabitants.
's population was 684,000.
The number of Chinese living on the island had risen to 117,000. If figures are correct, then Chinese population (including immigration) has grown significantly faster than the native population. There were also around 30,000 Japan
ese living in the Philippines, with some 20,000 of them residing in Davao, Mindanao
, and 9,000 Americans lived in Luzon
.
By then, some 27% of the population could speak English as a second language, while the number of Spanish speakers as first language had further fallen to 3% from 10-14% at the beginning of the century. In 1936, Tagalog was selected to be the basis for a national language
. In 1987, the Tagalog-based Filipino language was designated the national language.
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
population in the country, including its population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
, ethnicity
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
, education level, health, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects of the population. According to the 2007 Census, the population of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
was 88,574,614. As of 2010, the estimated population is 94,349,600.
The Negrito
Negrito
The Negrito are a class of several ethnic groups who inhabit isolated parts of Southeast Asia.Their current populations include 12 Andamanese peoples of the Andaman Islands, six Semang peoples of Malaysia, the Mani of Thailand, and the Aeta, Agta, Ati, and 30 other peoples of the Philippines....
form a minority of the population. The majority of Filipinos (about 95%) are made up of various ethnolinguistic Austronesian
Austronesian people
The Austronesian-speaking peoples are various populations in Oceania and Southeast Asia that speak languages of the Austronesian family. They include Taiwanese aborigines; the majority ethnic groups of East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Madagascar, Micronesia, and Polynesia,...
ethnic groups who descended from a population of Taiwanese aborigines
Taiwanese aborigines
Taiwanese aborigines is the term commonly applied in reference to the indigenous peoples of Taiwan. Although Taiwanese indigenous groups hold a variety of creation myths, recent research suggests their ancestors may have been living on the islands for approximately 8,000 years before major Han...
, who settled in the Philippines about 6,000 years ago. The indigenous population are closely related to Micronesians, Guamanians, Palauans, Malaysians, Indonesians
Indonesians
Indonesians may be:*any nation or ethnic group of Indonesia**see Demographics of Indonesia**see Overseas Indonesians**see Ethnic groups in Indonesia**see Native Indonesians...
and other Pacific Island people. Mestizos
Filipino mestizo
Filipino mestizo is a term used in the Philippines to describe people of mixed Filipino and foreign ancestry. The word mestizo is of Spanish origin, and was originally used in the Americas to only describe people of mixed European and Native American ancestry.- History :Spanish periodThe Spanish...
, those of part Filipino descent mixed with Spanish, Mexican, American, Chinese, and other ethnic groups form a minority of the population.
The most commonly spoken language is Filipino
Filipino language
This move has drawn much criticism from other regional groups.In 1987, a new constitution introduced many provisions for the language.Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that:...
, which is based on the Tagalog language. Filipino and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
are the official languages. Additionally, there are between 120 to 170 distinct indigenous Philippine languages (depending on their classification), a dozen of which have over one million speakers and are recognized as official regional languages. Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
are recognized as voluntary and optional languages in the Philippine constitution. Christianity is the main religion, with Roman Catholicism making up the majority of the population. Other religions include Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and those with no religion.
The people of the Philippines are known as Filipinos. Throughout the colonial era the term "Filipino" originally referred to the Spaniards, and mestizos. The definition was later applied to include all citizens, regardless of ethnic origin.
Ethnic groups
The majority of the people in the Philippines are of AustronesianAustronesian people
The Austronesian-speaking peoples are various populations in Oceania and Southeast Asia that speak languages of the Austronesian family. They include Taiwanese aborigines; the majority ethnic groups of East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Madagascar, Micronesia, and Polynesia,...
descent. The largest of these groups are the Visayan, Tagalog
Tagalog people
The Tagalog people are an ethnic group in the Philippines. The name Tagalog comes from either the native term tagá-ilog, meaning 'people living along the river', or another native term, tagá-alog, meaning 'people living along the ford', a ford being a shallow part of a river or stream where people,...
