Bulacan, officially known as the Province of Bulacan (Tagalog: Lalawigan ng Bulacan), is a province located in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Its capital city is Malolos. Bulacan was established on August 15, 1578, and it is part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway Super Region.
The province consists of 569 barangays in 20 municipalities and four component cities: Baliwag, Malolos (the provincial capital), Meycauayan, and San Jose del Monte. Bulacan is situated immediately to the north of Metro Manila and shares its borders with Pampanga to the west, Nueva Ecija to the north, Aurora and Quezon to the east, and Metro Manila and Rizal to the south. It is also located on the northeastern shore of Manila Bay.
According to the 2020 census, Bulacan had a population of 3,708,890 people, making it the most populous province in Central Luzon and the third most populous in the Philippines, after Cebu and Cavite. The most populous city in Bulacan is San Jose del Monte, the most populated municipality is Santa Maria, and the least populated is Doña Remedios Trinidad.
In 1899, the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos played a significant role as the birthplace of the first constitutional democracy in Asia.
On November 7, 2018, the Provincial Government of Bulacan received its fourth Seal of Good Local Governance award. The SGLG award is a recognition of outstanding governance performance through a progressive assessment system.
Demographics
According to the 2015 Census data for Bulacan, here’s a summary of the demographic information you provided:
- Age Groups and Populations:
- The age group with the highest population in Bulacan was individuals aged 5 to 9, totaling 329,260 individuals.
- The age group with the lowest population was those aged 80 and over, which included 22,565 individuals.
- Age Group Aggregates:
- When grouping age categories:
- Those aged 14 and below, including infants, babies, children, and young adolescents/teenagers, constituted approximately 29.40% of the total population, amounting to 967,721 individuals.
- The age group of 15 to 64, representing the economically active population and potential workforce, made up a significant 66.03% of the population, totaling 2,173,908 individuals.
- The old dependent population, consisting of senior citizens aged 65 and over, accounted for 4.57% of the total population, equivalent to 150,442 individuals.
- When grouping age categories:
- Age Dependency Ratios:
- The calculated Age Dependency Ratios provide insights into the population’s dependency on different age groups:
- For every 100 individuals in the working age population, there were 45 youth dependents (aged 14 and below) and 7 aged/senior citizens (aged 65 and over).
- In total, there were 51 dependents (combining young and old-age) for every 100 of the working population.
- The calculated Age Dependency Ratios provide insights into the population’s dependency on different age groups:
- Median Age:
- The median age of Bulacan in 2015 was 26 years. This statistic indicates that half of the population was younger than 26, while the other half was older than 26. It provides an essential measure of the age distribution within the province.
These statistics offer a comprehensive overview of the age distribution and dependency ratios in Bulacan as of 2015. Please keep in mind that demographic data can change over time due to various factors, such as birth rates, migration, and aging populations, so more recent data may reveal different patterns.
