Isabela: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Isabela: 75.1% of households in Isabela used a flush toilet in 2020 (6.8% flushing to a piped sewer and 56.6% to a septic tank), against 90.9% nationally. Isabela is 5th lowest share of 177 cities and towns covered on this site.
- Health in Isabela: 3.99% of households in Isabela had no toilet facility at all at the 2020 Census (national figure 3.31%). Isabela is 28th highest share without a toilet of 177 cities and towns covered on this site.
What is the population of Isabela?
Isabela had 130,379 residents at the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (1 May 2020), according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. Isabela ranks 141st among the 1,634 cities and municipalities in the Philippines. Isabela is 38th smallest of 177 cities and towns covered on this site.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority (as republished by UN OCHA Philippines on the Humanitarian Data Exchange) · saved copyHow fast is the population of Isabela growing?
The population of Isabela grew from 112,788 at the 2015 Census to 130,379 in 2020, a change of +15.6% over five years (national change across all cities and municipalities +8.0%). Isabela is 28th fastest-growing of 177 cities and towns covered on this site.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority (as republished by UN OCHA Philippines on the Humanitarian Data Exchange) · saved copyWhat kind of city is Isabela?
Isabela is a component city of Zamboanga Sibugay province, classed 4th class for income in the Philippine Statistics Authority list of cities and municipalities (income class 1st is the richest, 6th the poorest).
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority (as republished by UN OCHA Philippines on the Humanitarian Data Exchange) · saved copyWhat is the age structure of Isabela?
35.9% of residents of Isabela were under 15 and 4.6% were 65 or older in the 2020 Census age tables (nationally 30.7% under 15 and 5.4% aged 65 or over); there were 105 men for every 100 women. Isabela is 10th youngest of 177 cities and towns covered on this site.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority (as republished by UN OCHA Philippines on the Humanitarian Data Exchange) · saved copyHow many households are there in Isabela?
Isabela had 26,643 households at the 2020 Census, an average of 4.9 residents per household (population divided by households). Isabela is 6th largest of 177 cities and towns covered on this site.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority (as republished by UN OCHA Philippines on the Humanitarian Data Exchange) · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate in Isabela?
An estimated 51.0% of the population of Isabela lived below the poverty line in 2018 (90% confidence interval 44.9% to 57.2%), about 62,262 people, against 16.7% nationally. These are 2018 estimates, the latest for highly urbanized cities in this file. Isabela is the highest poverty rate of 35 highly urbanized cities covered on this site.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority (as republished by UN OCHA Philippines on the Humanitarian Data Exchange) · saved copyHow much income counts as poor in Isabela?
The annual poverty threshold used for Isabela in 2018 was PhP 25,870 per person, the income needed to meet food and other basic needs, set by the Philippine Statistics Authority (national average PhP 25,813).
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority (as republished by UN OCHA Philippines on the Humanitarian Data Exchange) · saved copyWho runs Isabela?
In the Philippines, cities and towns are run by cities: Mayor, vice-mayor and council (Sangguniang Panlungsod or Bayan) elected for three years. Main local services; highly urbanised cities sit outside provincial control.
How local power works in the Philippines
Cities of a similar size in the Philippines
- Nasugbu 136,524
- Carcar 136,453
- Norzagaray 136,064
- Floridablanca 135,542
- Dumaguete 134,103
- Daraga 133,893
- Hagonoy 133,448
- Naga 133,184
- San Carlos 132,650
- Talavera 132,338
- Angono 130,494
- Silay 130,478
- Bayambang 129,011
- Guagua 128,893
- Santo Tomas 128,667
- Rosario 128,352
Up a level: all cities in the Philippines · the Philippines · government and power
Sources
- Philippine Statistics Authority (as republished by UN OCHA Philippines on the Humanitarian Data Exchange): 2020 Census of Population and Housing: household population aged 5 and over by functional difficulty, severity, age group and sex, by city and municipality, read 29 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4954aac9c033…)
- Philippine Statistics Authority (as republished by UN OCHA Philippines on the Humanitarian Data Exchange): 2020 Census of Population and Housing: occupied housing units by construction materials of outer walls and roof, by city and municipality, read 29 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 752dd65f377f…)
- Philippine Statistics Authority (as republished by UN OCHA Philippines on the Humanitarian Data Exchange): 2020 Census of Population and Housing: population by sex and age group, and 2015 and 2020 population, by city and municipality, read 29 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e6fdd1245811…)
- Philippine Statistics Authority (as republished by UN OCHA Philippines on the Humanitarian Data Exchange): Updated 2018 poverty estimates among the population by region, province and highly urbanized city, read 29 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8048e842dc97…)
- Philippine Statistics Authority (as republished by UN OCHA Philippines on the Humanitarian Data Exchange): 2020 Census of Population and Housing: households by kind of toilet facility, by city and municipality, read 29 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a9c86beea617…)
- Philippine Statistics Authority (as republished by UN OCHA Philippines on the Humanitarian Data Exchange): 2020 Census of Population and Housing: households by main source of drinking water, by city and municipality, read 29 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6bda941c21bf…)
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