, Ilocano
Ilocano people
The Ilocano or Ilokano people are the third largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group. Aside from being referred to as Ilocanos, from "i"-from, and "looc"-bay, they also refer to themselves as Samtoy, from the Ilocano phrase "sao mi ditoy", meaning 'our language here.' The word "Ilocano" came from...
, Bicolano
Bicolano people
The Bicolanos are the fifth-largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group.-Area:Bicolanos live in the southeastern peninsula of Luzon, now containing the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon. Many Bicolanos also live near in the province of...
, Moro, the Kapampangan
Kapampangan people
The Kapampangans or Capampan͠gans are the sixth largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group, numbering about 2,890,000. The original Kapampangans may have descended from Austronesian-speaking immigrants to Luzon during the Iron Age.The province of Pampanga is traditional homeland of the Kapampangans...
and among others. The indigenous peoples of the Philippines
Indigenous peoples of the Philippines
The indigenous peoples of the Philippines consist of a large number of indigenous ethnic groups living in the country. They are the descendants of the original inhabitants of the Philippines who have managed to resist centuries of Spanish and United States colonization and in the process have...
form a minority of the population. Other ethnic groups include the Spaniard, Indian, Chinese
Chinese Filipino
A Chinese Filipino derived from two words: "Tsino" and "Pinoy" ) is a Philippine national of Chinese ethnicity but born/raised in the Philippines....
, American, Japanese, Arab, and other ethnic groups from other countries.
Various degrees of interracial marriage
Interracial marriage
Interracial marriage occurs when two people of differing racial groups marry. This is a form of exogamy and can be seen in the broader context of miscegenation .-Legality of interracial marriage:In the Western world certain jurisdictions have had regulations...
between ethnic groups have resulted in the formation of a new ethnic group of people, collectively known as Filipino mestizo
Filipino mestizo
Filipino mestizo is a term used in the Philippines to describe people of mixed Filipino and foreign ancestry. The word mestizo is of Spanish origin, and was originally used in the Americas to only describe people of mixed European and Native American ancestry.- History :Spanish periodThe Spanish...
s.
Languages
There are between 120 and 170 languages spoken in the country. Most of them have several varieties (dialects), totaling over 300 across the archipelago. Since the 1930s the government has promoted the use of the national language, FilipinoFilipino language
This move has drawn much criticism from other regional groups.In 1987, a new constitution introduced many provisions for the language.Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that:...
, based on Tagalog. Visayan languages (also called Bisaya or Binisaya) are widely spoken throughout the Visayas, and in some parts of Mindanao. The Ilokano language is the lingua franca of the Northern Luzon.
English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
is considered an official language for purposes of communication and instruction. Consequently, it is widely spoken and understood. Other non-indigenous languages spoken are Spanish, Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
, and Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
.
Religion
About 80% of Filipinos are Roman CatholicsRoman Catholicism in the Philippines
The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, in full communion with the Pope.With 73.8 million members in 2005, it is the predominant religion, making the Philippines the third largest "Catholic" nation in the world after Brazil and Mexico, as well as one...
, 5% are adherents of Islam
Islam in the Philippines
Islam is the oldest recorded monotheistic religion in the Philippines. Islam reached the Philippines between the 12th and 14th century with the arrival of Muslim traders from Persian Gulf and the Malabar Coast in Southern India, and their followers from several sultanate governments in the Malay...
, and 10% are Protestant Christians, Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo also known as INC, is the largest entirely indigenous Christian religious organization that originated from the Philippines and the largest independent church in Asia. Due to a number of similarities, some Protestant writers describe the INC's doctrines as restorationist in...
(Church of Christ), Philippine Independent Church
Philippine Independent Church
The Philippine Independent Church, The Philippine Independent Church, The Philippine Independent Church, (officially the or the IFI, also known as the Philippine Independent Catholic Church or in Ilocano: Siwawayawaya nga Simbaan ti Filipinas (in in Kinaray-a/Hiligaynon: Simbahan Hilway nga...
, Mormon, as well as those of other religions, such as Buddhism
Buddhism in the Philippines
Buddhism is a relatively minor religion in the Philippines. It is largely confined to the Filipino Chinese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese communities. There are temples in Manila, Davao, and Cebu, and other places. Estimates at the Buddhist population of the Philippines varies...
