Tarlac

Tarlac is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region (Region III) of Luzon. The province covers roughly 3,046.49 square kilometers and is composed of 17 municipalities and 1 component city with a total of 511 barangays. The capital of the province is Tarlac City. The province was named after its capital, Tarlac City, and it is known as the “Melting Pot of Central Luzon” due to the convergence of different cultures and ethnic groups such as the Kapampangans, Pangasinenses, Ilocanos, and Tagalogs. It is also recognized for its historical landmarks, vast sugarcane and rice fields, and notable sites such as the Monasterio de Tarlac and Mt. Pinatubo’s trekking destination.

HISTORY

Tarlac’s history traces back to the late 16th century when it was originally inhabited by Aetas and later settled by various groups such as the Pangasinenses, Kapampangans, Ilocanos, and Tagalogs who migrated to the area. The name “Tarlac” is derived from a local tree called malatarlak. During the Spanish colonial period, Tarlac was part of Pangasinan and Pampanga until it became a separate province in 1874, making it the last province to be created in Central Luzon. The province quickly became a center of agriculture, particularly for sugarcane, rice, and corn, due to its fertile lands. With its diverse settlers and booming farmlands, Tarlac earned its title as the “Melting Pot of Central Luzon.” Tarlac played a significant role in the country’s fight for independence. It became an important base of operations during the Philippine Revolution against Spain and later the Philippine–American War, with the revolutionary government of General Emilio Aguinaldo even holding office in Tarlac for a time. During World War II, the province witnessed the tragic Bataan Death March, where Filipino and American soldiers who surrendered to Japanese forces were marched through Capas, Tarlac, leaving a lasting mark on its history.

QUICK FACTS
Population Census (2024)	1,568,162
Land Area (2015)	3,046.49 km²
No. of households	359,561
Average Household Size	4.17
Registered Voters	940,701
Major Landmarks	Monasterio de Tarlac
Coastal Access	no
Economic Zone estimated elevation above sea level	51 meters

Map

Tarlac Province is located in the Central Luzon Region (Region III) in the northern part of the Philippines, bordered by Pangasinan to the north, Nueva Ecija to the east, Zambales to the west, and Pampanga to the south.

MUNICIPALITIES POPULATION DATA

Tarlac has 18 municipalities, 1 city and 511 barangays.

name	type	barangay_count	population_2020	population_2024
Anao	Municipality	15	12300	12756
Bamban	Municipality	15	78260	81012
Camiling	Municipality	61	87190	91400
Capas	Municipality	20	156056	162734
Concepcion	Municipality	45	169073	175549
Gerona	Municipality	44	94848	97937
La Paz	Municipality	18	73702	76383
Mayantoc	Municipality	23	36126	37473
Moncada	Municipality	25	59031	61251
Paniqui	Municipality	34	103001	106901
Pura	Municipality	16	25012	25952
Ramos	Municipality	9	22207	23035
San Clemente	Municipality	11	13233	13732
San Jose	Municipality	13	41333	42886
San Manuel	Municipality	15	28387	29442
Santa Ignacia	Municipality	24	51262	53200
Tarlac City	Municipality, Capital	76	385031	399592
Victoria	Municipality	26	72936	75673

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population by Age Group

Based on the 2020 Census, the largest age group is 10-14, with 152,410 individuals, followed closely by those aged 5-9 years (152,170) and below 5 years (147,425). In contrast, the smallest population is found in 75-79, with only 14,882 individuals.

age	population_2020
Below 5	147425
5-9	152170
10-14	152410
15-19	147425
20-24	133566
25-29	121889
30-34	108669
35-39	96495
40-44	90979
45-49	80927
50-54	73553
55-59	60803
60-64	50037
65-69	35344
70-74	17709
75-79	14882

Population by Gender

In 2020, the population was composed of approximately 50.96% males and 49.04% females, indicating a higher number of males than females.

ECONOMY

Agricultural Production Trends (2018–2023)

From 2018 to 2023, crop production in Tarlac showed an overall increase from 16,912 to 20,218, while livestock production fluctuated, dropping significantly in 2021 before gradually recovering to 9,748 in 2023. Poultry production also varied, declining in 2020 but rising sharply to over 20,000 by 2022 and 2023. In contrast, fisheries production consistently decreased, falling from 652 in 2018 to just 212 in 2023.

title	2022	2023
Crops	17011	20218
Livestock	11456	9748
Poultry	20456	21219
Fisheries	291	212

BARANGAY