Iligan City had an official population of 368,132 as of July 1, 2024. The count represents an increase of 5,017 residents from the 363,115 people recorded in 2020, with an average annual population growth rate of 0.33 percent between 2020 and 2024.
The 2024 Census of Population establishes the city’s updated population size. A complete Iligan-specific table showing residents by age group and sex was not included in the official 2024 releases reviewed for this article. Detailed age and gender analysis must therefore distinguish between the 2024 total population count and older official demographic profiles.
This separation matters. Applying an old percentage directly to the 2024 population would create an estimate, not an official census result.
Iligan City Demographics at a Glance
| Indicator | Official figure or status |
|---|---|
| Total population, 2024 | 368,132 |
| Total population, 2020 | 363,115 |
| Increase from 2020 to 2024 | 5,017 |
| Percentage increase | About 1.38% |
| Average annual growth rate, 2020–2024 | 0.33% |
| Total population, 2015 | 342,618 |
| Total population, 2010 | 322,821 |
| Number of barangays | 44 |
| Income classification in the PSA geographic database | First class |
| Detailed Iligan age-by-sex table for 2024 | Not yet identified in the published official releases reviewed |
The Philippine Statistics Authority lists Iligan as a first-class city with 44 barangays. Its 2024 count places it among the two highly urbanized cities reported separately from the provinces of Northern Mindanao.
Data note: “Total population” and “household population” are not interchangeable. Household population excludes people counted in institutional or collective living arrangements. Comparisons must use the same population category and census year.
Total Population of Iligan City: Current Statistics
Iligan’s population has continued to rise, but the pace slowed substantially after 2020.
| Census year | Population | Change from previous listed census |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 285,061 | |
| 2010 | 322,821 | +37,760 |
| 2015 | 342,618 | +19,797 |
| 2020 | 363,115 | +20,497 |
| 2024 | 368,132 | +5,017 |
The city gained 83,071 residents between 2000 and 2024, equivalent to a total increase of about 29.1 percent across the 24-year period. The pattern was not uniform. Iligan’s annual growth rate was 1.25 percent from 2000 to 2010, 1.14 percent from 2010 to 2015, 1.23 percent from 2015 to 2020 and 0.33 percent from 2020 to 2024.
What the slower growth means
A lower population growth rate does not mean that the city lost residents. Iligan still added more than 5,000 people from 2020 to 2024. It means the population expanded more slowly than during earlier intercensal periods.
Several factors can influence population growth:
- Births and deaths
- Movement into and out of the city
- Education and employment migration
- Housing availability
- Household formation
- Changes in where residents are counted during a census
The total population figures alone do not establish which factor caused Iligan’s slowdown. Migration, fertility and mortality data must be examined separately before drawing a conclusion.
Where Iligan’s Population Lives
The city’s population is distributed across 44 barangays with large differences in population size. Tubod was the largest barangay in the 2024 PSA geographic database, with 31,813 residents. Dalipuga had 21,200 residents, Suarez had 19,184, Tambacan had 17,796 and Buru-un had 17,714.
These differences matter when interpreting age and gender data. A citywide percentage does not show whether one barangay has more school-age children, working-age adults, older residents or female-headed households than another.
For a barangay-level comparison, see the related guide to Iligan City population by barangay.
Gender Distribution in Iligan City
Is there an official male-to-female count for Iligan in the 2024 release?
The publicly available 2024 population releases reviewed establish Iligan’s total population but do not present a complete city-specific male and female breakdown. A precise statement such as “Iligan had X males and Y females in 2024” should not be published without the corresponding official PSA table.
The most clearly documented city-specific benchmark in the official sources reviewed comes from the 2010 Census of Population and Housing.
In 2010, Iligan had a household population of 321,156:
- Males: 50.1 percent
- Females: 49.9 percent
- Sex ratio: approximately 100 males for every 100 females
The difference was small, showing an almost evenly divided household population at that time.
Historical gender patterns varied by age
The 2010 city profile reported that:
- Males outnumbered females among residents aged 0 to 14.
- Males also outnumbered females in the 25-to-34 and 55-to-59 age brackets.
- Females outnumbered males in the 15-to-24 and 35-to-54 groups.
- Females also outnumbered males among residents aged 60 and above.
This is more informative than a single citywide sex ratio. A nearly balanced overall population can still contain meaningful differences within individual age groups.
