West Philippine SeaPhilippines

12°00′N 123°00′E

Philippines

Part of Malay Archipelago and Pacific Islands

Chart

7946 landforms

Overview

The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands, with a total area of about 300,000 square kilometers. The islands are broadly categorized into three main geographical divisions: from north to south, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. With a population of over 114 million, it is the world's thirteenth-most-populous country. The Philippines is bounded by the South China Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the south. It shares maritime borders with Taiwan to the north, Japan to the northeast, Palau to southeast, Indonesia to the south, Malaysia to the southwest, Vietnam to the west, and China to the northwest. It has diverse ethnicities and a rich culture. Manila is the country's capital, and its most populated city is Quezon City. Both are within Metro Manila. Negritos, the archipelago's earliest inhabitants, were followed by waves of Austronesian peoples. The adoption of animism, Hinduism with Buddhist influence, and Islam established island-kingdoms. Extensive overseas trade with neighbors such as the late Tang or Song empire brought Chinese people to the archipelago as well, who would also gradually settle in and intermix over the centuries. The arrival of the explorer Ferdinand Magellan marked the beginning of Spanish colonization. In 1543, Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos named the archipelago las Islas Filipinas in honor of King Philip II. Catholicism became the dominant religion, and Manila became the western hub of trans-Pacific trade. Hispanic immigrants from Latin America and Iberia would also selectively colonize. The Philippine Revolution began in 1896, and became entwined with the 1898 Spanish–American War. Spain ceded the territory to the United States, and Filipino revolutionaries declared the First Philippine Republic. The ensuing Philippine–American War ended with the United States controlling the territory until the Japanese invasion of the islands during World War II. After the United States retook the Philippines from the Japanese, the Philippines became independent in 1946. Since then, the country notably experienced a period of martial law from 1972 to 1981 under the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and his subsequent overthrow by the People Power Revolution in 1986, returning to democracy. The Philippines is an emerging market and a developing and newly industrialized country, whose economy is transitioning from being agricultural to service- and manufacturing-centered. It has a variety of natural resources and a globally-significant level of biodiversity. The country is also part of multiple international organizations and forums, mainly in the Asia-Pacific region. Despite its fast economic growth, it continues to struggle with inequality, widespread corruption, and vulnerability to natural disasters due to its location both within the Pacific Ring of Fire and near the equator, making it prone to earthquakes, monsoon rains, and typhoons, to which the Philippines has built a resilience.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Census, cataloged

Major islands6
Minor islands1,351
Islets3,880
Rocks & skerries2,709

Major islands

Luzon
Area
104,935 km²
High point
2,928 m
Luzon ( loo-ZON, Tagalog: [luˈson]) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippine archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation.
Mindanao
Area
93,885 km²
High point
2,954 m
Mindanao ( , MIN-də-NOW) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of the same name that also includes its adjacent islands, notably the Sulu Archipelago.
Negros
Area
12,778 km²
High point
2,465 m
Negros (English: , UK: , Tagalog: [ˈnegɾos]) is the fourth largest and third most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of 13,309 km2 (5,139 sq mi). The coastal zone of the southern part of Negros is identified as a site of highest marine biodiversity importance in the Coral Triangle.
Samar
Area
12,435 km²
High point
890 m
Samar ( SAH-mar) is the third-largest island in the Philippines. It has a population of 1,924,651 as of the 2024 census. It is located in the Eastern Visayas region of the Visayas islands. Since 1965, the island is divided into three provinces: Western Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar.
Panay
Area
11,512 km²
High point
2,102 m
Panay is the sixth-largest and fourth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of 12,011 km2 (4,637 sq mi) and a total population of 4,669,037 as of 2024 census, similar to Sicily or Bali. 4 percent of the entire population of the country.
Palawan
Area
11,346 km²
High point
2,963 m
Palawan (Spanish: Isla de La Paragua) is the largest island of the province of Palawan in the Philippines and fifth-largest by area and tenth-most populous island of the country, with a total population of 1,023,849 as of 2024 census.

