The Total Population of Zamboanga City as of May 1, 2010 is 807,129. This is based on the 2010 Census on Population and Housing of the Philippine National Statistics Office (NSO). The results of the population count was made official with the signing by Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III of Proclamation No. 362 on March 30, 2012.
Starting with its 1990 census, the NSO definition of Total Population includes the household population, homeless population, Filipinos in Philippine Embassies/Consulates and missions abroad and institutional population who are found living in institutional living quarters such as penal institutions, orphanages, hospitals, military camps, etc. at the time of the census taking.
In the 2010 Census on Population and Housing, the Philippines had a Total Population of 92,337,852. Of this figure, 3,407,353 belonged to Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), with Zamboanga City having the most number of people compared with other cities in Region IX at the time of the census.
Population in the Philippines, Region IX, and Cities in Region IX
| 2000 | 2007 | 2010 | |
| Philippines | 76,504,077 | 88,574,614 | 92,337,852 |
| Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) | 2,831,342 | 3,230,094 | 3,407,353 |
| Cities in Region IX: | |||
| Dapitan City | 68,178 | 72,792 | 77,441 |
| Dipolog City | 99,862 | 113,118 | 120,460 |
| Isabela City | 73,032 | 87,985 | 97,857 |
| Pagadian City | 142,515 | 161,312 | 186,852 |
| Zamboanga City | 601,794 | 774,407 | 807,129 |
The May 1, 2010 results indicate that the total population in Zamboanga City is more than the combined total population in the following Metro Manila cities: Pasig City (699,773), City of Taguig (644,473), Parañaque City (588,126), Valenzuela City (575,356), City of Las Piñas (552,573), Makati City (529,039), City of Muntinlupa (459,951), Marikina City (424,150), Pasay City (392,869), City of Malabon (353,337), City of Mandaluyong (328,699), City of Navotas (249,131), and City of San Juan (121,430).
In terms of ranking of all the cities in the Philippines, Zamboanga City is the sixth-largest while four cities: Quezon City, City of Manila, Caloocan City, and Davao City, are known as “millionaire” cities as they have population figures over one million (1,000,000).
Top Ten cities in the Philippines in terms of total Population
| Ranking of Cities by Total Population | Total Population, Census 2010 |
| 1. Quezon City | 2,761,720 |
| 2. City of Manila | 1,652,171 |
| 3. Caloocan City | 1,489,040 |
| 4. Davao City | 1,449,296 |
| 5. Cebu City | 866,171 |
| 6. Zamboanga City | 807,129 |
| 7. Antipolo City | 677,741 |
| 8. Pasig | 669,773 |
| 9. Taguig | 644,473 |
| 10. Cagayan De Oro | 602,088 |
The 807,129 population count of the Zamboanga City is higher by 205,335 compared with the 2000 population of 601,794. In 1990, the total population was 442,345.
| Census Year | Census Reference Date | Population in Zamboanga City |
| 2010 | May/01/2010 | 807,129 |
| 2000 | May/01/2000 | 601,794 |
| 1990 | May/01/1990 | 442,345 |
The population in Zamboanga City increased at the rate of 2.98 percent annually, on the average. This is higher than the national average annual growth rate of 1.90 percent during the period 2000-2010. This indicates that there were three persons added per year for every 100 persons in the population.
Average Annual Growth Rate, Decadal Census
Zamboanga City vs Philippines
| Reference Period | Average Annual Population Growth Rate – Zamboanga City | Average Annual Population Growth Rate – Philippines |
| 2000-2010 | 2.98% | 1.90% |
| 1990-2000 | 3.12% | 2.34% |
As with most Philippine cities, the population growth rate in Zamboanga City is faster than the country average. But generally, the average annual growth rates were observed to be slowing down. The country’s average growth in terms of population was 2.34% in the 1990-2000 reference period and 1.90% in the 2000-2010 reference period. For Zamboanga City, it was 3.12% in 1990-2000 period to 2.98% in the 2000-2010 period.
Sex ratio was 100 males per 100 females
Of the 803,282 household population in 2010, males accounted for 50.1 percent while females comprised 49.9 percent. These figures resulted in a sex ratio of 100 males for every 100 females. In 2000, the sex ratio reported was the same as that in 2010.
Median age increased to 22.5 years
In 2010, the median age of the population of the city was 22.5 years, which means that half of the population was younger than 22.5 years. This is higher than the median age of 20.9 years that was recorded in 2000.
