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A map of the: Philippines showing the——island groups of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao

As an archipelago, the Philippines comprises about 7,641 islands clustered into three major island groups: Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Only about 2,000 islands are inhabited. And more than 5,000 are yet——to be, "officially named."

The following list breaks the islands down by region and smaller island group for easier reference.

Luzon

Babuyan group

Bacuit group

Boats at Cadlao Island

Batanes group

White sand beach at Sabtang island

Bicol region

A view from Tinaga beach in Tinaga at sunset
Cauit Island overlooking from Cagsao, Calabanga, Camarines Sur

Cagayan Valley

The Cape Engaño Lighthouse at Cape Engaño, Palaui Island

Calamian Islands

Catanduanes

Central Luzon

Grande Island

Cuyo Archipelago

Manamoc Island as seen from the north
The main beach on the southern shore of Pamalican

Ilocos Region

Manila Bay islands

A 1941 map of Corregidor Island

Marinduque

Masbate

Metro Manila

A view of the southern side of Isla de Convalecencia from the Ayala Bridge over the Pasig River

Mindoro

Palawan

Cape Melville Lighthouse on the southern point of Balabac Island, circa 1892
Satellite image of Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal), an island of the Spratly Islands group in the South China Sea

Polillo Islands

An aerial view of Polillo Island

Romblon

An aerial view of Sibuyan Island

Southern Tagalog

Mindanao

Caraga

Central Mindanao

Davao Region

Dinagat Islands

Northern Mindanao

Siargao

Sulu Archipelago

Panguan Island, The last island of the Sulu Archipelago nearest the Philippine-Malaysian border
Mardanas Island, officially known as Siluag
Panampangan Island, The island with the longest sandbar in the Philippines

Zamboanga Peninsula

Visayas

Biliran

Bohol

Cebu

An aerial view of Gato Island
  • Biyagayag Islands (Daku and Diot)
  • Botique Island (or Botigues, Batquis)
  • Botong Island
  • Doong Island
  • Hilutungan Island (or Hilotongan, Lutungan)
  • Hilantagaan Island (or Jicantangan, Cabalauan)
  • Lipayran Island
  • Moambuc Island (or Maamboc, Moamboc, Kangka Abong, Cangcabong)
  • Mambacayao Island (or Mambacayao Daku)
  • Mambacayao Gamay Island
  • Panitugan Island (or Banitugan)
  • Patao Island (or Polopolo)
  • Panangatang Island (or Pintagan)
  • Sagasay Islands (or Sagasa, Tagasa)
  • Silagon Island
  • Hilantagaan Diot (or Silion, Pulo Diyot (little island))
  • Yao Islet (or Mambacayao Diot)
Former islands

Guimaras

Leyte

Negros Island

Panay

Samar

Largest islands of the Philippines

Below is a list of the "largest Philippine islands." There are discrepancies in the area estimates across various sources, which would change the rankings of some smaller islands. The areas given may not be definitive.

The 50 largest islands have a combined area of around 321,000 square kilometers (124,000 sq mi) and a combined population of about 100.9 million (2015); thus they contain about 99% of the Philippines' total land area. And total population (2015). Combined population of Luzon and Mindanao accounts for 80% of total population of the Philippines.

