The map shows the islands of the Philippines in Maritime Southeast Asia. The archipelago lies to the east of the South China Sea and west of the Philippine Sea, a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. Other major bodies of water in the region are the Sulu Sea in the southwestern Philippines, containing several islands and protected areas, and the Celebes Sea, a part of the Pacific Ocean between the Philippines and Indonesia and an important sea route for regional trade.


Nearby countries are Malaysia in the southwest, Indonesia in the south, Vietnam in the west, and Taiwan and mainland China to the north. The Philippines shares maritime borders with China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Palau, Taiwan (ROC), and Vietnam.

Area

With a total area of 300,000 km², the country's landarea is about the size of Italy or slightly larger than the U.S. state of Arizona.


Population
With a population of nearly 113 million people (in 2024), the Philippines is the 13th most populous country in the world and the third most populous island nation. The country's capital is Manila, but neighboring Quezon City is the country's most populous city. Philippines' capital is located on Luzon island within a densely populated conglomerate of sixteen cities and one municipality (Pateros), known as Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR). 14 million people, or about 11.5% of the country's population, live in Metro Manila (census 2024). ^[PSA]


Language
The spoken languages are Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English (both official), plus twenty regional and several foreign languages.


Religion
The Philippines is considered the only Christian nation in Asia, where more than 90% of the population is Christian and Catholicism (83%) is the largest denomination. About 5 % of the population are Muslims, concentrated mainly in the southern Philippines, especially on the island of Mindanao.

Political Map of the Philippines

Largest islands of the Philippines

The island nation consists of more than 7,600 islands, clustered into three major island groups: Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The Philippines' largets islands are:

1. Luzon
Philippines' largest island (~109,965 km²) is the political and economic core of the archipelago. It hosts the capital Manila, which forms part of the National Capital Region (NCR), a metropolitan area of 16 cities and one municipality, including the country's largest, Quezon City.
The island's landscape is shaped by the vast Luzon mountains and fertile valleys like the Central Luzon plain. Luzon is bounded by the South China Sea in the west and the Philippine Sea in the east. Luzon is home to Manila Port, the country's largest harbor, and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (IATA-code: MNL), the Philippines' busiest airport.



2. Mindanao
The Philippines' second-largest island lies at the southern end of the archipelago, bordered by the Sulu Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the south. With an area of approximately 97,530 km², it is slightly smaller than Iceland or more than nine times larger than Hawai'i's Big Island. Its terrain is shaped by volcanic mountain ranges, fertile plateaus, and wide river valleys. Located in the island's southern interior is Mount Apo at 2,954 m (9,692 ft), the highest mountain in the Philippines. Agriculture is the backbone of Mindanao's economy, which is also driven by the growing mining, fishing, manufacturing, and service industries. Major business centers are the cities of Metropolitan Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga. Tourism is becoming more important, especially around Mati City and the nearby Dahican Beach.
In Davao Oriental, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary protects a unique mountain ecosystem of montane forests, carnivorous plants, and the world's largest pygmy forest of century-old bonsai-like trees. The sanctuary is home to many endemic species, including the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), and the Philippine tarsier (Carlito syrichta).
The island was long time the center of conflict, that trace back to centuries of resistance against foreign rule, Spanish and American, and subsequent political and economic grievances after Philippine independence. The conflicts involved various armed groups, including the MNLF, the MILF, the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
"Social conflict, violence, and poverty are still persistent challenges in Mindanao. But the threat posed by Islamic separatists (MNLF and others) or the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (NPA) has greatly diminished in recent years." ^[WB]



3. Samar
It is the eastern-most of the Visayas and with an area of about 13,429 km², the third-largest island in the country, about twice the size of Sicily or nearly 1.5 times larger than Puerto Rico. Bounded by the Philippine Sea to the east and the Samar Sea to the west, it is home to almost 2 million people. Its terrain features a rugged forested interior, river valleys and caves, a landscape representing one of the country's last wilderness areas. Samar is divided into three provinces: Northern Samar, Samar, and Eastern Samar. It is connected to neighboring Leyte by the arch-shaped San Juanico Bridge, a two kilometer long steel truss structure. Exposed to the northeast monsoon and Pacific storms, Samar receives high annual rainfall and forms part of the archipelago's natural barrier against typhoons moving in from the Philippine Sea.



4. Negros
Negros is one of the major islands of the Visayas, a group of islands in the central Philippines. It has a total land area of about 13,309 km² and features fertile plains and volcanic slopes dominated by sugarcane plantations. The island's economy is historically agriculture-based, with sugarcane production earning it the nickname "Sugarbowl of the Philippines." Mount Kanlaon, an active volcano and the highest peak in the Visayas at 2,435 m (7,989 ft), rises near its center. Administratively, the island is divided into Negros Occidental in the west and Negros Oriental in the east. Its principal urban centers are Bacolod City, a center of commerce and finance, and Dumaguete City, the provincial capital and main educational hub.



5. Palawan
Palawan is a sparsely populated archipelago consisting of a long, narrow main island and several smaller satellite islands. With an area of about 12,189 km², it is the country's largest province and is often called the "Last Frontier." Its capital is Puerto Princesa. The main island stretches roughly 450 km from northeast to southwest and is only about 35 km wide. It lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. Palawan is known for its spectacular karst landscapes, sandy beaches, and coral-rich waters. The UNESCO-listed Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park protects an underground river about eight kilometers long, winding beneath the St. Paul Mountain Range through vast stone chambers and limestone formations before emerging into the South China Sea, locally known as the West Philippine Sea. The town of El Nido, at the northern tip of Palawan, serves as the gateway to the Bacuit Archipelago, a cluster of limestone islands and turquoise lagoons renowned for their dramatic cliffs and diverse marine life.



