• The population of Region VII (Central Visayas) as of August 1, 2015 was 6,041,903 based on the 2015 Census of Population (POPCEN 2015).

• The 2015 population of the region is higher by 528,389 compared with the population of 5.51 million in 2010, and by 1,465,038 compared with the population of 4.58 million in 2000.  Refer to Table 1.

• The population of Region VII increased by 1.76 percent annually, on average, during the period 2010 to 2015. By comparison, the rate at which the region’s population grew during the period 2000 to 2010 was higher at 1.88 percent. See Table 2.

• Among the three provinces comprising the region, Cebu (excluding Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City) had the biggest population in 2015 with 2.94 million, followed by Bohol with 1.31 million. Siquijor had the smallest population with 96 thousand. Refer to Table 3.

• The region has three highly urbanized cities (HUCs). Among these HUCs, Cebu City was the most populous with 923 thousand persons, followed by Lapu-Lapu City (408 thousand), and Mandaue City (363 thousand).

• The total population of Region VII accounted for about 6.0 percent of the Philippine population in 2015. 

• Cebu (excluding Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City) was the fastest growing province in the region with an average annual population growth rate (PGR) of 2.22 percent during the period 2010 to 2015. It was followed by Siquijor (1.01 percent) and Bohol (0.87 percent). See Table 4.

• Lapu-Lapu City was the fastest growing HUC in the province with a PGR of 2.94 percent, followed by Mandaue City (1.73 percent), and Cebu City (1.21 percent).

• Region VII is composed of three highly urbanized cities, seven component cities, 97 municipalities, and 2,446 barangays.

• Among the cities (excluding Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City) and municipalities in the region, the largest in terms of population size is the City of Talisay, Cebu with 227,645 persons. It was followed by Toledo City, Cebu (170,335) and Danao City, Cebu (136,471). The rest of the top ten most populous cities/municipalities in Region VII are located in the provinces of Cebu and Bohol. Refer to Table 5.

                      * Excluding Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City

• Enrique Villanueva in Siquijor is the least populous city/municipality in Region VII with 6,104 persons. It was followed by Sikatuna (6,726), Corella (8,479), and San Isidro (8,744) - all in the province of Bohol. Four other municipalities in the province of Bohol and two municipalities in the province of Cebu comprise the rest of the ten least populous cities/municipalities in the region. See Table 6.

                                       * Excluding Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City

• Of the 2,446 barangays in Region VII, the largest in terms of population size is Guadalupe in Cebu City, Cebu with 61,238 persons. It was followed by Basak in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu (59,873) and Lahug (Pob.) in Cebu City, Cebu (38,584). The rest of the top ten most populous barangays in Region VII are located in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City. Refer to Table 7.