ILOILO CITY – As of May 2020, the population of Western Visayas region reached 7.95 million.
In an online presentation, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA Region 6) revealed that 7.95 million signifies a 1.14-percent population growth.
In comparison, the population of Western Visayas in 2015 was 7.53 million.
“This is the second lowest population growth rate since 1990,” noted PSA-6 Region 6 Director Fred Sollesta.
Based on PSA data, the previous lowest population growth rate was recorded for the period of 2010 to 2015 with 1.13 percent.
Of the 7,95 million, the province of Negros Occidental had the biggest population with 2.62 million.
Ranking second is the province of Iloilo with a population of 2.05 million.
The remaining provinces had a population of less than a million. There are 804,952 persons in Capiz province; 615,475 persons in Aklan province; 612,974 persons in Antique province; and 187,842 persons in Guimaras province.
The highly urbanized city of Bacolod in Negros Island had a population of 600,783 persons while the regional capital of Iloilo City had a population of 457,626.
The population density of Western Visayas also slightly increased at 383 persons per square kilometer. In comparison, the population density in 2015 was 363.