For example, more women among older residents can affect demand for senior healthcare, social protection and community care. A higher number of boys among younger age groups can influence future school enrollment and youth-service planning.
These are planning implications based on the historical pattern. They are not a substitute for a new 2024 city table.
How Iligan compares with Northern Mindanao
Northern Mindanao’s 2020 population was 51.1 percent male and 48.9 percent female, producing a regional sex ratio of about 104 males for every 100 females.
This regional figure provides context, but it should not be assigned to Iligan. Iligan is one part of Region X and can have a different age and sex structure from the region as a whole.
Understanding Sex and Gender in Census Data
Official population tables commonly classify people according to sex, frequently using male and female categories. The term gender demographics is widely used in public discussions, but it can refer to a broader range of identities and social conditions than a census sex table captures.
For statistical accuracy:
- Use sex distribution when referring to male and female census counts.
- Use gender-responsive planning when discussing how policies and services affect people differently.
- Do not assume that a binary census table represents every resident’s gender identity.
- Check the PSA table definition before combining data from different publications.
This distinction keeps the analysis faithful to the official dataset and prevents a statistical category from being stretched beyond what was measured.
Age Structure and Distribution Analysis
Is a complete 2024 Iligan age pyramid available?
A verified 2024 Iligan population pyramid was not identified in the official releases reviewed. The latest total population should therefore be presented separately from historical age percentages.
The 2010 city profile remains useful for understanding Iligan’s earlier demographic structure:
| Age category | Share of 2010 household population |
|---|---|
| Children aged 0–14 | 32.4% |
| Working-age population aged 15–64 | 63.9% |
| Older residents aged 65 and above | 3.6% |
Rounding accounts for the small difference from 100 percent.
The largest five-year age group in 2010 was 15 to 19 years old, representing 11.6 percent of the household population. Residents aged 10 to 14 accounted for 11.1 percent, while the 0-to-4 and 5-to-9 groups each accounted for 10.7 percent.
Median age
Iligan’s median age was 23.1 years in 2010, up from 21.0 years in 2000. A median age of 23.1 means half of the city’s residents were younger than 23.1 and half were older.
The increase indicated that Iligan’s population was aging gradually. It did not mean that the city had become an old population. Children, teenagers and young adults still represented a large share.
A current median age for Iligan should come from a newer official table rather than an extrapolation from the 2010 value.
What Iligan’s Historical Age Structure Means
Children aged 0 to 14
A large child population creates sustained demand for:
- Daycare and child-development services
- Elementary education
- Childhood vaccination
- Nutrition programs
- Maternal and pediatric healthcare
- Safe recreation spaces
- Child-protection services
The number of children also affects classroom requirements several years ahead. A large preschool cohort eventually moves into elementary and secondary education.
Youth and young adults
The Philippine Youth Development Plan commonly works with a broader youth range than the 0-to-14 child category. The PSA’s Northern Mindanao profile, for example, reported that people aged 15 to 30 represented about 29 percent of the region’s population in 2020.
That regional percentage cannot be treated as Iligan’s exact youth share. It does show why city planning must account for:
- Senior high school and tertiary education
- Technical and vocational training
- Entry-level employment
- Internet access
- Public transportation
- Entrepreneurship support
- Sports and cultural programs
- Mental-health and social services
Iligan’s universities, colleges and training institutions also attract students whose place of permanent residence can differ from their location during the school year.
Working-age population
Residents aged 15 to 64 made up 63.9 percent of Iligan’s household population in 2010. This broad category covered students, employed residents, jobseekers, parents, entrepreneurs and people outside the labor force.
Working age does not automatically mean employed. Labor-force participation and employment statistics are separate measures.
A substantial working-age population strengthens the need for:
- Local job creation
- Reliable transportation
- Affordable housing
- Skills development
- Childcare support
- Business services
- Healthcare for workers and families
- Digital connectivity
Residents aged 60 and above
Senior-citizen statistics normally begin at age 60, while conventional dependency calculations use age 65 and above. These categories should not be merged.
Northern Mindanao’s population aged 60 and over represented about 7.9 percent of the region’s total in 2020. Women accounted for 53.4 percent of the regional senior population and men accounted for 46.6 percent.
This regional pattern supports attention to:
- Primary and preventive healthcare
- Maintenance medicines
- Accessible transport
- Pensions and social assistance
- Mobility-friendly public facilities
- Community-based care
- Support for older residents living alone
- Services for caregivers
It does not provide Iligan’s exact senior population. A city-specific count should be obtained from a PSA table or official local administrative dataset.
