THE population of Davao Region has reached 5,389,422 as of July 1, 2024, based on the results of the 2024 Census of Population (Popcen) declared official by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through Proclamation No. 973. The recent data, released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), shows a modest increase of 145,886 from the 2020 figure of 5,243,536.
Davao City continues to lead with the highest number of residents at 1,848,947, solidifying its status as the region’s only highly urbanized city. Among Davao provinces, Davao del Norte recorded the largest population at 1.14 million, while Davao Occidental had the smallest at 317,159.
Despite the increase, the region’s annual population growth rate (PGR) slowed to 0.66 percent between 2020 and 2024, down from 1.09 percent recorded between 2015 and 2020. This trend mirrors the national slowdown, as the country’s total population grew to 112,729,484, reflecting an 0.8 percent growth rate, lower than the 1.63 percent seen from 2015 to 2020.
The PSA conducts two major types of census surveys: the Census of Population and Housing (CPH), conducted every 10 years, and the Mid-Decade Census of Population (Popcen), conducted every five years. The 2024 Popcen was the 16th national census and the third conducted by the PSA since its formation.
The census serves as a vital tool in informing public policy, planning, and resource allocation at both national and local levels. The population figures become official once declared by the President, in accordance with Batas Pambansa Blg. 72.
Regionally, Calabarzon (Region IV-A) remained the most populous with 16.93 million, followed by the National Capital Region (14.00 million) and Central Luzon (12.99 million). The combined population of these three regions accounted for about 39 percent of the country’s total.
Notably, 16 out of 18 administrative regions saw a decline in population growth rates. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) posted the highest growth rate at 3.43 percent, while Region V (Bicol) was the only region to register negative growth at -0.07 percent.
Despite the slowdown in population growth, Davao Region’s economy continues to expand. According to PSA-Davao, the region posted a 6.3 percent growth rate in 2024, slightly lower than the 6.7 percent recorded in 2023. Its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) rose to P1.08 trillion, elevating Davao to the fourth-fastest growing regional economy and maintaining its position as the fifth-largest contributor to the national GDP with a 4.9 percent share. DEF