Moreover, 34.5 percent of the household population were under 15 years old. Children aged 0 to 4 years (11.9 percent) comprised the largest age group, followed by those in the age groups 5 to 9 years (11.5 percent) and 10 to 14 years (11.2 percent). Males outnumbered females in the age groups 0 to 14 years and 40 to 59 years. On the other hand, there were more females than males in the age groups 15 to 39 years and 60 years and over.
More than half of the population were of voting age
The voting-age population (18 years and over) accounted for 58.9 percent of the household population of the city in 2010, up from 56.3 percent in 2000. There were more females (50.5 percent) than males (49.5 percent) among the voting-age population.
Dependency ratio decreased to 61 dependents per 100 persons in the working age group
In 2010, the young dependents (0 to 14 years) comprised 34.5 percent of the household population while the old dependents (65 years and over) posted a share of 3.3 percent. The working-age population (15 to 64 years) accounted for the remaining 62.2 percent.
The overall dependency ratio was 61, which indicates that for every 100 working-age population, there were about 61 dependents (56 young dependents and five old dependents). This ratio is lower than the dependency ratio in 2000, which was recorded at 67 dependents per 100 working-age population (62 young dependents and five old dependents).
There were more males than females among the never-married persons
Of the household population 10 years old and over, 46.7 percent were married while 43.5 percent were never married. The rest of the population were categorized as follows: widowed (4.2 percent), in common-law/live-in marital arrangement (4.1 percent), and divorced/separated (1.4 percent).
Among the never-married persons, 52.8 percent were males while 47.2 percent were females. For the rest of the categories for marital status, the females outnumbered the males.
More females had attained higher levels of education
Of the household population aged five years and over, 37.9 percent had attended or completed elementary education, 26.5 percent had reached or finished high school, 11.8 percent were college undergraduates, and 11.5 percent were academic degree holders. Among those with an academic degree, the females (53.3 percent) outnumbered the males (46.7 percent). Similarly, more females (52.4 percent) than males (47.6 percent) had pursued post baccalaureate courses.
Persons with disability comprised 1.2 percent of the population in the city
In 2010, around 9,500 persons or 1.2 percent of the 803,282 household population had a disability. This proportion of persons with disability (PWD) is higher than the proportion in 2000, which was 0.6 percent of the 599,792 household population of the city during that year. The number of PWD for the same year was around 3,900.
More females than males among those with functional difficulty
Of the 708,090 household population five years and over, 2.9 percent (20,282 persons) had at least one type of functional difficulty either in seeing, hearing, walking or climbing steps, remembering or concentrating, self-caring (bathing or dressing), or communicating. There were more females (53.1 percent) than males (46.9 percent) among those persons with at least one type of functional difficulty.
Moreover, of the total 20,282 persons aged five years and over with at least one type of functional difficulty, 72.9 percent reported difficulty in seeing, even if wearing eyeglasses. There were 22.3 percent who had difficulty in walking or climbing steps; 15.9 percent had difficulty in hearing, even if using a hearing aid; 12.4 percent had difficulty in communicating; 11.3 percent had difficulty in remembering or concentrating; and 8.0 percent had difficulty in self-caring (bathing or dressing).
Female overseas workers outnumbered their male counterparts
Of the 615,551 household population 10 years old and over in Zamboanga City, 1.4 percent (or 8,482 persons) were overseas workers. Female overseas workers outnumbered their male counterparts as they comprised 54.6 percent of all the overseas workers from this city. Overseas workers aged 30 to 34 years made up the largest age group, comprising 19.1 percent of the total overseas workers from this city in 2010, followed by the age groups 25 to 29 years (18.8 percent), 45 years and over (17.3 percent), and 35 to 39 years (15.3 percent).
Average household size was 4.6 persons
The number of households in 2010 was recorded at 175,050, higher by 57,898 households compared with the 117,152 households posted in 2000. The average household size in 2010 was 4.6 persons, lower than the average household size of 5.1 persons in 2000.
There were 103 households per 100 occupied housing units
A total of 169,542 occupied housing units were recorded in Zamboanga City in 2010. This translates to a ratio of 103 households for every 100 occupied housing units, with 4.7 persons per occupied housing unit. In 2000, there were 102 households per 100 occupied housing units, and 5.2 persons per occupied housing unit.
Occupied housing units with outer walls and roofs made of strong materials increased
In 2010, 39.2 percent of the occupied housing units in the city had outer walls made of wood, down from 43.2 percent in 2000. The proportion of occupied housing units with outer walls made of concrete/brick/stone increased from 16.9 percent in 2000 to 25.6 percent in 2010. Those with walls made of bamboo/sawali/cogon/nipa decreased from 23.5 percent in 2000 to 20.6 percent in 2010. Meanwhile, 70.0 percent of the occupied housing units in 2010 had roofs made of galvanized iron/aluminum. This is higher than the proportion recorded in 2000 at 60.5 percent. The proportion of occupied housing units with roofs made of cogon/nipa/anahaw decreased from 28.4 percent in 2000 to 21.9 percent in 2010.