| Name | City/ Municipality | Population (2020) | Population (2015) | Annual Population Growth Rate (2015‑2020) | Area (km2) | Density (2020), per km2 | Brgy count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angat | municipality | 65,617 | 59,237 | 2.18% | 61.59 | 1,065 | 16 |
| Balagtas | municipality | 77,018 | 73,929 | 0.87% | 28.66 | 2,687 | 9 |
| Baliuag | municipality | 168,470 | 149,954 | 2.48% | 45.05 | 3,740 | 27 |
| Bocaue | municipality | 141,412 | 119,675 | 3.58% | 31.87 | 4,437 | 19 |
| Bulakan | municipality | 81,232 | 76,565 | 1.25% | 72.90 | 1,114 | 14 |
| Bustos | municipality | 77,199 | 67,039 | 3.02% | 69.99 | 1,103 | 14 |
| Calumpit | municipality | 118,471 | 108,757 | 1.82% | 56.25 | 2,106 | 29 |
| Doña Remedios Trinidad | municipality | 28,656 | 22,663 | 5.06% | 932.96 | 31 | 8 |
| Guiguinto | municipality | 113,415 | 99,730 | 2.74% | 27.50 | 4,124 | 14 |
| Hagonoy | municipality | 133,448 | 129,807 | 0.58% | 103.10 | 1,294 | 26 |
| Malolos | city (CC), capital | 261,189 | 252,074 | 0.75% | 67.25 | 3,884 | 51 |
| Marilao | municipality | 254,453 | 221,965 | 2.92% | 33.74 | 7,542 | 16 |
| Meycauayan | city (CC) | 225,673 | 209,083 | 1.62% | 32.10 | 7,030 | 26 |
| Norzagaray | municipality | 136,064 | 111,348 | 4.31% | 309.77 | 439 | 13 |
| Obando | municipality | 59,978 | 59,197 | 0.28% | 52.10 | 1,151 | 11 |
| Pandi | municipality | 155,115 | 89,075 | 12.39% | 31.20 | 4,972 | 22 |
| Paombong | municipality | 55,696 | 53,294 | 0.93% | 46.34 | 1,202 | 14 |
| Plaridel | municipality | 114,432 | 107,805 | 1.26% | 32.44 | 3,527 | 19 |
| Pulilan | municipality | 108,836 | 97,323 | 2.38% | 39.89 | 2,728 | 19 |
| San Ildefonso | municipality | 115,713 | 104,471 | 2.18% | 128.71 | 899 | 36 |
| San Jose del Monte | city (CC) | 651,813 | 574,089 | 2.71% | 105.53 | 6,177 | 59 |
| San Miguel | municipality | 172,073 | 153,882 | 2.38% | 231.40 | 744 | 49 |
| San Rafael | municipality | 103,097 | 94,655 | 1.81% | 152.43 | 676 | 34 |
| Santa Maria | municipality | 289,820 | 256,454 | 2.61% | 90.92 | 3,188 | 24 |
| Bulacan Total | 3,708,890 | 3,292,071 | 2.54% | 2,783.69 | 1,332 | 569 | |
Economy
| Fiscal Year | Annual Regular Income | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1,952,044,692.32 | – |
| 2010 | 2,170,448,777.03 | 11.19% |
| 2011 | 2,241,606,346.25 | 3.28% |
| 2012 | 2,220,013,568.67 | -0.96% |
| 2013 | 2,396,260,027.00 | 7.94% |
| 2014 | 2,833,550,614.67 | 18.25% |
| 2015 | 3,143,195,370.24 | 10.93% |
| 2016 | 3,527,337,309.07 | 12.22% |
| End notes:Annual Regular Income = Locally Sourced Revenue + Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) Current Year + Other Shares from National Tax CollectionLocally Sourced Revenue = Real Property Tax (General Fund) + Tax on Business + Other Taxes + Regulatory Fees + Service/User Charges + Receipts from Economic Enterprises | ||
Tourism
Bulacan has a lot to offer when it comes to tourist attractions. Here are some of the most popular destinations in the province:
- Barasoain Church – a historical church located in the municipality of Malolos. It served as the seat of the First Philippine Republic and is known as the “Cradle of Democracy in the East.”
- Biak-na-Bato National Park – a natural park that features a network of caves, rivers, and waterfalls. It served as the headquarters of the Philippine revolutionary forces during the Philippine Revolution against Spain.
- Angat Hydroelectric Power Plant – a hydroelectric power plant that provides electricity to Metro Manila and the surrounding areas. It also features a scenic lake where visitors can enjoy fishing and boating.
- Balagtas Monument – a monument dedicated to Francisco Balagtas, one of the most celebrated Filipino poets. It is located in the town of Balagtas, which was named after the poet.
- Hiyas ng Bulacan Museum – a museum that showcases the province’s rich cultural heritage, including its traditional crafts and cuisine.
