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

The islands of the Philippines are organized into three distinct island groups according to regions: Luzon comprises Regions I to V, CAR, and NCR; Visayas comprises Regions VI to VIII; and Mindanao comprises Regions IX to XIII and BARMM. If a province is reassigned into a new region, it may also be reassigned to a new island group, as is the case with Palawan, when it was temporarily assigned from Mimaropa to Western Visayas and thus temporarily was considered part of the Visayas.

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. The island groups are used for statistical convenience and in some cases, there are national government agencies that have created positions that cover the island groups such as the Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations in Mindanao in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) or the Assistant Secretary for Luzon Affairs in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

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 neighboring 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
1 May 2010 [1] 1 May 2010 [1] km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
Luzon Quezon City 57,470,092 52,362,999 1.79% 125,863 48,596 460 1,200
Visayas Cebu 19,373,431 16,717,274 2.85% 71,503 27,607 270 700
Mindanao Davao 24,797,245 22,741,163 1.66% 104,530 40,360 240 620
Total 101,640,768 91,821,436 1.95% 301,896 116,563 340 880

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)

See also

References
  1. Census of Population (2015). Highlights of the Philippine Population 2015 Census of Population. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
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