, Hinduism
Hinduism in the Philippines
Hinduism has been a major cultural, economic, political and religious influence in the archipelago that now comprise the Philippines. At present, however, it is limited to a small recent immigrant Indian community, though traditional religious beliefs in most parts of the country have strong Hindu...
, Judaism, and those with no religion form a minority of the population.
Roman Catholics and Protestants were converted during the four centuries of Western influence by Spain, and the United States. Under Spanish rule, much of the population was converted to Christianity.
Orthodox
Philippine Orthodox Church
The Philippine Orthodox Church refers to the officially established Eastern Orthodox presence in the Philippines as a whole. Currently, there are two canonical Orthodox jurisdictions:...
Christians also live in Philippines. Protestant Christianity arrived in the Philippines during the 20th century, introduced by American missionaries.
Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
was brought to the Sulu Archipelago in the 14th century by Makhdum Karim
Makhdum Karim
Makhdum Karim was a 14th century Arab trader who brought Islam to the Philippines, in 1380. He established a mosque in Sulu, known as Sheik Karimal Makdum Mosque which is the oldest mosque in the country. There are saying about Makhdum Karim, that he has the power to walk through water , fly, and...
, an Arab trader, and to Mindanao island by Rajah Kabungsuwan, a Malaccan nobleman. From then onwards, Muslim princes carried on expeditions to propagate Islam. While Islam was easily displaced over the years among the peoples of Luzon, and the Visayas, it retained a foothold in the central parts of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.
Other religions include Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, Mahayana Buddhism, often mixed with Taoist beliefs, Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, and Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
. Animism
Animism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
and Paganism
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
are also followed.
Education
Education in the Philippines is based on both Western and Eastern ideology and philosophy influenced by both Spain and the United States. Filipino children enter public school at about age four, starting from nurseryNursery school
A nursery school is a school for children between the ages of one and five years, staffed by suitably qualified and other professionals who encourage and supervise educational play rather than simply providing childcare...
up to kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
. At about seven years of age, children enter a elementary school (6 to 7 years). This is followed by high school (4 years). Students then apply for college entrance examinations (CEE), after which they enter university (3 to 5 years). Other institutions include private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, preparatory school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
, international school
International school
An International school is loosely defined as a school that promotes international education, in an international environment, either by adopting an international curriculum such as that of the International Baccalaureate or Cambridge International Examinations, or by following a national...
, and science high school
Science High School
-Located in Japan:*Chienkan High School, Saga City*Mizusawa High School, Mizusawa-Located in South Korea:*Busan Science High School, Busan*Chungbuk Science High School, Cheongwon*Changwon Science High School, Changwon*Chonnam Science High School, Naju...
. School year in the Philippines starts from June, and ends in March with a two-month summer break from April to May, one week of semestral break in October, and a week or two during Christmas and New Year holidays.
Population history
The first census in the Philippines was founded in 1591, based on tributes collected. Based on this tribute counting, there were about 666,712 people in the islands. In 1600, this method was revamped by the Spanish officials, who then based the counting of the population through church records. In 1799, Friar Manuel Buzeta estimated the population count as 1,502,574. However, the first official census was conducted only in 1878, when the population as of midnight on December 31, 1877 was counted. This was followed by two more censuses, namely, the 1887 census, and the 1898 census. The 1887 census yielded a count of 6,984,727, while that of 1898 yielded 7,832,719 inhabitants.1903 census
In 1903 the population of the Philippines was recounted by American authorities to fulfill Act 467. The survey yielded 7,635,426 people, including 56,138, who were foreign-born.By city or towns exceeding 10,000
- ManilaManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, 219,928 - Laoag, Ilocos NorteIlocos NorteIlocos Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south...
19,699 - IloiloIloilo CityThe City of Iloilo is a highly urbanized city in the Philippines and the capital city of Iloilo province. It is the regional center of the Western Visayas, as well as the center of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area...
, Iloilo 19,054 - CebuCebu CityThe City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu and is the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was...
, Cebu 18,330 - Nueva Caceres, Camarines SurCamarines SurCamarines Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Pili and the province borders Camarines Norte and Quezon to the north, and Albay to the south...
