The population of Central Luzon is now 12.9 million.
This is according to the data released by the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) on July 26, Sunday, based on its 2024 Census of Population (POPCEN).
The CPD said that CL now has a population increase of 566,902 from the 12.42 million recorded in 2020.
The region is now the third most populous region in the country following the CALABARZON region (16.93M) and the National Capital Region (14.00M).
The CPD, however, noted that CL's population growth from 2020 to 2024 slowed down to 1.08%.
The CPD said that Bulacan remains the most populous among the CL provinces, with 3.87 million population.
Pampanga followed at close second with 2.58 million people.
Nueva Ecija recorded 2.39M population; Tarlac, 1.56M; Zambales, 946,128; Olongapo City, 264,903; Bataan 891,440; and Aurora, 240,824.
Of the seven provinces, Pampanga posted the highest population growth rate at 1.43, followed by Zambales (1.15), the CPD said.
Negative growth rates were recorded on Masantol and Santa Rita towns in Pampanga.
“The growing population is not solely driven by fertility. Internal migration, especially toward rapidly developing areas like Bulacan, Clark Freeport Zone, and the Freeport Area of Bataan, continues to fuel regional growth,” CPD Region 3 Director Lourdes Nacionales said.