The total population of Region III (Central Luzon) as of May 1, 2020 was 12,422,172 based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (2020 CPH).

The total population of Region III accounted for about 11.4 percent of the Philippine population in 2020.

The 2020 total population of the region is higher by 1.20 million compared with the population of 11.22 million in 2015; by 2.28 million compared with the population of 10.14 million in 2010; and by 4.22 million compared with the population of 8.20 million in 2000. (Table 1)

The total population of Region III increased by 2.17 percent annually, on average, during the period of 2015 to 2020. By comparison, the rate at which the region’s population grew during the period of 2010 to 2015 was lower at 1.95 percent. (Table 2)

Among the seven provinces comprising the region, Bulacan had the biggest population in 2020 with 3.71 million, followed by Pampanga with 2.44 million, Nueva Ecija with 2.31 million, Tarlac with 1.50 million, Bataan with 853 thousand, and Zambales with 650 thousand. Aurora had the smallest population with 236 thousand. (Table 3)

The region has two highly urbanized cities. The City of Angeles posted a population of 463 thousand, while the City of Olongapo had a population of 260 thousand.

Bulacan was the fastest growing province in the region with an average annual population growth rate (PGR) of 2.54 percent during the period of 2015 to 2020. It was followed by Bataan (2.45 %), Pampanga (2.20 %), Tarlac (2.04 %), Aurora (2.02 %), and Zambales (2.01 %). Nueva Ecija posted the lowest provincial PGR of 1.51 percent.

The City of Angeles posted a PGR of 2.50 percent, while the City of Olongapo had a PGR of 2.36 percent. (Table 4)