10,021 - RomblonRomblonRomblon is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. It lies south of Marinduque and Quezon, east of Mindoro, north of Aklan and Capiz, and west of Masbate. Its capital is also named Romblon....
, Romblon 10,095
There were 13,400 villages, nearly 75% of which had fewer than 600 inhabitants.
The Malay population divided by language
- Christian (Mainly Roman Catholic)
- Visayan: 3,219,030
- TagalogTagalog peopleThe Tagalog people are an ethnic group in the Philippines. The name Tagalog comes from either the native term tagá-ilog, meaning 'people living along the river', or another native term, tagá-alog, meaning 'people living along the ford', a ford being a shallow part of a river or stream where people,...
: 1,460,695 - IlocanoIlocano peopleThe Ilocano or Ilokano people are the third largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group. Aside from being referred to as Ilocanos, from "i"-from, and "looc"-bay, they also refer to themselves as Samtoy, from the Ilocano phrase "sao mi ditoy", meaning 'our language here.' The word "Ilocano" came from...
: 803,942 - BicolBicolano peopleThe Bicolanos are the fifth-largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group.-Area:Bicolanos live in the southeastern peninsula of Luzon, now containing the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon. Many Bicolanos also live near in the province of...
: 566,635 - PangasinanPangasinan peopleThe Pangasinan are the eighth largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group. They are the residents or indigenous peoples of the Province of Pangasinan, one of the provinces of the Republic of the Philippines, located on the west central area in the island of Luzon along Lingayen Gulf...
: 343,686 - PampangaKapampangan peopleThe Kapampangans or Capampan͠gans are the sixth largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group, numbering about 2,890,000. The original Kapampangans may have descended from Austronesian-speaking immigrants to Luzon during the Iron Age.The province of Pampanga is traditional homeland of the Kapampangans...
: 280,984 - CagayanCagayanCagayan , the "Land of Smiling Beauty", is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte...
: 159,648
- Muslim
- MoroMuslim FilipinoMoro people refers to a population of Muslims in the Philippines, forming the largest non-Christian group in the country, comprising about 5% to 10% of the total Philippine population....
: 277,547
- Moro
- Igorot
- Igorot: 211,520
Between 1903 and 1941
1939 This census was undertaken in conformity with Section 1 of C. A. 170. It was the first taken under the Commonwealth government with Census day on January 1. The Philippine population figure was 16,000,303.1941
In 1941 the estimated population of the Philippines reached 17,000,000. ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
's population was 684,000.
The number of Chinese living on the island had risen to 117,000. If figures are correct, then Chinese population (including immigration) has grown significantly faster than the native population. There were also around 30,000 Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese living in the Philippines, with some 20,000 of them residing in Davao, Mindanao
Davao City
The City of Davao is the largest city in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its international airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the Philippines....
, and 9,000 Americans lived in Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
.
By then, some 27% of the population could speak English as a second language, while the number of Spanish speakers as first language had further fallen to 3% from 10-14% at the beginning of the century. In 1936, Tagalog was selected to be the basis for a national language
National language
A national language is a language which has some connection—de facto or de jure—with a people and perhaps by extension the territory they occupy. The term is used variously. A national language may for instance represent the national identity of a nation or country...
. In 1987, the Tagalog-based Filipino language was designated the national language.
Philippine census surveys
In 1960, the government of the Philippines conducted a survey on both population, and housing. The population was pegged at 27,087,685. Successive surveys were again conducted on 1970, 1975, 1980, and 1990, which gave the population as 36,684,948, 42,070,660, 48,098,460, and 60,703,206 respectively. On 1995, the POPCEN was launched, undertaken at the month of September, The data provided the bases for the Internal Revenue Allocation to local government units, and for the creation of new legislative areas. The count was made official by then President Fidel Ramos by Proclamation No, 849 on August 14, 1995, The population was 68,616,536.| 1960 | 1970 | 1975 | 1980 | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2007 |
| 27,087,685 | 36,684,948 | 42,070,660 | 48,098,460 | 60,703,206 | 68,616,536 | 76,504,077 | 88,574,614 |