The share of the urban population in the Philippines has continued to rise over the years. In 2022, the urban population accounted for roughly 48 percent of the entire population. In the Philippines, urbanized areas were primarily found in Metro Manila, located in the National Capital Region (NCR).

 Urban population growth in the Philippines

Urban areas in the Philippines have a high influx of people due to better infrastructure and employment opportunities available. From 2011 to 2015, the urban population growth rate was over two percent. However, from 2016 to 2020, the population growth rate decreased and has been at around 1.9 percent since the Philippine government introduced “Back to the Province” program to reduce overcrowding in Manila.

Lack of affordable housing in the urbanized areas in the Philippines

Poverty has been one of the reasons for slum dwellings in the Philippines. Despite better infrastructures in urban areas, there is also a lack of affordable housing for people living below the poverty level in urban areas. As a result, 43 percent of the urban population live in slums in the Philippines, one of the highest urban population living in slums across the Asia Pacific.

Philippines PH: Urban Land Area data was reported at 10,817.373 sq km in 2010. This stayed constant from the previous number of 10,817.373 sq km for 2000. Philippines PH: Urban Land Area data is updated yearly, averaging 10,817.373 sq km from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2010, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10,817.373 sq km in 2010 and a record low of 10,817.373 sq km in 2010. Philippines PH: Urban Land Area data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Philippines – Table PH.World Bank: Land Use, Protected Areas and National Wealth. Urban land area in square kilometers, based on a combination of population counts (persons), settlement points, and the presence of Nighttime Lights. Areas are defined as urban where contiguous lighted cells from the Nighttime Lights or approximated urban extents based on buffered settlement points for which the total population is greater than 5,000 persons.; ; Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)/Columbia University. 2013. Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates Version 2. Palisades, NY: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/lecz-urban-rural-population-land-area-estimates-v2.; Sum;

The share of urban population in the Philippines saw no significant changes in 2023 in comparison to the previous year 2022 and remained at around 48.29 percent. Nevertheless, 2023 still represents a peak in the share in the Philippines. A population may be defined as urban depending on the size (population or area) or population density of the village, town, or city. The urbanization rate then refers to the share of the total population who live in an urban setting. International comparisons may be inconsistent due to differing parameters for what constitutes an urban center.Find more key insights for the share of urban population in countries like Timor-Leste and Laos.

Urban population in Philippines was reported at 56316242 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Philippines - Urban population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Philippines PH: Urban Population data was reported at 48,977,863.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 48,018,073.000 Person for 2016. Philippines PH: Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 27,236,081.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 48,977,863.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 7,959,938.000 Person in 1960. Philippines PH: Urban Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Philippines – Table PH.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Sum;

Urban population (% of total population) in Philippines was reported at 48.29 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Philippines - Urban population (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Philippines PH: Urban Population Growth data was reported at 1.979 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.976 % for 2016. Philippines PH: Urban Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 3.731 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.218 % in 1981 and a record low of 1.421 % in 2009. Philippines PH: Urban Population Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Philippines – Table PH.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

In 2023, the annual urban population growth in the Philippines was **** percent. Between 1961 and 2023, the figure dropped by **** percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Historical chart and dataset showing Philippines urban population by year from 1960 to 2023.

Philippines PH: Urban Land Area Where Elevation is Below 5 Meters data was reported at 746.357 sq km in 2010. This stayed constant from the previous number of 746.357 sq km for 2000. Philippines PH: Urban Land Area Where Elevation is Below 5 Meters data is updated yearly, averaging 746.357 sq km from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2010, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 746.357 sq km in 2010 and a record low of 746.357 sq km in 2010. Philippines PH: Urban Land Area Where Elevation is Below 5 Meters data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Philippines – Table PH.World Bank: Land Use, Protected Areas and National Wealth. Urban land area below 5m is the total urban land area in square kilometers where the elevation is 5 meters or less.; ; Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)/Columbia University. 2013. Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates Version 2. Palisades, NY: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/lecz-urban-rural-population-land-area-estimates-v2.; Sum;

Philippines PH: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data was reported at 27.097 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 27.207 % for 2016. Philippines PH: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 28.598 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 34.045 % in 1975 and a record low of 27.097 % in 2017. Philippines PH: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Philippines – Table PH.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.; ; United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects.; Weighted average;

Access to electricity, urban (% of urban population) in Philippines was reported at 98.4 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Philippines - Access to electricity, urban - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Philippines PH: Urban Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 46.682 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 46.475 % for 2016. Philippines PH: Urban Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 45.258 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 46.986 % in 1990 and a record low of 30.297 % in 1960. Philippines PH: Urban Population: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Philippines – Table PH.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

Urban population growth (annual %) in Philippines was reported at 1.5005 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Philippines - Urban population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Philippines PH: Urban Population Living in Areas Where Elevation is Below 5 meters: % of Total Population data was reported at 2.368 % in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.359 % for 2000. Philippines PH: Urban Population Living in Areas Where Elevation is Below 5 meters: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 2.368 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2010, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.461 % in 1990 and a record low of 2.359 % in 2000. Philippines PH: Urban Population Living in Areas Where Elevation is Below 5 meters: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Philippines – Table PH.World Bank: Land Use, Protected Areas and National Wealth. Urban population below 5m is the percentage of the total population, living in areas where the elevation is 5 meters or less.; ; Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)/Columbia University. 2013. Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates Version 2. Palisades, NY: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/lecz-urban-rural-population-land-area-estimates-v2.; Weighted Average;

This dataset is about countries per year in Philippines. It has 64 rows. It features 4 columns: country, urban population living in areas where elevation is below 5 meters , and incidence of HIV.

This horizontal bar chart displays urban population (people) by capital city using the aggregation sum in Philippines. The data is about countries per year.

Philippines PH: Rural Land Area data was reported at 282,759.125 sq km in 2010. This stayed constant from the previous number of 282,759.125 sq km for 2000. Philippines PH: Rural Land Area data is updated yearly, averaging 282,759.125 sq km from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2010, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 282,759.125 sq km in 2010 and a record low of 282,759.125 sq km in 2010. Philippines PH: Rural Land Area data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Philippines – Table PH.World Bank: Land Use, Protected Areas and National Wealth. Rural land area in square kilometers, derived from urban extent grids which distinguish urban and rural areas based on a combination of population counts (persons), settlement points, and the presence of Nighttime Lights. Areas are defined as urban where contiguous lighted cells from the Nighttime Lights or approximated urban extents based on buffered settlement points for which the total population is greater than 5,000 persons.; ; Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)/Columbia University. 2013. Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates Version 2. Palisades, NY: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/lecz-urban-rural-population-land-area-estimates-v2.; Sum;

Based on the 2020 census, the capital city of Manila had the highest population density among other cities and municipalities in Metro Manila in the Philippines, with about ****** people per square kilometer. In contrast, the municipality of Pateros, which is the only remaining municipality in the region, had a population density of about ***** per square kilometers.

Rural population (% of total population) in Philippines was reported at 51.71 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Philippines - Rural population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.