6. Panay
Panay is one of the major islands of the Visayas, located in the central Philippines. It is bordered by the Sulu Sea to the west and the Visayan Sea to the north and east. With an area of about 12,011 km², it is slightly larger than Jamaica or Hawaiʻi's Big Island. The island is divided into four provinces: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo. Its western landscape is shaped by the Central Panay Mountain Range, which descends into fertile plains and broad coastal lowlands toward the east. Iloilo City, a historic port with a population of more than 470,000, is Panay's largest urban center and serves as the island's main hub for commerce, education, and administration. Off its northwestern coast lies Boracay Island, one of the Philippines' best-known tourist destinations—once voted the world's best beach, now often affected by overtourism.



7. Mindoro
Mindoro lies within the Luzon archipelago and is separated from the main island of Luzon by the Verde Island Passage. The Mindoro Strait separates it from Busuanga Island (Palawan province), and the Tablas Strait from Tablas Island. With an area of about 10,572 km², it is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines, slightly larger than the Big Island of Hawaiʻi and larger than Cyprus. Approximately 1.4 million people live on Mindoro. Administratively, the island is divided into Occidental Mindoro in the west and Oriental Mindoro in the east. Calapan, the capital of Oriental Mindoro, is the largest urban center; other major towns are Mamburao and San Jose. The island's interior is mountainous and largely forested. Mount Halcon rises sharply from near sea level to an estimated height between 2,586 m and 2,616 m, and is considered one of the most difficult mountains to climb in the Philippines. Coastal lowlands support farming and fishing, while upland areas remain home to the indigenous Mangyan communities. The island's northern tip is known for its exceptional marine biodiversity. The municipality of Puerto Galera is dubbed the "Pearl of Mindoro" and is famous for its coral reefs and clear waters within the Verde Island Passage.



8. Leyte
Leyte lies in the eastern Visayas, bordered by the Leyte Gulf and the Philippine Sea to the east, the Camotes Sea to the west, and the Surigao Strait to the south. With an area of about 7,368 km², it is roughly the size of Puerto Rico. The island is divided into two provinces: Leyte in the north and Southern Leyte in the south. Its terrain consists of coastal plains, rolling hills, and a volcanic interior crossed by rivers and low mountain ranges. Leyte's economy is based on agriculture, particularly rice, coconut, and sugarcane, supported by fishing, small-scale manufacturing, and the commercial and administrative functions centered in Tacloban, the largest urban center serves as the region's administrative and economic hub. Leyte is connected to Samar by the San Juanico Bridge, a 2.16-km steel truss bridge spanning the strait between the two islands. Parts of the east coast are exposed to the Philippine Sea (a marginal sea of the Pacific) and are vulnerable to typhoons, while the west side is better protected. The island is historically noted for General Douglas MacArthur's landing at Palo in 1944, marking the beginning of the liberation of the Philippines from Japanese occupation during World War II.



9. Cebu
Cebu lies in the central Visayas, bordered by the Visayan Sea to the north, the Camotes Sea to the east, the Tañon Strait to the west, and the Bohol Sea to the south. The island is long and narrow, stretching about 225 km from north to south. With an area of about 4,468 km², Cebu is less than half the size of Hawaiʻi's Big Island and slightly larger than the Balearic island of Mallorca. Its terrain is characterized by a central mountain range with narrow coastal plains on both sides. Cebu City, located on the east coast of the island, is one of the most important metropolitan areas in the Philippines and a bustling hub for trade, shipping and education. The island's economy is driven by manufacturing, business process outsourcing, port activities, and tourism. Off its eastern shore lies Mactan Island, home to the Mactan–Cebu International Airport (IATA-code CEB). Cebu is known for its beautiful beaches and diving sites with coral reefs, and the vibrant annual Sinulog Festival. The island is also known for early historical events, including the 1521 Battle of Mactan, an early encounter between local forces and the Spanish expedition of Ferdinand Magellan, where chieftain Lapu-Lapu defeated Magellan's forces.



10. Bohol
Bohol lies in the central Visayas, bordered by the Camotes Sea to the north, the Bohol Sea to the south, and separated from Cebu by the Tañon Strait. With an area of about 4,821 km², Bohol is roughly the size of Long Island (USA) or slightly larger than half the size of Cyprus. Its landscape is defined by low limestone hills, fertile plains, and a rugged interior, most famously the karst topography of the Chocolate Hills, a geologic formation of more than a thousand conical mounds that rise from the central plateau "as if nature herself arranged them in quiet, measured rows."
The island's rivers, including the Loboc and Abatan, wind through forested valleys and mangrove-lined coasts. Tagbilaran City, on the southwestern coast, is the island's administrative and commercial center. Bohol's economy is based in agriculture, fishing, and a well-developed tourism sector centered on its coral-rich beaches and dive sites around Panglao Island, and possible encounters with the Philippine tarsier (Carlito syrichta), one of the world's smallest primates. The island is linked to Cebu by fast ferries crossing the Tañon Strait in under two hours.

Aerial view of Metro Manila. The image captures the dense urban fabric of central Metro Manila, with the low-rise neighborhoods of the EMBO barangays in the foreground and the high-rise towers of Fort Bonifacio and Bonifacio Global City beyond. Further in the distance rise the skylines of Makati and Ortigas, merging into the vast metropolitan expanse of the National Capital Region—home to over 14 million people.
Image: Diego Delso