Eastern Visayas reached a total population of 4.63 million in 2024, based on the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), but the region's population growth is showing signs of significant deceleration.
The annual population growth rate (PGR) between 2020 and 2024 dipped to 0.41 percent, the lowest in six decades, suggesting shifting demographic patterns, declining fertility, and possibly increasing outmigration.
While the region added approximately 80,000 people since the last census in 2020, the pace of growth has declined from 0.50 percent recorded between 2015 and 2020.
This trend highlights a broader national pattern of demographic transition, but the regional data reveals sharp contrasts between provinces.
Leyte (excluding Tacloban City) remained the population center of the region, with 1.81 million residents or 39.1 percent of the total.
However, the province's PGR has slightly slowed to 0.62 percent, even as it continues to attract internal migration due to better infrastructure and economic opportunities.
In contrast, Eastern Samar is experiencing a population decline, posting a negative growth rate of -0.23 percent, the only province in the region to do so.
This suggests outmigration driven by limited employment prospects, aging populations, or youth exodus toward urban centers and abroad.
Interestingly, Biliran, the smallest province, posted the fastest PGR at 0.63 percent, possibly due to spillover development from Leyte or improving local conditions.
Similarly, Tacloban City, the region’s lone Highly Urbanized City (HUC), recorded a PGR of 0.70 percent, though lower than its 0.84 percent growth from the previous census period—an indicator that even urban centers may be nearing saturation.
Samar and Northern Samar showed modest rebounds in growth rates, at 0.39 percent and 0.25 percent, respectively, reversing earlier slowdowns. Southern Leyte, meanwhile, experienced a further dip to 0.27 percent, signaling potential demographic stagnation.
These trends suggest a demographic crossroads for Eastern Visayas.
While some areas show signs of resilience or slow growth, others are facing challenges such as outmigration, aging populations, and economic stagnation. The PSA emphasizes that accurate and timely census data is essential for guiding resource allocation, planning social services, and addressing regional disparities.
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