Majority of the households lived in lots that they owned or amortized
In 2010, of the total 175,050 households, three in every five households (59.7 percent) owned or amortized the lots that they occupied. The corresponding figure in 2000 was 48.0 percent.
Moreover, 22.3 percent of the households occupied lots which were rent-free but with consent of the owner, 12.2 percent rented the lots that they occupied while 3.6 percent occupied lots which were rent-free but without consent of the owner.
The Barangays of Zamboanga City
Talon-Talon was the most populous barangay
Among the 98 barangays comprising the city of Zamboanga, barangay Talon-Talon was the most populous with a population size making up 3.8 percent of the total population of the city. The barangay of Tetuan was second with 3.6 percent share, followed by the barangays Pasonanca and Baliwasan (3.4 percent each), San Roque (3.2 percent), Calarian and Tumaga (3.1 percent each), and San Jose Gusu (3.0 percent). The rest of barangays contributed less than 3.0 percent each.
The least populated barangay was Pangapuyan with 0.1 percent share to the total population of the city. It was also the least populated barangay in 2000.
Talon-Talon had the largest population with 30,535. Tetuan had the second-largest with 29,082 and Pasonanca had the third-largest with 27,231.
Nine other barangays had population figures over 20,000: Baliwasan (27,070), San Roque (25,531), Calarian (25,331), Tumaga (25,184), San Jose Gusu (24,542), Tugbungan (23,001), Mampang (22,857), Sta. Maria (21,926), Ayala (20,096).
Meanwhile, barangays with population of less than 1,000 persons were Panubigan (982), Taguiti (899), Pangapuyan (534).
Total Population
Barangays of Zamboanga City, Philippines
1990-2010
| CITY/Barangay | Total Population by Censal Year | |||||
| 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2007 | 2010 | ||
| 5/1/1990 | 9/1/1995 | 5/1/2000 | 8/1/2007 | 5/1/2010 | ||
| ZAMBOANGA CITY | 442,345 | 511,139 | 601,794 | 774,407 | 807,129 | |
| 1. | Arena Blanco | 3,899 | 6,644 | 8,297 | 10,621 | 10,016 |
| 2. | Ayala | 5,589 | 7,666 | 11,323 | 16,929 | 20,096 |
| 3. | Baliwasan | 15,417 | 17,092 | 19,763 | 27,664 | 27,070 |
| 4. | Baluno | 1,987 | 1,533 | 1,549 | 2,682 | 2,315 |
| 5. | Boalan | 3,613 | 4,500 | 5,709 | 6,514 | 7,435 |
| 6. | Bolong | 3,279 | 3,670 | 4,793 | 5,691 | 5,862 |
| 7. | Buenavista | 3,919 | 4,602 | 5,664 | 5,218 | 5,837 |
| 8. | Bunguiao | 5,656 | 4,958 | 6,215 | 7,978 | 7,368 |
| 9. | Busay (Sacol Island) | 1,203 | 652 | 1,694 | 2,433 | 2,931 |
| 10. | Cabaluay | 2,427 | 2,775 | 3,313 | 5,141 | 5,802 |
| 11. | Cabatangan | 2,942 | 1,847 | 5,384 | 8,670 | 9,944 |
| 12. | Cacao | 1,123 | 928 | 1,204 | 1,803 | 1,045 |
| 13. | Calabasa | 2,057 | 2,232 | 2,235 | 2,657 | 2,685 |
| 14. | Calarian | 9,893 | 14,463 | 19,027 | 25,655 | 25,331 |
| 15. | Camino Nuevo | 12,589 | 11,889 | 11,815 | 10,200 | 8,295 |
| 16. | Campo Islam | 10,765 | 11,176 | 10,004 | 11,523 | 11,237 |
| 17. | Canelar | 12,190 | 12,459 | 12,192 | 11,096 | 11,160 |
| 18. | Capisan | 654 | 909 | 762 | 907 | 1,090 |
