Zamboanga del Norte
Zamboanga del Norte (Cebuano: Amihanang Zamboanga; Subanon: Utara Sembwangan; Filipino: Hilagang Zamboanga), officially the Province of Zamboanga del Norte, is a province in the Philippines situated within the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital and largest city is Dipolog and the province borders Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay to the south, Misamis Occidental to the east, and the Sulu Sea to the west. Zamboanga del Norte is the largest province of the Zamboanga Peninsula region by land area covering 7,301.00 square kilometres (2,818.93 sq mi). Zamboanga del Norte is the 26th populous province in the Philippines.
HISTORY
The name of Zamboanga is the Hispanicized spelling of the Sinama term for 'mooring place' samboangan (also spelled sambuangan; and in Subanen, sembwangan), from the root word samboang ('mooring pole'). 'Samboangan' was the original name of Zamboanga City, from where the name of the peninsula is derived from. 'Samboangan' is well-attested in Spanish, British, French, German, and American historical records from as far back as the 17th century. This is commonly contested by folk etymologies which instead attribute the name of Zamboanga to the Indonesian word jambangan (claimed to mean 'place of flowers' but means 'pot' or 'bowl'), usually with claims that all ethnic groups in Zamboanga were 'Malays'. However, this name has never been attested in any historical records prior to the 1960s.
QUICK FACTS | |
| Population Census (2024) | 1,067,067 |
| Land Area | 7,300.11 km² |
| No. of households | 247,971 |
| Average Household Size | 4.2 |
| Registered Voters | 645,000 |
| Major Landmarks | Rizal Park and Shrine (Dapitan City) |
| Coastal Access | Yes |
| Estimated elevation above sea level | 600m |
Map
Zamboanga del Norte is a province located in the northwestern part of Mindanao. It is bounded by Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay on the south, Misamis Occidental on the east, and the Sulu Sea on the north and west. The province features a mix of coastal plains, rolling hills, and mountainous regions, with several rivers and coastal areas supporting fishing, agriculture, and trade.
MUNICIPALITIES POPULATION DATA
Zamboanga del Norte has 25 municipalities and 2 component cities. The total number of barangays in the province is 691.
| name | type | barangay_count | population_2020 | population_2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baliguian | Municipality | 17 | 23771 | 25585 |
| Godod | Municipality | 17 | 17510 | 18040 |
| Gutalac | Municipality | 33 | 36090 | 36090 |
| Jose Dalman | Municipality | 22 | 28881 | 28881 |
| Kalawit | Municipality | 13 | 23812 | 23812 |
| Katipunan | Municipality | 22 | 44661 | 44661 |
| La Libertad | Municipality | 13 | 8119 | 7874 |
| Labason | Municipality | 20 | 43934 | 43934 |
| Leon B. Postigo | Municipality | 17 | 27639 | 27639 |
| Liloy | Municipality | 28 | 42213 | 42213 |
| Manukan | Municipality | 19 | 36887 | 37318 |
| Mutia | Municipality | 13 | 11726 | 13245 |
| Piñan | Municipality | 22 | 20221 | 21921 |
| Polanco | Municipality | 19 | 42265 | 42265 |
| President Manuel A. Roxas | Municipality | 19 | 39198 | 39198 |
| Rizal | Municipality | 17 | 15052 | 15052 |
| Salug | Municipality | 19 | 32134 | 32134 |
| Sergio Osmeña Sr. | Municipality | 19 | 31942 | 31942 |
| Siayan | Municipality | 22 | 36236 | 36236 |
| Sibuco | Municipality | 19 | 36049 | 36049 |
| Sibutad | Municipality | 19 | 17453 | 17832 |
| Sindangan | Municipality | 25 | 103952 | 103927 |
| Siocon | Municipality | 25 | 48524 | 48524 |
| Sirawai | Municipality | 19 | 31163 | 31163 |
| Tampilisan | Municipality | 19 | 24680 | 24680 |
| Dipolog City | City | 30 | 138141 | 138141 |
| Dapitan City | City | 50 | 85202 | 85202 |
DEMOGRAPHICS
Population by Age Group
Based on the 2020 Census, the largest age group in Zamboanga del Norte is 5-9 years, with a total population of 70,074 individuals, followed closely by those aged 10-14 years at 68,302 individuals. In contrast, the 80 years and over group has the fewest residents, with only 12,234 individuals.
| age | population_2020 |
|---|---|
| 0-4 years | 63812 |
| 5-9 years | 70074 |
| 10-14 years | 68302 |
| 15-19 years | 63134 |
| 20-24 years | 56872 |
| 25-29 years | 58067 |
| 30-34 years | 59876 |
| 35-39 years | 58544 |
| 40-49 years | 55596 |
| 50-59 years | 53112 |
| 60-69 years | 71060 |
| 80+ years | 56202 |
Population by Gender (2020)
In 2020, the population of Zamboanga del Norte was composed of approximately 50.2% males and 49.8% females, indicating a slightly higher number of males compared to females.
ECONOMY
Agricultural Production
Zamboanga del Norte's economy is primarily based on agriculture, with palay (rice) and corn as the main crops. The data shows production metrics from 2015 to 2024.
| title | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Palay Production (metric tons) | 110914.49 | 106096.8 |
| Corn Production (metric tons) | 45640.54 | 53951.34 |