Age and Sex Intersection: Why the Combined View Matters
Age and sex should be examined together because the service needs of the population are not evenly distributed.
| Population segment | Planning questions |
|---|---|
| Young children | Are daycare centers, vaccination services and elementary classrooms located where families live? |
| Teenage girls and boys | Are education, sports, reproductive-health and youth-protection programs accessible to both groups? |
| Young adults | Are training, transportation, housing and entry-level jobs aligned with the size of the cohort? |
| Working-age women | Are maternal healthcare, childcare, workplace access and livelihood programs adequate? |
| Working-age men | Are occupational health, skills training and preventive care reaching male workers? |
| Older women | Are healthcare, income support and community-care systems prepared for women’s longer survival at older ages? |
| Older men | Are preventive health and social programs reaching men who underuse health services? |
The 2010 census showed why this intersection is important. Iligan had more males among children and more females in several adult and older age groups. A citywide ratio near 50–50 concealed those differences.
Education and age-sex patterns
Enrollment planning becomes more precise when it answers:
- How many children are entering school?
- Where do they live?
- How many are boys and girls?
- At what grade levels does participation begin to diverge?
- Which barangays have the fastest-growing child population?
- How far must students travel?
Population data describe the potential school-age population. Department of Education enrollment records show who is actually enrolled. Both datasets are needed.
Healthcare and age-sex patterns
Healthcare demand changes across the life course:
- Infants require immunization and growth monitoring.
- Adolescents need preventive, nutrition and mental-health services.
- Adults require reproductive, occupational and chronic-disease care.
- Older residents require more support for mobility, medication and long-term conditions.
Population counts cannot determine disease prevalence by themselves. They provide the denominator used to calculate rates and plan service capacity.
Dependency Ratio and Economic Implications
In 2010, Iligan had an overall dependency ratio of 56 dependents for every 100 working-age residents. The ratio consisted of approximately 51 young dependents and five older dependents per 100 people aged 15 to 64.
The ratio had fallen from 65 dependents per 100 working-age residents in 2000.
A declining dependency ratio can create a demographic opportunity when:
- Working-age residents can find productive employment.
- Young people receive adequate education and training.
- Families can access healthcare and childcare.
- Businesses can absorb new workers.
- Transport and housing support labor mobility.
The opportunity is not automatic. A large working-age population without enough employment can produce underemployment, migration and pressure on household income.
A future rise in the older population would shift part of the planning burden toward healthcare, pensions, accessibility and long-term support.
Demographic Trends and Historical Changes
Population growth by census period
Iligan’s population history shows continued expansion:
- 2000: 285,061
- 2010: 322,821
- 2015: 342,618
- 2020: 363,115
- 2024: 368,132
The city added nearly 38,000 residents between 2000 and 2010. It added about 20,000 during each of the next two census intervals, then added just over 5,000 from 2020 to 2024.
Iligan remains predominantly urban
In 2020, 335,490 of Iligan’s 363,115 residents lived in barangays classified as urban. This produced an urbanization level of 92.4 percent.
Urban classification does not mean every part of an urban barangay has the same density or infrastructure. Iligan covers coastal, central, industrial, agricultural and upland areas. Citywide demographic averages can therefore mask significant local differences.
Population density
Iligan had a land area of 813.37 square kilometers and a population density of 446 people per square kilometer in 2020.
Using the same land-area figure and the 2024 population produces an approximate density of 453 people per square kilometer. This is a mathematical calculation based on published figures, not a separately reported PSA density value.
Population density is also uneven. Densely settled barangays around the urban core operate differently from large upland barangays with dispersed communities.
Demographic Implications for Iligan City Development
Education
The city needs regular barangay-level monitoring of children and youth to guide:
- Classroom construction
- Teacher allocation
- Daycare placement
- School transportation
- Alternative learning programs
- Technical and vocational education
- University and college planning
Historical percentages should not be used indefinitely. Even a small change in the proportion of children can translate into hundreds or thousands of residents.
Employment and economic development
The city’s working-age population is the bridge between demographics and economic growth. Planning priorities include:
- Matching training programs with local industry needs
- Supporting micro, small and medium enterprises
- Tracking youth employment
- Creating opportunities for women returning to work
- Improving digital-work infrastructure
- Connecting barangays to employment centers
- Measuring out-migration of skilled workers
The demographic question is not simply how many working-age people live in Iligan. It is whether the economy can provide pathways from education to stable work.
