Island groups of the Philippines

The Philippines is divided into three island groups of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Luzon and Mindanao are both named after the largest island in their respective groups, while the Visayas (also referred to as the Visayan Islands) is an archipelago.

The Philippines is divided into three island groups: Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Administrative divisions

Islands are organized into three distinct island group according to regions: Regions I to V, CAR, and NCR are for Luzon, Regions VI to VIII are for the Visayas, and Regions IX to XIII and BARMM are for Mindanao. If a province is reassigned into a new region, it can also be reassigned to a new island group, as is the case with Palawan, when it was reassigned to Mimaropa. The island groups themselves do not have governments of their own, but are instead divided into provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays, which do have their own local governments.

Although the island groups do not have local governments, hence capitals, certain cities have become the political, economic and cultural centers of the island groups. Manila is the national capital and is the de facto capital of Luzon, though neighbouring Quezon City, a former capital, has more inhabitants than Manila. Cebu, on the province and island of the same name, is the chief city of the Visayas. Mindanao's main city is Davao, towards its southeast.

Group Largest city Population ±% p.a. Area Density

 (2007)[1] (2000)[1] km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
Luzon Quezon City 48,520,774 42,822,878 4.65% 125,863 48,596 390 1,000
Visayas Cebu 18,003,940 15,528,346 5.53% 71,503 27,607 250 650
Mindanao Davao 21,968,174 18,133,864 7.23% 104,530 40,360 210 540
Total 88,492,888 76,485,088 5.45% 301,896 116,563 290 760

Islands
For a more comprehensive list, see List of islands of the Philippines.
Luzon Visayas Mindanao
  1. Luzon
  2. Palawan Island
  3. Mindoro
  4. Masbate Island
  5. Catanduanes
  6. Marinduque
  7. Romblon Island
  8. Polillo Islands
  9. Burias Island
  10. Ticao Island
  11. Tablas Island
  12. Sibuyan Island
  13. Busuanga Island
  14. Culion Island
  15. Coron Island
  16. Balabac Island
  17. Babuyan Group of Islands
  18. Batanes
  19. Calamian Group of Islands
  20. Cuyo Islands
  21. Lubang Islands
  22. Kalayaan Group of Islands
  1. Cebu
  2. Panay
  3. Negros Island
  4. Bohol
  5. Samar
  6. Leyte
  7. Guimaras
  8. Siquijor
  9. Biliran
  10. Bantayan Island
  11. Camotes Islands
  12. Boracay
  13. Semirara Group of Islands
  14. Islas de Gigantes
  15. Panaon Island
  16. Limasawa
  1. Mindanao
  2. Camiguin
  3. Dinagat Island
  4. Bucas Grande
  5. Samal
  6. Sarangani Islands
  7. Siargao
  8. Sulu Archipelago (includes Basilan, Jolo, Tawi-Tawi, Pata, Sanga-Sanga, Mapun, and Turtle Islands)
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See also

References
  1. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Region: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
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