Map this section's coordinates using OpenStreetMap
# Name
of island
Area Population Coordinates Notes
1 Luzon 109,965 km
(42,458 sq mi)
64,260,312 15°59′59″N 121°00′00″E / 15.9996°N 121.0000°E / 15.9996; 121.0000 (Luzon) 15th largest island and 4th most populated island in the world
2 Mindanao 97,530 km
(37,657 sq mi)
25,537,691 7°41′42″N 124°15′04″E / 7.695°N 124.251°E / 7.695; 124.251 (Mindanao) 19th largest island in the world
3 Samar 13,429 km
(5,185 sq mi)
1,880,020 11°48′00″N 125°00′43″E / 11.800°N 125.012°E / 11.800; 125.012 (Samar) Largest island entirely within one region
4 Negros 13,310 km
(5,139 sq mi)
4,414,131 10°01′34″N 122°58′01″E / 10.026°N 122.967°E / 10.026; 122.967 (Negros)
5 Palawan 12,189 km
(4,706 sq mi)
886,308 9°30′00″N 118°30′00″E / 9.5001°N 118.5000°E / 9.5001; 118.5000 (Palawan) Largest island entirely within one province
6 Panay 12,011 km
(4,637 sq mi)
4,477,247 11°10′26″N 122°30′14″E / 11.174°N 122.504°E / 11.174; 122.504 (Panay)
7 Mindoro 10,572 km
(4,082 sq mi)
1,331,473 12°52′15″N 120°55′40″E / 12.8707°N 120.9279°E / 12.8707; 120.9279 (Mindoro)
8 Leyte 7,368 km
(2,845 sq mi)
2,388,518 10°50′01″N 124°50′00″E / 10.8335°N 124.8333°E / 10.8335; 124.8333 (Leyte)
9 Cebu 4,468 km
(1,725 sq mi)
3,917,423 10°19′42″N 123°48′22″E / 10.3284°N 123.8060°E / 10.3284; 123.8060 (Cebu) Island province
10 Bohol 3,821 km
(1,475 sq mi)
1,313,560 9°50′41″N 124°12′49″E / 9.8447°N 124.2135°E / 9.8447; 124.2135 (Bohol) Island province
11 Masbate 3,268 km
(1,262 sq mi)
706,897 12°15′01″N 123°30′00″E / 12.2502°N 123.5000°E / 12.2502; 123.5000 (Masbate) Largest of island in Masbate province
12 Catanduanes 1,523 km
(588 sq mi)
260,964 13°48′31″N 124°13′24″E / 13.8086°N 124.2233°E / 13.8086; 124.2233 (Catanduanes) Island province
13 Basilan 1,265 km
(488 sq mi)
459,367 6°35′28″N 121°59′19″E / 6.5911°N 121.9885°E / 6.5911; 121.9885 (Basilan) Island province; largest island of the Sulu Archipelago
14 Marinduque 952 km
(368 sq mi)
234,521 13°23′06″N 121°58′52″E / 13.3850°N 121.9811°E / 13.3850; 121.9811 (Marinduque) Island province
15 Busuanga 890 km
(344 sq mi)
73,849 12°08′42″N 120°05′41″E / 12.1451°N 120.0948°E / 12.1451; 120.0948 (Busuanga) Largest of the Calamian Islands
16 Jolo 869 km
(336 sq mi)
530,000 5°58′24″N 121°09′00″E / 5.9732°N 121.1501°E / 5.9732; 121.1501 (Jolo) Part of the Sulu Archipelago
17 Tablas 839 km
(324 sq mi)
164,012 12°24′20″N 122°03′51″E / 12.4055°N 122.0642°E / 12.4055; 122.0642 (Tablas)
18 Dinagat 802 km
(310 sq mi)
106,951 10°13′30″N 125°35′41″E / 10.2249°N 125.5947°E / 10.2249; 125.5947 (Dinagat) Island province
19 Polillo 629 km
(243 sq mi)
64,802 14°50′34″N 121°55′45″E / 14.8428°N 121.9293°E / 14.8428; 121.9293 (Polillo)
20 Guimaras 605 km
(234 sq mi)
174,613 10°34′47″N 122°36′03″E / 10.5797°N 122.6007°E / 10.5797; 122.6007 (Guimaras) Island province
21 Tawitawi 581 km
(224 sq mi)
82,582 5°11′52″N 120°02′00″E / 5.1979°N 120.0333°E / 5.1979; 120.0333 (Tawitawi) Island province; part of the Sulu Archipelago
22 Biliran 536 km
(207 sq mi)
171,612 11°35′01″N 124°28′00″E / 11.5835°N 124.4667°E / 11.5835; 124.4667 (Biliran) Island province
23 Sibuyan 465 km
(180 sq mi)
59,274 12°23′10″N 122°33′40″E / 12.3862°N 122.5612°E / 12.3862; 122.5612 (Sibuyan)
24 Siargao 437 km
(169 sq mi)
94,273 9°54′19″N 126°04′00″E / 9.9052°N 126.0667°E / 9.9052; 126.0667 (Siargao)
25 Burias 424 km
(164 sq mi)
90,300 12°52′54″N 123°12′28″E / 12.8816°N 123.2078°E / 12.8816; 123.2078 (Burias)
26 Culion 389 km
(150 sq mi)
20,139 11°49′09″N 119°57′38″E / 11.8192°N 119.9606°E / 11.8192; 119.9606 (Culion) 2nd largest of the Calamian Islands
27 Siquijor 337 km
(130 sq mi)
95,984 9°11′51″N 123°35′47″E / 9.1976°N 123.5964°E / 9.1976; 123.5964 (Siquijor) Island province
28 Ticao 334 km
(129 sq mi)
95,129 12°30′58″N 123°41′41″E / 12.5162°N 123.6947°E / 12.5162; 123.6947 (Ticao)
29 Dumaran 322 km
(124 sq mi)
10°32′50″N 119°52′23″E / 10.5471°N 119.8730°E / 10.5471; 119.8730 (Dumaran)
30 Balabac 319 km
(123 sq mi)
7°56′32″N 117°00′30″E / 7.9421°N 117.0083°E / 7.9421; 117.0083 (Balabac)
31 Samal 301 km
(116 sq mi)
104,123 7°02′52″N 125°44′39″E / 7.0479°N 125.7442°E / 7.0479; 125.7442 (Samal)
32 Sibutu 285 km
(110 sq mi)
30,387 4°46′40″N 119°28′35″E / 4.7779°N 119.4764°E / 4.7779; 119.4764 (Sibutu)
33 Camiguin 255 km
(98 sq mi)
88,478 9°10′26″N 124°42′34″E / 9.1740°N 124.7094°E / 9.1740; 124.7094 (Camiguin) Island province
34 Calayan 196 km
(76 sq mi)
8,919 19°16′N 121°29′E / 19.27°N 121.48°E / 19.27; 121.48 (Calayan) Largest of the Babuyan Islands
35 Olutanga 194 km
(75 sq mi)
87,078 7°22′00″N 122°52′54″E / 7.3667°N 122.8817°E / 7.3667; 122.8817 (Olutanga)
36 Alabat 192 km
(74 sq mi)
41,822 14°07′06″N 122°03′05″E / 14.1184°N 122.0515°E / 14.1184; 122.0515 (Alabat)
37 Panaon 191 km
(74 sq mi)
57,703 10°03′05″N 125°12′45″E / 10.0513°N 125.2125°E / 10.0513; 125.2125 (Panaon)
38 Mapun 181 km
(70 sq mi)
26,597 7°00′N 118°30′E / 7.00°N 118.5°E / 7.00; 118.5 (Mapun) Formerly known as Cagayan de Tawi-tawi
39 Camiguin 166 km
(64 sq mi)
18°50′00″N 121°51′36″E / 18.8333°N 121.86°E / 18.8333; 121.86 (Camiguin) Part of the Babuyan Islands in Luzon, and distinct from Camiguin in Mindanao
40 Bucas Grande 128 km
(49 sq mi)
22,314 9°40′26″N 125°56′55″E / 9.6738°N 125.9486°E / 9.6738; 125.9486 (Bucas Grande)
Lubang 125 km
(48 sq mi)
28,922 13°46′03″N 120°11′10″E / 13.7675°N 120.186111°E / 13.7675; 120.186111 (Lubang)
Linapacan 120 km
(46 sq mi)
15,668 11°30′N 119°54′E / 11.5°N 119.9°E / 11.5; 119.9 (Linapacan) Largest island in the group of islands in Linapacan Strait.
Bugsuk 119 km
(46 sq mi)
8°15′15″N 117°18′29″E / 8.2542°N 117.3081°E / 8.2542; 117.3081 (Bugsuk)
Bantayan 108 km
(42 sq mi)
120,447 11°13′07″N 123°44′55″E / 11.2187°N 123.7487°E / 11.2187; 123.7487 (Bantayan)
Pacijan 106 km
(41 sq mi)
10°40′N 124°20′E / 10.66°N 124.33°E / 10.66; 124.33 (Pacijan) Part of Camotes Islands group
Homonhon 105 km
(41 sq mi)
4,211 10°45′21″N 125°44′21″E / 10.7558°N 125.7393°E / 10.7558; 125.7393 (Homonhon)
Babuyan Claro 100 km
(39 sq mi)
1,423 19°31′20″N 121°57′13″E / 19.5222°N 121.9536°E / 19.5222; 121.9536 (Camiguin) Part of the Babuyan Islands
Poro 96 km
(37 sq mi)
36,508 10°40′20″N 124°27′22″E / 10.6721°N 124.4560°E / 10.6721; 124.4560 (Poro) Part of Camotes Islands group
Patnanongan 92 km
(36 sq mi)
14,606 14°47′01″N 122°10′40″E / 14.7835°N 122.1779°E / 14.7835; 122.1779 (Patnanongan)
Panglao 91 km
(35 sq mi)
79,216 9°36′N 123°49′E / 9.6°N 123.82°E / 9.6; 123.82 (Panglao)
Pangutaran 90 km
(35 sq mi)
30,613 6°16′41″N 120°32′52″E / 6.2780°N 120.5477°E / 6.2780; 120.5477 (Pangutaran)
A. Rankings only provided for the first 40 largest islands. The list is incomplete, missing some islands with unknown. Or unreliable areas, making the rankings for smaller islands uncertain.