Healthcare
Healthcare planning should combine population counts with:
- Birth registration
- Mortality data
- Disease surveillance
- Hospital admissions
- Barangay health records
- Maternal and child-health indicators
- Disability data
- Senior-citizen registries
The denominator matters. A barangay with more residents can record more cases even when its disease rate is lower than a smaller barangay.
Housing and transport
Population growth affects:
- Household formation
- Rental demand
- Residential expansion
- Water and electricity connections
- Solid-waste collection
- Road capacity
- Public transport routes
- Disaster evacuation planning
Age adds another layer. Families with children, university students, workers, persons with disabilities and older residents have different mobility and housing requirements.
Gender-responsive planning
Gender-responsive planning requires more than counting males and females. It asks whether services, budgets and facilities work equitably for different groups.
Relevant local indicators include:
- Labor-force participation by sex
- Maternal healthcare access
- School completion
- Gender-based violence reports
- Unpaid care responsibilities
- Female-headed households
- Access to business finance
- Representation in local decision-making
- Accessibility and safety of transport
These indicators require administrative and survey data beyond the population census.
How Researchers Should Use the 2024 Figures
Use the following hierarchy when citing Iligan demographic data:
- Use 368,132 for Iligan’s official 2024 total population.
- Label any older age or sex statistic with its actual census year.
- Distinguish total population from household population.
- Do not multiply historical percentages by 368,132 and present the result as an official count.
- Use regional figures only as regional context.
- Record the reference date because census counts describe the population at a particular point in time.
- Update the analysis when the PSA publishes a complete 2024 Iligan age-and-sex table.
Example of correct wording
Iligan City had 368,132 residents in the 2024 Census of Population. The latest detailed city-specific age and sex figures cited in this section come from an earlier census and should not be interpreted as the city’s official 2024 distribution.
Example of misleading wording
Iligan had approximately 119,000 children in 2024.
That statement applies an older proportion to the new total and presents the result without an official 2024 age count.
Key Takeaways
Iligan City’s population reached 368,132 in 2024, increasing by 5,017 residents from 2020. Population growth remained positive but slowed to an average of 0.33 percent per year during the period.
Historical census data describe Iligan as a relatively young city with a large working-age population and an almost balanced male-to-female distribution. The balance changed across age groups, with females becoming more numerous in several adult and older brackets.
The central limitation is equally important: the latest official total count does not automatically provide an updated city-level age and sex distribution. Until the corresponding PSA tables are released, older demographic percentages must remain clearly labeled by year.
Reliable demographic planning is built from layers. The 2024 total tells Iligan how many residents were counted. Age, sex, barangay, employment, education, disability and health data explain what those residents need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current official population of Iligan City?
Iligan City had 368,132 residents as of July 1, 2024, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2024 Census of Population.
How much did Iligan’s population grow from 2020 to 2024?
The population increased from 363,115 in 2020 to 368,132 in 2024. This was an increase of 5,017 residents, or about 1.38 percent across the period.
What is the male-to-female ratio in Iligan City?
A complete 2024 Iligan-specific male and female count was not identified in the published official releases reviewed. In the 2010 household population, males represented 50.1 percent and females represented 49.9 percent, producing a ratio of approximately 100 males for every 100 females.
What percentage of Iligan City’s population is young?
The official 2024 total-population releases reviewed do not provide a complete current Iligan age distribution. In 2010, children aged 0 to 14 represented 32.4 percent of the city’s household population. This is a historical benchmark, not a 2024 percentage.
What was Iligan City’s median age?
Iligan’s median age was 23.1 years in the 2010 census, up from 21.0 years in 2000. A verified city-specific 2024 median age was not identified in the official releases reviewed.
Is Iligan a first-class city?
Yes. The Philippine Statistics Authority’s Philippine Standard Geographic Code database lists the City of Iligan as first class. Iligan is also one of Northern Mindanao’s highly urbanized cities.
How many barangays does Iligan City have?
Iligan has 44 barangays.
What ethnic groups live in Iligan?
Iligan has residents from several ethnolinguistic communities. Historical census tables have included Bisaya or Binisaya, Cebuano, Maranao, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Higaonon and other groups. Ethnicity figures must be cited with their census year because population composition changes over time. The 2000 census household table identified Bisaya or Binisaya and Cebuano as the two largest reported groups at that time.
