Zambales

Zambales 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 13 municipalities and 1 highly urbanized city with a total of 357 barangays. The capital of the province is Iba. The province was named after the indigenous Sambal people, and it is known as the “Home of the Sweetest Mangoes in the Philippines” due to its famous mango variety. It is also recognized for its long coastline along the West Philippine Sea, natural attractions such as Anawangin and Nagsasa Coves, the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and the majestic Mt. Pinatubo which partially lies within its territory.

HISTORY

Zambales was originally inhabited by the Aetas and later by the Sambal people, from whom the province got its name. Before Spanish colonization, the area consisted of small coastal and inland communities engaged in farming and trade. The Spaniards arrived in 1572 and formally organized Zambales as a province in 1578, introducing Christianity and building towns. Despite this, locals often resisted colonial rule, joining various revolts throughout the Spanish period. Under American rule, schools and infrastructure were developed, while during World War II, Zambales endured Japanese occupation until its liberation in 1945. Subic Bay became a vital U.S. naval base until 1992, when it was transformed into the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, boosting the province’s economy. Today, Zambales is remembered for its rich history, cultural heritage, and role as a center for trade, tourism, and agriculture in Central Luzon.

QUICK FACTS
Population Census (2024)	681,225
Land Area (2015)	3,046.49 km²
No. of households	165,045
Average Household Size	3.92
Registered Voters	554,98
Major Landmarks	Subic Bay Freeport
Coastal Access	yes
Economic Zone estimated elevation above sea level	124 meters

Map

Zambales Province is located in the Central Luzon Region (Region III) in the western part of the Philippines, bordered by Pangasinan and Tarlac to the north, Pampanga to the east, Bataan to the south, and the West Philippine Sea to the west.

MUNICIPALITIES POPULATION DATA

Zambales has 13 municipalities, 1 city and 357 barangays.

name	type	barangay_count	population_2020	population_2024
Botolan	Municipality	18	66739	70340
Cabangan	Municipality	15	25118	29334
Candelaria	Municipality	16	30263	32182
Castillejos	Municipality	14	67859	70105
Iba	Municipality, Capital	14	55681	56880
Masinloc	Municipality	13	45679	46719
Palauig	Municipality	19	39784	41250
San Antonio	Municipality	14	37450	38617
San Felipe	Municipality	11	25033	26081
San Marcelino	Municipality	19	37719	39542
San Narciso	Municipality	17	30759	32180
Santa Cruz	Municipality	28	63839	66647
Subic	Municipality	16	111912	118185

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population by Age Group

Based on the 2020 Census, the largest age group is 10-14 years, with 65,448 individuals, followed closely by those aged 5-9 years (65,386) and below 15-19 years (61,625). In contrast, the smallest population is found in 75-79, with only 6,279 individuals.

age	population_2020
Below 5	50914
5-9	65386
10-14	65448
15-19	61625
20-24	61625
25-29	51151
30-34	48262
35-39	43272
40-44	34200
45-49	32050
50-54	27997
55-59	22690
60-64	16458
65-69	11770
70-74	6279

Population by Gender

In 2020, the population was composed of approximately 50.75% males and 49.75% females, indicating a higher number of males than females.

ECONOMY

Agricultural Production Trends (2018–2023)

From 2018 to 2023, crops production in Zambales showed fluctuations, starting at 4,107 metric tons in 2018, dipping in 2019, but steadily rising to 5,280 in 2023. Livestock production peaked in 2020 at 3,605, then sharply dropped in 2021 and remained relatively low in the following years, reaching 1,561 in 2023. Poultry production declined in 2019–2020 but rebounded strongly, recording its highest level at 3,726 in 2023. Meanwhile, fisheries production consistently increased from 2018 to 2022, peaking at 6,946, before significantly dropping to 4,063 in 2023.

title	2022	2023
Crops	4995	5280
Livestock	1715	1561
Poultry	2715	3726
Fisheries	6946	4063

BARANGAY