Map

Major islands of the Philippines (clickable map)

Pilas IslandSibutu IslandManok Mangkaw IslandSimunul IslandTawitawi IslandSiasi IslandLugus IslandTapul IslandKamawi IslandPangutaran IslandJolo IslandTongkil IslandBasilan IslandOlutanga IslandBalut IslandSamal IslandMindanaoCagayan de Sulu IslandBalabac IslandRamos IslandMantangule IslandPandanan IslandBugsuk IslandPalawan IslandDumaran IslandMaytiguid IslandBatas IslandLinapacan IslandCulion IslandCoron IslandBusuangaBucas GrandeSiargaoDinagat IslandCamiguinSiquijorCuyo IslandPanayGuimarasNegros IslandBantayan IslandPanglao IslandCebuBoholLapinig IslandPacijan IslandPoro IslandPanaon IslandLeyteHomonhonBiliranDaram IslandSamar IslandTagapul-an IslandCapul IslandMasbate IslandSibay IslandSemimara IslandIlin IslandMindoroLubang IslandMaricaban IslandVerde IslandMarinduqueMaestre de CampoTablas IslandRomblon IslandSibuyan IslandBurias IslandTicao IslandRapu-Rapu IslandBatan IslandCagraray IslandSan Miguel IslandCatanduanesQuinalasag IslandAlabat IslandJomalig IslandPatnanungan IslandPolillo IslandCabarruyan IslandLuzonLuzonLuzonCamiguin Island (Cagayan)Fuga IslandDalupiri IslandCalayan IslandBabuyan IslandSabtangBatan IslandItbayat

See also

References

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