Nueva Ecija

Nueva Ecija is a landlocked province in Central Luzon (Region III) in the Philippines. It covers about 5,751.33 square kilometers and is composed of 27 municipalities and 5 cities, subdivided into 849 barangays. The capital of the province is Palayan City, while Cabanatuan City serves as its largest urban center and economic hub. Known as the 'Rice Granary of the Philippines,' Nueva Ecija plays a vital role in the country’s rice production, reflecting its rich agricultural heritage and contribution to national food security.

HISTORY

Nueva Ecija was originally part of Pampanga during the Spanish colonial period. It was established as a separate province in 1705 by the Spanish authorities, with its capital first set in Baler (now part of Aurora). Later, the capital was moved to Cabanatuan, and today it is Palayan City. During the Philippine Revolution (1896–1898), Nueva Ecija played an important role as a revolutionary center. The famous Battle of San Isidro took place here, and the province also hosted the Nueva Ecija Revolutionary Government under General Mariano Llanera. In the American period, the province continued to develop as a key agricultural hub. During World War II, Nueva Ecija became a significant battleground. It was the site of the famous Raid at Cabanatuan in 1945, where American and Filipino forces rescued more than 500 Allied prisoners of war from a Japanese camp, an event celebrated worldwide for its success. Today, Nueva Ecija remains one of the leading rice-producing provinces in the country and is central to the agricultural economy of Central Luzon.

QUICK FACTS
Population (Census 2024)	910,813
Land Area (2013)	5,751.33 km²
No. of households	572,583
Average Household Size	4.03
Registered Voters	1,620,166
Major Landmarks	Pantabangan Dam and Reservoir
Coastal Access	no
Estimated elevation above sea level	272 meters

Map

Nueva Ecija is located in Central Luzon (Region III) in the central part of the Philippines. It is a landlocked province bounded by Nueva Vizcaya and Aurora to the north, Bulacan to the south, Pangasinan and Tarlac to the west, and Aurora and Quezon to the east.

MUNICIPALITIES POPULATION DATA

Nueva Ecija has 27 municipalities, 5 cities and 849 barangays.

name	type	barangay_count	population_2020	population_2024
Aliaga	Municipality	26	70363	72134
Bongabon	Municipality	28	66839	69376
Cabanatuan	City	89	327325	343672
Cabiao	Municipality	23	85862	89497
Carranglan	Municipality	17	42420	43694
Cuyapo	Municipality	51	68066	70919
Gabaldon	Municipality	16	38958	40223
Gapan	City	23	122968	129610
General Mamerto Natividad	Municipality	20	44311	43779
General Tinio	Municipality	13	55925	58093
Guimba	Municipality	64	127653	131468
Jaen	Municipality	27	79189	83895
Laur	Municipality	17	38263	40185
Licab	Municipality	11	29269	29590
Llanera	Municipality	22	42281	44620
Lupao	Municipality	24	45917	47175
Science City of Muñoz	City	37	84308	85061
Nampicuan	Municipality	21	14471	15297
Palayan	City, Capital	19	45383	47883
Pantabangan	Municipality	14	31763	32694
Peñaranda	Municipality	10	32269	33043
Quezon	Municipality	16	41845	42621
Rizal	Municipality	26	70196	71749
San Antonio	Municipality	16	83060	84958
San Isidro	Municipality	9	54372	55108
San Jose City	City	38	150917	156714
San Leonardo	Municipality	15	68536	60389
Santa Rosa	Municipality	33	75649	80258
Santo Domingo	Municipality	24	61092	63750
Talavera	Municipality	53	132338	137444
Talugtug	Municipality	28	25236	26469
Zaragoza	Municipality	19	53090	55657

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population by Age Group

Based on the 2020 Census, the largest age group is 10-14, with 228,610 individuals, followed closely by those aged 5-9 years (227,600) and Below 5 years (222,532). In contrast, the smallest population is found in the 75-79 years, with only 22,754 individuals.

age	population_2020
Below 5	222532
5-9	227600
10-14	228610
15-19	212488
20-24	205314
25-29	191693
30-34	168163
35-39	154122
40-44	143591
45-49	125934
50-54	116691
55-59	96943
60-64	78413
65-69	54963
70-74	36939
75-79	22754
80+	23384

Population by Gender

In 2020, the population was composed of approximately 50.73% males and 49.27% females, indicating a higher number of males than females.

ECONOMY

Agricultural Production Trends (2018–2023)

From 2018 to 2023, crop production in the province showed a generally increasing trend, starting at 46,815 in 2018 and reaching 59,055 in 2023 despite slight decreases in 2019 and 2020. Livestock production fluctuated, beginning at 4,063 in 2018, dropping to 3,360 in 2020, and then recovering to 4,390 in 2023. Poultry production remained stable with consistent growth, rising from 9,930 in 2018 to 12,786 in 2023. On the other hand, fisheries production declined overall, from 472 in 2018 to 227 in 2023, although there were temporary increases in 2020 and 2021.

title	2022	2023
Crops	50391	59055
Livestock	3989	4390
Poultry	12425	12786
Fisheries	366	227

BARANGAY