Minor islands

194

Mindoro
Area
9,824 km²
High point
2,616 m
Leyte
Area
6,997 km²
High point
1,200 m
Cebu
Area
4,406 km²
High point
1,037 m
Bohol
Area
3,767 km²
High point
850 m
Masbate Island
Area
3,209 km²
High point
682 m
Catanduanes
Area
1,444 km²
High point
734 m
Basilan Island
Area
1,218 km²
High point
990 m
Busuanga Island
Area
932 km²
High point
620 m
Marinduque Island
Area
900 km²
High point
1,174 m
Jolo
Area
807 km²
High point
790 m
Dinagat Island
Area
758 km²
High point
939 m
Tablas Island
Area
671 km²
High point
665 m
Polillo Island
Area
657 km²
High point
330 m
Guimaras
Area
578 km²
High point
266 m
Tawi-Tawi Island
Area
565 km²
High point
535 m
Biliran
Area
498 km²
High point
1,346 m
Sibuyan Island
Area
452 km²
High point
2,023 m
Burias
Area
416 km²
High point
333 m
Siargao
Area
365 km²
High point
263 m
Culion Island
Area
361 km²
High point
468 m
Ticao Island
Area
325 km²
High point
393 m
Siquijor
Area
319 km²
High point
605 m
Dumaran Island
Area
306 km²
High point
201 m
Balabac Island
Area
301 km²
High point
569 m
Samal
Area
251 km²
High point
510 m
Camiguin
Area
243 km²
High point
1,630 m
Panaon Island
Area
203 km²
High point
687 m
Lubang Island
Area
195 km²
High point
618 m
Calayan Island
Area
192 km²
High point
543 m
Alabat Island
Area
189 km²
High point
412 m
Olutanga Island
Area
169 km²
High point
86 m
Camiguin Island
Area
168 km²
High point
800 m
Bucas Grande
Area
122 km²
High point
287 m
Bugsuk
Area
122 km²
High point
42 m
Bantayan Island
Area
113 km²
High point
91 m
Sibutu Island
Area
104 km²
High point
137 m
Homonhon Island
Area
103 km²
High point
379 m
Linapacan Island
Area
97.5 km²
High point
339 m
Pacijan Island
Area
96.3 km²
High point
205 m
Poro Island
Area
96.1 km²
High point
385 m
Fuga Island
Area
95.6 km²
High point
191 m
Daram Island
Area
93.4 km²
High point
371 m
Patnanongan Island
Area
92.2 km²
High point
102 m
Panglao Island
Area
89.9 km²
High point
190 m
Batan Island
Area
89.1 km²
High point
396 m
Itbayat Island
Area
84.3 km²
High point
277 m
Romblon Island
Area
82.8 km²
High point
444 m
Pangutaran Island
Area
80.6 km²
High point
25 m
Semirara Island
Area
76.4 km²
High point
150 m
Cabarruyan Island
Area
74.5 km²
High point
48 m
Ilin Island
Area
73.7 km²
High point
232 m
Babuyan Island
Area
73.2 km²
High point
1,070 m
Coron Island
Area
71.7 km²
High point
595 m
Batan Island
Area
70.9 km²
High point
1,009 m
Siasi Island
Area
69.1 km²
High point
480 m
Cagraray Island
Area
68.3 km²
High point
370 m
Rapu Rapu Island
Area
64.5 km²
High point
521 m
Dalupiri Island
Area
64.3 km²
High point
275 m
Mapun Island
Area
63.2 km²
High point
337 m
Mactan
Area
58.6 km²
High point
38 m
Cuyo Island
Area
57.1 km²
High point
247 m
Balut Island
Area
53.6 km²
High point
840 m
Jomalig Island
Area
51.5 km²
High point
37 m
Nonoc Island
Area
46.1 km²
High point
300 m
Sacol Island
Area
44.6 km²
High point
212 m
Pata Island
Area
44.5 km²
High point
401 m
Sibay Island
Area
42.2 km²
High point
71 m
Maytiguid Island
Area
41.5 km²
High point
339 m
Sanga-Sanga Island
Area
40.9 km²
High point
97 m
Simunul Island
Area
39.1 km²
High point
29 m
Pandanan Island
Area
39 km²
High point
48 m
Lapinig Island
Area
38.4 km²
High point
126 m
Lugus Island
Area
36.4 km²
High point
297 m
Lapak Island
Area
34.8 km²
High point
360 m
Buad Island
Area
34.7 km²
High point
345 m
Sarangani Island
Area
34.6 km²
High point
160 m
Capul Island
Area
34.1 km²
High point
217 m
Sabtang Island
Area
33.8 km²
High point
347 m
Ponson Island
Area
33.7 km²
High point
217 m
Tongkil Island
Area
32.4 km²
High point
23 m
Maricaban Island
Area
32 km²
High point
447 m
Tapul Island
Area
31.9 km²
High point
474 m
Quinalasag Island
Area
31.3 km²
High point
235 m
Tandubatu Island
Area
30.8 km²
High point
143 m
Lintian Island
Area
30.1 km²
High point
198 m
Laoang Island
Area
29.7 km²
High point
69 m
Maripipi Island
Area
29 km²
High point
924 m
Ambil Island
Area
28.8 km²
High point
750 m
Banton Island
Area
28.6 km²
High point
596 m
Dalupiri Island
Area
28.4 km²
High point
127 m
Tagapul-an Island
Area
28.1 km²
High point
424 m
Carabao Island
Area
28 km²
High point
216 m
Talicud
Area
27.7 km²
High point
130 m
Batas Island
Area
27.5 km²
High point
440 m
Ramos
Area
27.1 km²
High point
90 m
Palaui Island
Area
25.8 km²
High point
261 m
Pilas Island
Area
25 km²
High point
149 m
Batag Island
Area
24.8 km²