| 19. | Cawit | 3,944 | 3,414 | 4,063 | 9,305 | 9,124 |
| 20. | Culianan | 3,671 | 3,765 | 5,464 | 7,607 | 8,524 |
| 21. | Curuan | 6,922 | 5,848 | 6,259 | 5,920 | 7,378 |
| 22. | Dita | 917 | 679 | 1,801 | 3,459 | 3,831 |
| 23. | Divisoria | 2,537 | 4,066 | 5,323 | 8,817 | 9,042 |
| 24. | Dulian (Upper Bunguiao) | 1,344 | 2,057 | 1,475 | 2,145 | 2,023 |
| 25. | Dulian (Upper Pasonanca) | 687 | 788 | 1,039 | 1,017 | 1,363 |
| 26. | Guisao | 1,460 | 1,421 | 1,879 | 1,873 | 2,560 |
| 27. | Guiwan | 9,944 | 11,109 | 12,317 | 15,258 | 15,323 |
| 28. | Kasanyangan | 5,813 | 6,438 | 8,609 | 8,425 | |
| 29. | La Paz | 3,986 | 5,148 | 4,494 | 6,581 | 5,606 |
| 30. | Labuan | 6,813 | 8,891 | 7,121 | 10,418 | 11,470 |
| 31. | Lamisahan | 2,224 | 2,245 | 2,761 | 3,654 | 2,995 |
| 32. | Landang Gua (Sacol Island) | 1,349 | 1,094 | 1,754 | 2,056 | 2,980 |
| 33. | Landang Laum (Sacol Island) | 1,306 | 994 | 1,518 | 4,221 | 4,803 |
| 34. | Lanzones | 1,641 | 1,732 | 2,215 | 3,343 | 2,743 |
| 35. | Lapakan | 899 | 1,510 | 1,772 | 1,928 | 1,529 |
| 36. | Latuan | 1,286 | 920 | 1,413 | 1,819 | 2,125 |
| 37. | Licomo | 1,854 | 2,958 | 5,040 | 5,022 | 5,727 |
| 38. | Limaong | 2,148 | 2,262 | 3,068 | 3,622 | 3,445 |
| 39. | Limpapa | 2,806 | 3,409 | 3,465 | 4,044 | 5,160 |
| 40. | Lubigan | 1,345 | 1,333 | 1,698 | 2,014 | 1,149 |
| 41. | Lumayang | 1,127 | 1,138 | 1,256 | 1,610 | 1,377 |
| 42. | Lumbangan | 1,304 | 1,504 | 1,693 | 3,029 | 3,308 |
| 43. | Lunzuran | 1,921 | 2,789 | 4,393 | 8,009 | 8,221 |
| 44. | Maasin | 2,725 | 3,542 | 4,758 | 6,095 | 7,978 |
| 45. | Malagutay | 1,672 | 3,810 | 5,015 | 5,624 | 5,654 |
| 46. | Mampang | 6,067 | 9,054 | 15,705 | 21,619 | 22,857 |
| 47. | Manalipa | 740 | 824 | 1,098 | 1,674 | 1,922 |
| 48. | Mangusu | 2,710 | 2,642 | 3,427 | 3,391 | 4,776 |
| 49. | Manicahan | 6,685 | 6,828 | 7,702 | 8,188 | 9,129 |
| 50. | Mariki | 2,973 | 3,247 | 4,612 | 5,334 | 5,895 |
| 51. | Mercedes | 7,845 | 6,553 | 8,064 | 9,811 | 12,050 |
| 52. | Muti | 1,779 | 1,935 | 2,132 | 3,046 | 3,123 |
| 53. | Pamucutan | 2,705 | 1,907 | 2,270 | 2,548 | 3,764 |
| 54. | Pangapuyan | 282 | 180 | 573 | 773 | 534 |
| 55. | Panubigan | 268 | 610 | 808 | 982 | |
| 56. | Pasilmanta (Sacol Island) | 580 | 463 | 787 | 964 | 1,480 |
| 57. | Pasobolong | 2,395 | 2,641 | 3,004 | 3,257 | |
| 58. | Pasonanca | 12,241 | 15,184 | 18,011 | 27,198 | 27,231 |
| 59. | Patalon | 3,156 | 3,600 | 4,841 | 7,029 | 7,187 |
| 60. | Putik | 7,185 | 9,755 | 12,865 | 17,350 | 19,653 |
| 61. | Quiniput | 2,834 | 3,175 | 3,241 | 3,198 | 2,647 |
| 62. | Recodo | 9,257 | 14,294 | 16,591 | 17,754 | 18,172 |
| 63. | Rio Hondo | 6,034 | 8,144 | 5,893 | 9,974 | 10,565 |
| 64. | Salaan | 3,906 | 2,185 | 2,342 | 2,600 | 3,310 |
| 65. | San Jose Cawa-Cawa | 4,495 | 5,098 | 5,182 | 9,187 | 7,991 |
| 66. | San Jose Gusu | 9,534 | 12,263 | 15,732 | 24,917 | 24,542 |
| 67. | San Roque | 11,210 | 14,082 | 14,788 | 20,974 | 25,531 |
| 68. | Sangali | 8,285 | 10,236 | 13,605 | 15,915 | 19,230 |
| 69. | Sibulao | 2,023 | 2,266 | 2,715 | 2,743 | 2,748 |
