The Philippines' average household size (AHS) dropped to 3.8 persons in 2024, continuing a long-term decline from 4.1 in 2020, based on the latest 2024 Population Census data from the PSA.
Cebu City reported an AHS of 3.2 persons, which is lower than the national average, while Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City each recorded an AHS of 3.5 persons.
Nationwide, the household population reached 112.33 million in 2024, while the total number of households increased by 12.4 percent to 29.67 million compared to the 2020 census figures.
THE average Filipino household now consists of 3.8 persons, down from 4.1 in 2020, according to the latest 2024 Population Census (PopCen), with Cebu City posting an even smaller average household size (AHS) of 3.2 persons.
Based on data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the country’s AHS has continued its long-term decline, reflecting smaller family units nationwide.
The AHS showed a steady downward trend from 2010 to 2024, decreasing from 4.6 persons in 2010 to 4.4 in 2015, 4.1 in 2020 and 3.8 in 2024.
Cebu City’s AHS, computed by dividing its household population of 946,912 by its 298,505 households, stood at 3.2 persons, lower than the national average.
Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City each recorded an AHS of 3.5.
Meanwhile, the Province of Cebu, excluding the three highly urbanized cities, posted an AHS of 3.8.
The household population and household count data are as of July 1, 2024.
Among the regions, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao posted the largest AHS at 4.9 persons per household, followed by Zamboanga Peninsula at 4.2 and Bicol Region at 4.1. Caraga and Eastern Visayas each recorded an average of 4.0 persons, while Northern Mindanao, Western Visayas and Mimaropa posted 3.9.
Central Visayas recorded an AHS of 3.7.
At the lower end, Calabarzon and the Davao Region registered the country’s smallest AHS at 3.5 persons each.
Households
Nationwide, the household population reached 112.33 million in 2024, accounting for 99.6 percent of the country’s total population. This represents an increase of 3.66 million people, or 3.4 percent, from the 108.67 million household population recorded in 2020.
The remaining 0.4 percent comprised persons living in institutional settings such as hospitals, orphanages and military camps, as well as Filipinos assigned to Philippine embassies, consulates and missions abroad.
The PSA also reported that the number of households rose to 29.67 million in 2024, up by 3.27 million households, or 12.4 percent, from 2020. Compared with 2015, the country added 6.69 million households, representing a 29.1 percent increase.
Region 4-A (Calabarzon) registered the highest number of households at 4.82 million, followed by the National Capital Region with 3.74 million and Central Luzon with 3.52 million.
Together, the three regions accounted for 40.7 percent of all households in the Philippines.
Central Visayas recorded 1.7 million households.
The Cordillera Administrative Region had the fewest households at 473,422.
The PSA conducted the 2024 PopCen alongside the Community-Based Monitoring System from July to September 2024. The 2024 PopCen was the 16th population census in the Philippines since the first census was conducted in 1903.
The census covered the collection, compilation, evaluation, analysis, publication and dissemination of data on population counts, as well as the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of residents and barangay-level profiles across the country.
According to the PSA, the PopCen is designed to provide government planners, policymakers and administrators with updated data on population size, distribution and composition to support the formulation of social and economic development plans and programs. / DPC