High point
85 m
Caluya Island
Area
24.3 km²
High point
172 m
Almagro Island
Area
22.4 km²
High point
553 m
Pagbilao Grande Island
Area
22.3 km²
High point
144 m
Santiago Island
Area
21.8 km²
High point
47 m
San Miguel Island
Area
21.5 km²
High point
88 m
Mantangule Island
Area
21.4 km²
High point
29 m
Golo Island
Area
21.4 km²
High point
292 m
Bongo Island
Area
21 km²
High point
90 m
Tuluran Island
Area
20.9 km²
High point
279 m
Limbangcavayan Island
Area
20.7 km²
High point
468 m
Simara Island
Area
20.6 km²
High point
229 m
Capual Island
Area
20.4 km²
High point
312 m
Maestre de Campo Island
Area
20.2 km²
High point
340 m
Calagnaan Island
Area
20.1 km²
High point
329 m
Tumindao Island
Area
18.9 km²
High point
19 m
Lahuy Island
Area
18.3 km²
High point
177 m
Unnamed island
Area
18.1 km²
High point
64 m
Calicoan Island
Area
17.4 km²
High point
108 m
Malamawi Island
Area
17.2 km²
High point
122 m
Cagbalete
Area
16.9 km²
High point
52 m
Unnamed island
Area
16.9 km²
High point
364 m
Palasan Island
Area
16.7 km²
High point
63 m
Bancalan Island
Area
16 km²
High point
32 m
Manok Mangkaw Island
Area
15.9 km²
High point
23 m
Pan de Azucar Island
Area
15.8 km²
High point
550 m
Iloc Island
Area
15.6 km²
High point
263 m
Bilatan Island
Area
15.5 km²
High point
26 m
Kabingaan Island
Area
15.1 km²
High point
16 m
Agutaya Island
Area
14.9 km²
High point
271 m
East Bucas Island
Area
14.8 km²
High point
154 m
Simisa Island
Area
14.6 km²
High point
23 m
Sikubung Island
Area
13.9 km²
High point
24 m
Tagubanhan Island
Area
13.8 km²
High point
279 m
Boayan
Area
13.5 km²
High point
279 m
Gilbert island
Area
13.4 km²
High point
75 m
Cabaongon Island
Area
13.3 km²
High point
21 m
Masapelid Island
Area
13.2 km²
High point
195 m
Biri Island
Area
12.9 km²
High point
143 m
Hinatuan Island
Area
12.4 km²
High point
335 m
Poneas Island
Area
12 km²
High point
183 m
Panay Island
Area
11.2 km²
High point
133 m
Uson Island
Area
11.1 km²
High point
206 m
Manicani Island
Area
10.9 km²
High point
142 m
Mahanay Island
Area
10.8 km²
High point
15 m
Bucutua Island
Area
10.7 km²
High point
89 m
Sicogon
Area
10.7 km²
High point
214 m
Tandubas Island
Area
10.6 km²
High point
0 m
Tinaga Island
Area
10.5 km²
High point
115 m
Bangalao Island
Area
10.3 km²
High point
20 m
Pandukan Island
Area
10.2 km²
High point
19 m
Bongao Island
Area
10.2 km²
High point
342 m
Bulan Island
Area
10 km²
High point
329 m
Boracay
Area
10 km²
High point
96 m
Middle Bucas Island
Area
9.9 km²
High point
287 m
Bubuan Island
Area
9.8 km²
High point
200 m
Cabra Island
Area
9.6 km²
High point
53 m
Cadlao Island
Area
9.6 km²
High point
607 m
Inampulungan Island
Area
9.6 km²
High point
204 m
Ambulong Island
Area
9.6 km²
High point
160 m
Gibusong
Area
9.5 km²
High point
189 m
Tambon Island
Area
9.3 km²
High point
185 m
Olango Island
Area
9.2 km²
High point
16 m
Rasa Island
Area
9.2 km²
High point
29 m
Hikdop Island
Area
9.2 km²
High point
298 m
Camandag Island
Area
9.2 km²
High point
432 m
Kaulungan Island
Area
9.1 km²
High point
18 m
Hanigad Island
Area
8.9 km²
High point
173 m
Pandan Island
Area
8.9 km²
High point
74 m
Guintacan Island
Area
8.8 km²
High point
53 m
Mantabuan Island
Area
8.7 km²
High point
53 m
Apo Island
Area
8.7 km²
High point
170 m
Parasan Island
Area
8.6 km²
High point
139 m
Tapiantana Island
Area
8 km²
High point
249 m
Calabugdong Island
Area
7.8 km²
High point
216 m
Bulalacao Island
Area
7.8 km²
High point
210 m
Binuluangan Island
Area
7.8 km²
High point
79 m
Tumbagaan Island
Area
7.5 km²
High point
190 m
Awasan Island
Area
7.3 km²
High point
140 m
Igbon Island
Area
7.2 km²
High point
224 m
Cabilao Island
Area
7.2 km²
High point
36 m
Butauanan Island
Area
7.1 km²
High point
208 m
Cagayan Island
Area
7.1 km²
High point
62 m
San Juan Island
Area
7 km²
High point
103 m
Tigungun Island
Area
7 km²
High point
111 m
Limasawa Island
Area
6.7 km²
High point
226 m
Santa Cruz Island
Area
6.7 km²
High point
20 m
Marily Island
Area
6.6 km²
High point
199 m
Bani Island
Area
6.5 km²
High point
110 m
Guintinua
Area
6.4 km²
High point
152 m
Ivuhos
Area
6.1 km²
High point
107 m
Casian Island
Area
6.1 km²
High point
261 m
Diar-Diar
Area
6.1 km²
High point
68 m
Maobanen Island
Area
6 km²
High point
210 m
Tubabao Island
Area
6 km²
High point
41 m
Banaran Island
Area
6 km²
High point
16 m
Bacol Island
Area
5.9 km²
High point
57 m