| 70. | Sinubong | 1,751 | 1,502 | 2,007 | 2,500 | 2,690 |
| 71. | Sinunuc | 5,761 | 6,735 | 9,436 | 15,926 | 16,942 |
| 72. | Sta. Barbara | 4,649 | 4,436 | 5,946 | 7,197 | 7,961 |
| 73. | Sta. Catalina | 19,552 | 12,877 | 13,700 | 16,351 | 17,955 |
| 74. | Sta. Maria | 16,168 | 17,783 | 19,543 | 21,432 | 21,926 |
| 75. | Sto. Niño | 6,872 | 6,285 | 5,317 | 6,824 | 6,790 |
| 76. | Tagasilay | 2,213 | 2,134 | 2,949 | 3,138 | 2,607 |
| 77. | Taguiti | 704 | 821 | 883 | 1,011 | 899 |
| 78. | Talabaan | 2,010 | 2,079 | 3,282 | 3,408 | 4,181 |
| 79. | Talisayan | 3,269 | 4,337 | 5,030 | 10,736 | 7,285 |
| 80. | Talon-Talon | 12,977 | 18,373 | 20,712 | 30,570 | 30,535 |
| 81. | Taluksangay | 5,005 | 5,828 | 6,783 | 7,116 | 8,108 |
| 82. | Tetuan | 25,791 | 28,805 | 28,731 | 29,055 | 29,082 |
| 83. | Tictapul | 1,593 | 2,067 | 2,122 | 3,072 | 3,515 |
| 84. | Tigbalabag | 1,465 | 1,277 | 1,202 | 1,625 | 1,491 |
| 85. | Tigtabon | 1,283 | 1,937 | 3,276 | 3,957 | 5,071 |
| 86. | Tolosa | 1,988 | 2,617 | 2,481 | 2,653 | 3,157 |
| 87. | Tugbungan | 10,876 | 14,764 | 16,594 | 21,834 | 23,001 |
| 88. | Tulungatung | 1,899 | 2,072 | 2,792 | 4,373 | 6,055 |
| 89. | Tumaga | 13,991 | 17,190 | 21,487 | 25,281 | 25,184 |
| 90. | Tumalutab | 1,191 | 1,157 | 1,572 | 2,609 | 2,048 |
| 91. | Tumitus (Vitali Island) | 1,476 | 1,761 | 1,716 | 1,985 | 2,494 |
| 92. | Victoria | 1,440 | 1,718 | 2,108 | 2,326 | |
| 93. | Vitali | 8,856 | 9,019 | 8,917 | 8,685 | 8,895 |
| 94. | Zambowood | 2,597 | 3,678 | 6,483 | 7,627 | |
| 95. | Zone I | 2,761 | 1,781 | 2,245 | 3,428 | 3,405 |
| 96. | Zone II | 3,329 | 2,700 | 1,782 | 3,038 | 2,865 |
| 97. | Zone III | 2,416 | 2,063 | 1,888 | 2,709 | 2,030 |
| 98. | Zone IV | 2,939 | 3,890 | 4,854 | 4,823 | 3,046 |
The 2010 Census of Population and Housing (2010 CPH) was undertaken by the Philippine National Statistics Office (now known as Philippine Statistics Authority) in May-June 2010 pursuant to Batas Pambansa Blg. 72 and Commonwealth Act 591. About 82,000 field workers, majority of whom were Department of Education (DepEd) public school teachers, were deployed during the nationwide census. The 2010 CPH was designed to take an inventory of the population and housing units in the Philippines and to collect information about their characteristics. Information on the count of the population and living quarters were collected with 12:01 a.m. of May 1, 2010 as the census reference time and date.
The population counts, proclaimed by the president as official for all purposes, were based on census questionnaires accomplished by the enumerators all over the country. These questionnaires were processed in Census Processing Centers using Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technology along with the Census Integrated Processing developed by NSO for this purpose.
The successful completion of census-taking was made possible with the support of the local and national officials, government agencies, local government units, media, private agencies and non-government organizations.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority