The population of Mountain Province as of 01 May 2020 is 158,200 based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (CPH). This accounts for about 8.8 percent of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) population in 2020 and just 0.1 percent from the population of the Philippines at 109 million.
The 2020 population of the province is higher by 3,610 from the population of 154,590 in 2015, and 4,013 more than the population of 154,187 in 2010. Moreover, it is higher by 17,569 compared with the population of 140,631 in 2000. (Table 1)
Table 1. Total Population of Mountain Province, 2000-2020
| Census Years | Census Reference Date | Total |
| 2000 | May 1, 2000 | 140,631 |
| 2010 | May 1, 2010 | 154,187 |
| 2015 | August 1, 2015 | 154,590 |
| 2020 | May 1, 2020 | 158,200 |
The population of Mountain Province increased by 0.49 percent annually from 2015 to 2020. By comparison, the rate at which the population of the province grew from 2010 to 2015 was higher at just 0.05 percent. In 2000-2010, the PGR is at 0.92 percent. (Table 2)
Table 2. Annual Population Growth Rate, Mountain Province: 2000-2020
| Census Years | Annual Population Growth Rate |
|---|---|
| 2000-2010 | 0.92 |
| 2010-2015 | 0.05 |
| 2015-2020 | 0.49 |
Among the ten municipalities in the province, Bauko has the highest population in 2020 with 32,021 persons followed by Paracelis with 31,168, Bontoc with 24,104 and Tadian with 19,341. Same trend for these three municipalities is observed from census years 2000, 2010 and 2015.
The least populated municipalities are Barlig and Besao with 4,796 and 6,873 populations respectively. (Table 3)
Table 3. Total Population by Municipality, Mountain Province: 2000-2020
| Total Population | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Municipality | 2000 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 |
| Barlig | 6,351 | 5,838 | 4,819 | 4,796 |
| Bauko | 27,729 | 30,172 | 31,065 | 32,021 |
| Besao | 10,067 | 7,818 | 7,040 | 6,873 |
| Bontoc | 22,308 | 23,980 | 24,643 | 24,104 |
| Natonin | 9,065 | 10,048 | 10,272 | 10,339 |
| Paracelis | 18,985 | 26,476 | 28,121 | 31,168 |
| Sabangan | 8,728 | 8,741 | 9,315 | 9,621 |
| Sadanga | 8,596 | 9,181 | 8,799 | 8,427 |
| Sagada | 10,728 | 11,244 | 11,127 | 11,510 |
| Tadian | 18,227 | 20,689 | 19,389 | 19,341 |
Paracelis is the fastest growing municipality in the province with an annual population growth rate (PGR) of 2.19 percent from 2015 to 2020. Same observation is recorded from census years 2000-2015. It is followed by Sagada with a PGR of 0.71 percent; Sabangan with 0.68 percent and Bauko with 0.64 percent. Natonin increased at a minimal rate with just 0.14 percent.
It is noted that the rest of the five municipalities posted a negative PGR from 2015-2020. These municipalities are: Barlig with -0.10 percent; Besao with -0.50 percent; Bontoc with -0.46 percent; Sadanga with -0.90 percent and Tadian with -0.05. This means that the population of these municipalities in 2015 is higher than that of 2020.
It is also observed that Barlig and Besao posted a uniform negative PGR from the past four census years. This means that the population of these two municipalities continued to decrease from 2000 to 2020. (Table 4).
Table 4. Annual Population Growth Rate by Municipality, Mountain Province: 2000-2020
| Annual Population Growth Rate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipality | 2000 - 2010 | 2010-2015 | 2015-2020 |
| Barlig | -0.84 | -3.58 | -0.10 |
| Bauko | 0.85 | 0.56 | 0.64 |
| Besao | -2.50 | -1.97 | -0.50 |
| Bontoc | 0.72 | 0.52 | -0.46 |
| Natonin | 1.03 | 0.42 | 0.14 |
| Paracelis | 3.38 | 1.15 | 2.19 |
| Sabangan | 0.01 | 1.22 | 0.68 |
| Sadanga | 0.66 | -0.81 | -0.90 |
| Sagada | 0.61 | -0.20 | 0.71 |
| Tadian | 1.27 | -1.23 | -0.05 |
Among the 144 barangays in the province, the largest in terms of population size is Poblacion, Paracelis with 6,786 persons. It is followed by Bantay, Paracelis with 5,298 persons. The population of each of these two barangays is even higher than the population of the municipality of Barlig. The 3rd most populous barangay in the province is Bontoc Ili, Bontoc with 4,642 persons followed by Monamon Sur, Bauko and Butigue, Paracelis with populations of 3,877 and 3.402 respectively.
Of the list of the top ten most populous barangays in the province, five barangays are all located in the municipality of Paracelis; two in the Capital Town, Bontoc; two in Bauko and one in Tadian. These four municipalities are also the top four most populated municipalities in the province in the last five census years from 2000 to 2020.
In addition, the combined total population of the five barangays in Paracelis which are included in the list of top most populous barangays is even higher than the population of the municipality of Tadian. Yet, Tadian is the fourth most populous municipality in the province. (Table 5)
Table 5. Top Ten Most Populous Barangays in Mountain Province: 2020
| Rank | Brangay | Municipality | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poblacion | Paracelis | 6,786 |
| 2 | Bantay | Paracelis | 5,298 |
| 3 | Bontoc Ili | Bontoc | 4,642 |
| 4 | Monamon Sur | Bauko | 3,877 |
| 5 | Butigue | Paracelis | 3,402 |
| 6 | Samoki | Bontoc | 3,206 |
| 7 | Poblacion | Tadian | 3,200 |
| 8 | Bacarri | Paracelis | 3,156 |
| 9 | Palitod | Paracelis | 3,028 |
| 10 | Monamon Norte | Bauko | 2,967 |
On the contrary, the least populated barangay in the province is Balintaugan, Bauko with just 161 persons based from the 2020 CPH. This is followed by Lacmaan, Besao with 184 persons; Ambagiw, Besao with 189 persons; Nacagang, Sagada with 200 persons and Lingoy, Barlig with 235 persons.
The combined population of the ten least populated barangays is still lower compared to the population of the tenth most populous barangay in the province- that is Monamon Norte, Bauko.
Of the ten least populated barangays in the province, two are located in Barlig; four from Besao; one from Natonin; one from Sagada; one from Tadian and one from Bauko.
Table 6. Top Ten Least Populated Barangays in Mountain Province: 2020
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, 2020 CPH
| Rank | Brangay | Municipality | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balintaugan | Bauko | 161 |
| 2 | Lacmaan | Besao | 184 |
| 3 | Ambagiw | Besao | 184 |
| 4 | Nacagang | Sagada | 200 |
| 5 | Lingoy | Barlig | 235 |
| 6 | Duagan | Tadian | 257 |
| 7 | Maducayan | Natonin | 257 |
| 8 | Macalana | Barlig | 273 |
| 9 | Besao East | Besao | 289 |
| 10 | Suquib | Besao | 293 |
