Pampanga

Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region (Region III) of Luzon. The province covers roughly 2,001.22 square kilometers and is composed of 19 municipalities and 3 cities, with a total of 505 barangays. The capital of the province is the City of San Fernando. The name 'Pampanga' comes from the Spanish word pampang, meaning 'riverbank,' as the province is traversed by the Pampanga River and its many tributaries.

HISTORY

Pampanga is one of the oldest provinces in the Philippines. It was officially established by the Spanish colonial government on December 11, 1571, making it the first province created by the Spaniards. The name 'Pampanga' was derived from the Spanish word pampang, meaning 'riverbank,' because early settlements were concentrated along the Pampanga River. During the Spanish era, Pampanga became an important source of food for Manila, earning it the title 'The Rice Granary of the Philippines.' Its fertile lands allowed the Kapampangan people to grow abundant rice and sugarcane, while also excelling in fishing, pottery, and woodcraft. The province also played a vital role in Philippine history. Kapampangans were among the earliest Filipinos to resist Spanish rule, joining revolts such as the Dagohoy Rebellion and later contributing to the Philippine Revolution against Spain in 1896. During the American period, Pampanga became a center of education and governance in Central Luzon. In World War II, it was heavily affected by the Japanese occupation, and its people were part of the resistance movement. Today, Pampanga is recognized as the culinary capital of the Philippines, famous for its rich food culture, festivals, and the resilience of its people, especially after the devastation caused by the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption, which reshaped much of its landscape.

QUICK FACTS
Population Census (2024)	2,586,446
Land Area (2015)	2,001.22 km²
No. of households	573,920
Average Household Size	4.24
Registered Voters	1,682,684
Major Landmarks	Mount Arayat
Coastal Access	yes
Economic Zone estimated elevation above sea level	20-30 meters

Map

Pampanga Province is located in the Central Luzon Region (Region III) in the central part of Luzon Island, bordered by Tarlac to the north, Nueva Ecija to the northeast, Bulacan to the southeast, Bataan to the southwest, and Zambales to the west, with coastal access along Manila Bay to the south.

MUNICIPALITIES POPULATION DATA

Pampanga has 19 municipalities, 3 cities, and 505 barangays.

name	type	barangay_count	population_2020	population_2024
Arayat	Municipality	30	133492	138574
Bacolor	Municipality	21	39903	41419
Candaba	Municipality	33	127948	132846
Floridablanca	Municipality	33	133246	138296
Guagua	Municipality	31	128893	133809
Lubao	Municipality	44	173105	179682
Mabalacat	City	27	293266	304515
Macabebe	Municipality	26	84440	87677
Magalang	Municipality	27	123103	127787
Masantol	Municipality	22	58359	60583
Mexico	Municipality	43	173206	179798
Minalin	Municipality	15	47206	49014
Porac	Municipality	29	140641	145986
San Fernando	City, Capital	35	354632	368097
San Luis	Municipality	18	62648	65034
San Simon	Municipality	14	58922	61159
Santa Ana	Municipality	14	61500	63860
Santa Rita	Municipality	10	42862	44496
Santo Tomas	Municipality	7	43065	44703
Apalit	Municipality	12	117160	121646
Angeles	City	33	462928	480508

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population by Age Group

Based on the 2020 Census, the largest age group is 5-9, with 165,234 individuals, followed closely by those aged below 5 years (162,789) and 10-14 years (159,876). In contrast, the smallest population is found in 75-79, with only 5,678 individuals.

age	population_2020
Below 5	162789
5-9	165234
10-14	159876
75-79	5678

Population by Gender

In 2020, the population was composed of approximately 50.67% males and 49.33% females, indicating a slightly higher number of males than females.

ECONOMY

Agricultural Production Trends (2018–2023)

From 2018 to 2023, Pampanga’s agricultural production showed steady growth. Crop production increased from 45,678 metric tons in 2018 to 52,345 metric tons in 2023. Livestock production peaked at 9,876 metric tons in 2021 but declined to 8,945 metric tons by 2023. Poultry production rose from 7,890 metric tons in 2018 to 9,123 metric tons in 2023. Fisheries production fluctuated, reaching a high of 6,789 metric tons in 2020 and dropping to 6,234 metric tons in 2023.

title	2022	2023
Crops	50123	52345
Livestock	9345	8945
Poultry	9012	9123
Fisheries	6234	6234

BARANGAY