Rocks & skerries

2709

On the chart above, at its closest zooms.

Listing 200 of 7946; the rest are on the chart.

Figures

Comparative heights

Islands by area

km², log scale

Groups within

Overlapping groups

Photographs

Vyacheslav Argenberg / CC BY 4.0
South China Sea. Sabang, Palawan, Philippines.
Vyacheslav Argenberg / CC BY 4.0
View of City of Manila from Manila Bay
Patrick Roque / CC BY-SA 4.0
Northwest Panay Peninsula seen on Nagustan, Nabas, Aklan
EnzoBontia / CC BY-SA 4.0
a drone shot of a patch of farmland in Atok, Phillipines.
Jp442 / CC BY-SA 3.0
General Alejo Santos Highway Poblacion Bustos
Judgefloro / CC0
The Asian glossy starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Cambodia and Thailand.
Mhlayson / CC BY-SA 4.0
The Asian glossy starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Cambodia and Thailand.
Mhlayson / CC BY-SA 4.0
The Asian glossy starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Cambodia and Thailand.
Mhlayson / CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach in Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay
Tundan / CC BY-SA 4.0
Blue Banded Bee in the highlands of Leon, Iloilo
Parizfranz / CC BY-SA 4.0
The brown shrike is a bird in the shrike family that is found mainly in Asia.
Mhlayson / CC BY-SA 4.0

Sources

Facts

Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
Wikidata
Wikipedia