| Demographics: | |||||||||||||||
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As of 2024, CALABARZON remains the most populous region in the Philippines with an estimated 16.93 million people, comprising approximately 8.73 million males and 8.75 million females. The region’s population growth rate has slowed to about 1.0–1.1% annually, a significant decrease from the 3–4% growth seen in the 1990s and early 2000s. Its population structure remains young but is gradually aging, with around 4.7 million individuals aged 0–14 years, 10.7 million belonging to the working-age group (15–64 years), and about 795,000 aged 65 years and above. The average life expectancy in CALABARZON is about 69.1 years, reflecting improvements in health and living conditions across the region. CALABARZON is also home to the largest number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) among all regions, with approximately 474,000 residents working abroad—accounting for 15–19% of the national total. In terms of religion, the region remains predominantly Roman Catholic (around 89%), followed by Iglesia ni Cristo (3%) and other Christian denominations such as the Philippine Independent Church and Seventh-day Adventist Church. A small minority, about 0.4–0.5%, belong to the Muslim faith and other religions. Economically, poverty incidence in CALABARZON continues to decline, standing at about 7.9% in 2023, making it one of the regions with the lowest poverty rates in the country. Overall, CALABARZON continues to demonstrate a balanced blend of demographic vitality, social development, and economic resilience. |
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| Economy | |||||||||||||||
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CALABARZON remains one of the most economically important regions in the Philippines. Its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) grew by 5.6% in 2024, up from 5.2% in 2023, and the region is the second-largest contributor to the national GDP at 14.7% The economic structure is heavily skewed toward industry and services: about 49% of output comes from the industry sector, 46.8–47% from services, while agriculture, forestry, and fisheries account for only 4.2% of GRDP. Labor market metrics are much improved compared to older figures: the unemployment rate is roughly 5.3% (April 2024), rising slightly to 5.6% in 2024. Underemployment remains a concern (19.1%) in the region. Inflation in the region has been low: 1.9% in June 2025, well below earlier peaks, and lower than many past rates. As for agriculture: while CALABARZON still has farms, fishing, and agricultural production, its relative contribution to the regional economy (by value added) is now small. There’s strong industrialization in provinces like Laguna, Cavite, and Batangas. Also, Laguna is now the top provincial contributor to the region’s GRDP (about 33.3%), followed by Cavite (25.2%), then Batangas (20.9%). |
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