KALIBO, Aklan – The total population of Aklan as of May 1, 2020 reached 615,475, results of the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.
Aklan’s population accounted for about eight percent of the 7,954,723 total population in Western Visayas.
The province’ population increased by 40,652 from 574,823 in 2015, which translated to an annual population growth rate (PGR) of 1.45 percent, up from 1.35 percent PGR between 2010 and 2015.
Of the 17 municipalities, Kalibo had the biggest population in 2020 – 89,127.
Its population increased by 8,522 persons from 80,605 recorded in 2015.
The municipality of Malay followed next with 60,077; Ibajay with 52,364; New Washington with 47,955; and Nabas with 40,632.
The combined population of these five municipalities accounted for about 47.14 percent of Aklan’s population in 2020.
On the other hand, the towns of Lezo and Madalag had the smallest population with 15,639 and 18,890, respectively.
Meanwhile, out of 327 barangays in Aklan, Manocmanoc in Boracay Island, Malay recorded the biggest population with 20,504 persons.
This was followed by Andagao in Kalibo with 15,404; Poblacion in Kalibo with 12,000; Buswang New in Kalibo with 11,382; and Balabag in Malay with 10,282.
On the contrary, Capataga (Malinao) has the smallest population with 53 persons, followed by Tamokoe (Tangalan) with 133, Rivera (Ibajay) with 201, and San Isidro (Banga) and Cabugao (Ibajay) with 266.
By congressional district, the Eastern district has the biggest population size with 313,775 or about 51 percent of Aklan’s population.
This comprised Kalibo with 89,127; New Washington with 47,955; Banga with 40,318; Batan with 33,484; Balete with 30,090; Libacao with 28,272; Altavas with 25,639; and Madalag with 18,890.
On the other hand, the Western district has a total population of 301,700.
It is composed of the municipalities of Malay with 60,077; Ibajay with 52,364; Nabas with 40,632; Numancia with 35,693; Makato with 29,717; Malinao with 24,517; Tangalan with 23,704; Buruanga with 19,357; and Lezo with 15,639.
Among provinces in Western Visayas, Negros Occidental had the largest population with 2,623,172 followed by the province of Iloilo with 2,051,899; Capiz with 804,952; Aklan with 615,475; Antique with 612,974; Bacolod City with 600,783; Iloilo City with 457,626; and Guimaras with 187,842.
The 2020 population count was declared official by President Rodrigo Duterte on July 6, 2021 pursuant to Proclamation No. 1179.
