List of Philippines Regions and Capitals

Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: May 22, 2026

The Philippines is divided into 17 regions, each with its own unique characteristics and local government units. Here are the regions of the Philippines:

The Philippines is a Southeast Asian archipelago country bordered by the Philippine Sea, South China Sea, Celebes Sea, and Pacific Ocean. The country is divided into 17 administrative regions including autonomous and special administrative regions. Manila is the national capital, while Quezon City is the largest city in the Philippines.

The country includes thousands of islands, volcanic mountains, tropical forests, coastal plains, river valleys, and extensive shorelines spread across the western Pacific Ocean. Different regions are known for agriculture, fisheries, tourism, mining, trade, manufacturing, and cultural diversity.

Key Facts

National capital: Manila
Largest city: Quezon City
Total population: 118,000,000 (Official estimate 2025)
Total area: 300,000 km² (115,831 sq miles)
Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP)
Total Regions: 17
Total Provinces: 80+
Total Islands: 7,600+

List of Regions and Administrative Centers of the Philippines

Total administrative divisions shown: 17 | Combined population: 118,000,000 | Combined area: 300,000 km²

#	Region Name	Administrative Center	Island Group	Area (km²)	Population (Latest Census)
1	Bangsamoro Autonomous Region	Cotabato City	Mindanao	36,650	4,900,000
2	Bicol Region	Legazpi	Luzon	18,155	6,100,000
3	Cagayan Valley	Tuguegarao	Luzon	26,838	3,900,000
4	CALABARZON	Calamba	Luzon	16,873	16,800,000
5	Caraga	Butuan	Mindanao	21,478	2,900,000
6	Central Luzon	San Fernando	Luzon	22,014	12,900,000
7	Central Visayas	Cebu City	Visayas	15,895	8,300,000
8	Cordillera Administrative Region	Baguio	Luzon	19,422	1,900,000
9	Davao Region	Davao City	Mindanao	20,244	5,600,000
10	Eastern Visayas	Tacloban	Visayas	23,251	4,700,000
11	Ilocos Region	San Fernando	Luzon	13,013	5,400,000
12	MIMAROPA	Calapan	Luzon	29,620	3,300,000
13	National Capital Region	Manila	Luzon	619	14,500,000
14	Northern Mindanao	Cagayan de Oro	Mindanao	20,496	5,200,000
15	SOCCSKSARGEN	Koronadal	Mindanao	22,466	5,100,000
16	Western Visayas	Iloilo City	Visayas	20,794	8,100,000
17	Zamboanga Peninsula	Pagadian	Mindanao	17,273	4,100,000

Largest Regions by Area

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region - 14,151 sq mi (36,650 km²)
MIMAROPA - 11,436 sq mi (29,620 km²)
Cagayan Valley - 10,362 sq mi (26,838 km²)
Eastern Visayas - 8,977 sq mi (23,251 km²)
SOCCSKSARGEN - 8,674 sq mi (22,466 km²)
Central Luzon - 8,500 sq mi (22,014 km²)
Caraga - 8,293 sq mi (21,478 km²)
Western Visayas - 8,029 sq mi (20,794 km²)

Most Populous Regions

CALABARZON - Population: 16,800,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
National Capital Region - Population: 14,500,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Central Luzon - Population: 12,900,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Central Visayas - Population: 8,300,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Western Visayas - Population: 8,100,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Bicol Region - Population: 6,100,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Davao Region - Population: 5,600,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Ilocos Region - Population: 5,400,000 (Official Estimate 2025)

Smallest Regions by Area

National Capital Region - 239 sq mi (619 km²)
Ilocos Region - 5,024 sq mi (13,013 km²)
Central Visayas - 6,137 sq mi (15,895 km²)
CALABARZON - 6,514 sq mi (16,873 km²)
Zamboanga Peninsula - 6,669 sq mi (17,273 km²)
Bicol Region - 7,010 sq mi (18,155 km²)

Regions by Island Group

Luzon: Bicol Region, Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, MIMAROPA, National Capital Region
Mindanao: Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, Caraga, Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN, Zamboanga Peninsula
Visayas: Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas

Regions with Extensive Coastline

Bicol Region
Eastern Visayas
MIMAROPA
Western Visayas
Zamboanga Peninsula
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region
Central Visayas

Regions Sharing International Maritime Boundaries

Taiwan maritime area: Cagayan Valley
Malaysia maritime area: Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, Palawan area of MIMAROPA
Indonesia maritime area: Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN

Major Economic Activities by Region

Region	Main Economic Activity	Known For
National Capital Region	Finance and services	Metro Manila urban economy
CALABARZON	Manufacturing	Industrial parks and exports
Central Visayas	Tourism and trade	Cebu and island tourism
Davao Region	Agriculture and trade	Fruit exports and commerce
Western Visayas	Fishing and agriculture	Sugar production and coastal trade
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region	Fishing and agriculture	Cultural autonomy and coastal resources

Sources

World Countries and Capitals

Location Map of Asian Countries