Dinagat Islands
Dinagat Islands is a province of the Philippines located in the Caraga Region (Region XIII) of Mindanao. Covering roughly 817.47 km², it is composed of 7 municipalities and 100 barangays. The capital is San Jose. The province is known for its pristine natural attractions such as Lake Bababu, Su-Ajao Beach, enchanting caves, and rock formations. It is also rich in nickel and chromite deposits, contributing to its mining industry, alongside vibrant marine life and eco-tourism sites.
HISTORY
The Dinagat Islands trace their roots back to pre-colonial times when indigenous groups lived off fishing, farming, and trading. During the Spanish period, the islands were sparsely populated and considered remote, serving as a refuge and travel passage between Surigao and Leyte. For centuries, they were under the jurisdiction of Surigao del Norte, with development driven by fishing, agriculture, and later mining due to nickel and chromite deposits discovered in the 20th century. On December 2, 2006, Republic Act No. 9355 established Dinagat Islands as a separate province. Its provincial status was annulled by the Supreme Court in 2010 but reinstated in 2011, making it one of the newest provinces in the Philippines.
QUICK FACTS | |
| Population (2024) | 120533 |
| Land Area (2015) | 817.47 km² |
| No. of Households | 29391 |
| Average Household Size | 4.35 |
| Registered Voters | 81673 |
| Major Landmark | Lake Bababu |
| Coastal Access | Yes |
| Economic Zone Elevation | 29 meters above sea level |
Map
Dinagat Islands is located in the Caraga Region (Region XIII), off the northeastern coast of Mindanao. It is bounded by Leyte Gulf (north), Philippine Sea (east), Surigao del Norte (south), and Dinagat Sound & Surigao Strait (west).
MUNICIPALITIES POPULATION DATA
Dinagat Islands has 7 municipalities and 100 barangays. Detailed municipality-level population data for 2020 and 2024 is not available in the provided PDF.
| name | type | barangay_count | population_2020 | population_2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basilisa | Municipality | 27 | 36911 | 27238 |
| Cagdianao | Municipality | 14 | 18350 | 18679 |
| Dinagat | Municipality | 12 | 10621 | 10820 |
| Libjo | Municipality | 16 | 18051 | 18157 |
| Loreto | Municipality | 10 | 9690 | 9940 |
| San Jose | Municipality, Capital | 12 | 26375 | 26735 |
| Tubajon | Municipality | 9 | 8119 | 8964 |
DEMOGRAPHICS
Population by Age Group (2020)
The largest age group in 2020 was 5–9 years (14,006), followed by 10–14 years (13,616) and 15–19 years (13,298). The smallest was 80+ years (1,788).
| age | population_2020 |
|---|---|
| Below 5 | 12994 |
| 5-9 | 14006 |
| 10-14 | 13616 |
| 15-19 | 13298 |
| 20-24 | 11335 |
| 25-29 | 9939 |
| 30-34 | 8372 |
| 35-39 | 7041 |
| 40-44 | 6347 |
| 45-49 | 6185 |
| 50-54 | 5824 |
| 55-59 | 5073 |
| 60-64 | 4331 |
| 65-69 | 3442 |
| 70-74 | 2626 |
| 75-79 | 1900 |
| 80+ | 1788 |
Population by Gender (2020)
In 2020, the population was composed of 50.98% males and 49.02% females.
ECONOMY
Agricultural and Fisheries Production (2018–2023)
From 2018 to 2023, crop production fluctuated, ranging from a low of ₱175 million in 2019 to a peak of ₱244 million in 2018. Livestock production generally increased, peaking at ₱170 million in 2022 before slightly decreasing to ₱134 million in 2023. Poultry remained relatively low and stable, peaking in 2021 before declining to ₱26 million in 2023. Fisheries consistently had the highest output, rising from ₱386 million in 2018 to ₱542 million in 2022, then slightly dipping to ₱532 million in 2023.
| title | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Crops | 179 | 215 |
| Livestock | 170 | 134 |
| Poultry | 32 | 26 |
| Fisheries | 542 | 532 |