Provinces of the Philippines

The Provinces of the Philippines are the main political and administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 82 provinces at present.  The provinces are divided into cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region, as well as independent cities, are separate from any provincial government. Each province has a governor.

The provinces are grouped into seventeen regions based on geographical, cultural, and ethnological characteristics. Fourteen of these regions are designated with numbers corresponding to their geographic location in order from north to south. The National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao do not have numerical designations.

Each province is member to the League of Provinces of the Philippines, an organization which aims to address issues affecting provincial and metropolitan government administrations.

List of provinces

 Province  Capital  Largest settlement Region  Population(2020)  Populationrank  Area(km²)  Arearank Pop. density(per km²) Pop. densityrank  Abra Bangued  CAR  250,985  69  4,198.20  33    76 Agusan del NorteFigures include the independent city of Butuan. CabadbaranCabadbaran has been made the official capital of the province, as per Republic Act No. 8811 . However, the seat of the provincial government is still in the process of being transferred from Butuan, where the provincial government still holds office.  Butuan City  Region XIII  760,413  45  3,546.86  40    49 Agusan del Sur  Prosperidad  Bayugan City  Region XIII  739,367  46  9,989.52  5    73 Aklan Kalibo  Region VI  615,475  54  1,821.42  66    24 Albay Legazpi  Region V  1,374,768  24  2,565.77  57    11 Antique San Jose de Buenavista  Region VI  612,974  55  2,729.17  53    44 Apayao  KabugaoThe province maintains another government center in Luna, where many national and provincial agencies now hold office. Philippine Information Agency - Apayao gov't center established in Luna Conner  CAR  124,366  79  4,351.23  31    79 Aurora  Baler  Maria Aurora  Region III  235,750  71  3,147.32  47    74 Basilan  Lamitan  Isabela  BARMMThe city of Isabela is served by the offices of Region IX. 556,586  59  2,217.13  59    37 Bataan  Balanga  Mariveles  Region III  853,373  38  1,372.98  72    9 Batanes Basco  Region II  18,831  82  219.01  80    69 Batangas  Batangas City  Lipa City  Region IV-A  2,908,494  8  3,119.72  48    7 BenguetFigures include the independent city of Baguio.  La Trinidad  Baguio  CAR  827,041  40  2,826.59  50     35 Biliran Naval  Region VIII  179,312  76  536.01  77     23 Bohol Tagbilaran  Region VII  1,394,329  23  4,820.95  26    30 Bukidnon  Malaybalay  Valencia City  Region X  1,541,308  20  10,498.59  4    62 Bulacan  Malolos  San Jose Del Monte  Region III  3,708,890  3  2,774.85  51    5 Cagayan Tuguegarao  Region II  1,268,603  26  9,295.75  6    60 Camarines Norte Daet  Region V  629,699  52  2,320.07  58    38 Camarines SurFigures include the independent city of Naga. Pili  Naga  Region V  2,068,244  14  5,465.26  19    20 Camiguin Mambajao  Region X  92,808  81  237.95  79    16 Capiz Roxas  Region VI  804,952  42  2,594.64  56    25 Catanduanes Virac  Region V  271,879  68  1,492.16  71    51 Cavite  ImusThe provincial government of Cavite makes it clear that Imus is the provincial capital, while the seat of the provincial government is Trece Martires City. Official Website of the Province of Cavite - Quick Facts  Imus is capital of Cavite — Maliksi  Dasmariñas  Region IV-A  4,344,829  2  1,512.41  69    2 CebuFigures include the independent cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue. Cebu CityBecause the provincial government holds office within an independent city, in effect the province maintains the seat of its government outside its jurisdiction. Region VII  5,151,274  1  5,331.07  22    6 Cotabato Kidapawan  Region XII  1,275,185  25  9,008.90  7    58 Davao de Oro  Nabunturan  Monkayo  Region XI  767,547  44  4,479.77  28    54 Davao del Norte Tagum  Region XI  1,125,057  29  3,426.97  44    32 Davao del SurFigures include the independent city of Davao.  Digos  Davao City  Region XI  2,457,430  11  6,667.06  12    18 Davao Occidental Malita  Region XI  317,159  66  ?  ?  ?  ? Davao OrientalPopulation figures for both Davao Oriental and Surigao del Sur exclude the 4,555 persons residing in areas disputed between these provinces. Mati  Region XI  576,343  57  5,670.07  18    68 Dinagat Islands  San Jose  Basilisa  Region XIII  128,117  78  1,036.34  74     59 Eastern Samar Borongan  Region VIII  477,168  63  4,640.73  27     67 Guimaras  Jordan  Buenavista  Region VI  187,842  75  604.57  76    31 Ifugao  Lagawe  Alfonso Lista  CAR  207,498  73  2,628.21  54     72 Ilocos Norte Laoag  Region I  609,588  56  3,504.30  42    50 Ilocos Sur  Vigan  Candon  Region I  706,009  48  2,595.96  55    33 IloiloFigures include the independent city of Iloilo. Iloilo City  Region VI  2,509,525  10  4,899.35  25    26 IsabelaFigures include the independent city of Santiago.Ilagan  Region II  1,697,050  17  13,778.76  2    64 Kalinga Tabuk  CAR  229,570  72  3,231.25  46     75 La Union Santol Ilocos Region 822,352  41  1,503.75  70    10 Laguna  Santa Cruz  Calamba  Region IV-A  3,382,193  4  1,823.55  65    3 Lanao del NorteFigures include the independent city of Iligan. Tubod  Iligan  Region X  1,086,017  30  3,824.79  35    39 Lanao del Sur Marawi  BARMM  1,195,518  28  12,051.85  3    65 LeyteFigures include the independent cities of Ormoc and Tacloban. Tacloban  Region VIII  2,028,728  15  6,515.05  13    27 Maguindanao del Norte  Datu Odin Sinsuat  Cotabato City  BARMM  943,500  33  ?  ?  ?  ? Maguindanao del Sur Buluan  BARMM  723,758  47  ?  ?  ?  ? Marinduque Boac  Region IV-B  239,207  70  952.58  75    34 Masbate Masbate City  Region V  908,920  35  4,151.78  34    45 Misamis Occidental  Oroquieta  Ozamiz  Region X  617,333  53  2,055.22  63     29 Misamis OrientalFigures include the independent city of Cagayan de Oro. Cagayan de Oro  Region X  1,685,302  18  3,515.70  41    14 Mountain Province  Bontoc  Bauko  CAR  158,200  77  2,157.38  60    71 Negros OccidentalFigures include the independent city of Bacolod.Bacolod  Region VI  3,223,955  6  7,965.21  9    15 Negros Oriental Dumaguete  Region VII  1,432,990  22  5,385.53  21    36 Northern Samar Catarman  Region VIII  639,186  51  3,692.93  37     53 Nueva Ecija  PalayanThe provincial government still uses and maintains facilities in the former capital, Cabanatuan.  Cabanatuan  Region III  2,310,134  12  5,751.33  17    19 Nueva Vizcaya Bayombong  Region II  497,432  62  4,378.80  30    66 Occidental Mindoro  Mamburao  San Jose  Region IV-B  525,354  61  5,865.71  16    70 Oriental Mindoro Calapan  Region IV-B  908,339  36  4,238.38  32    48 PalawanFigures include the independent city of Puerto Princesa. Puerto Princesa  Region IV-B  1,246,673  27  17,030.75  1     77 PampangaFigures include the independent city of Angeles. San Fernando  Angeles City  Region III  2,900,637  9  2,044.99  64    4 PangasinanFigures include the independent city of Dagupan. Lingayen  San Carlos  Region I  3,163,190  7  5,451.08  20    8 QuezonFigures include the independent city of Lucena.Lucena   Region IV-A  2,229,383  13  8,926.01  8    41 Quirino  Cabarroguis  Diffun  Region II  203,828  74  3,486.16  43    78 RizalPopulation figures for both Metro Manila and Rizal Province exclude the 24,789 persons residing in areas disputed between the municipality of Cainta, Rizal and the city of Pasig in Metro Manila.AntipoloThe provincial government has already transferred its operations to Antipolo from Pasig, although no legislation on the national level has been enacted yet recognizing the new capital. Yehey! News - Board wants Antipolo officially named capital of Rizal  Region IV-A  3,330,143  5  1,175.76  73    1 Romblon  Romblon  Odiongan  Region IV-B  308,985  67  1,533.45  68    46 Samar  Catbalogan  Calbayog  Region VIII  793,183  43  6,048.03  14    61 Sarangani  Alabel  Glan  Region XII  558,946  58  3,601.25  39    55 Siquijor Siquijor  Region VII  103,395  80  337.49  78    28 Sorsogon Sorsogon City  Region V  828,655  39  2,119.01  62     17 South CotabatoFigures include the independent city of General Santos. Koronadal  General Santos  Region XII  1,672,791  19  4,428.81  29   21 Southern Leyte Maasin  Region VIII  429,573  65  1,797.22  67     40 Sultan Kudarat  Isulan  Tacurong City  Region XII  854,052  37  5,251.34  23    57 Sulu Jolo  BARMM  1,000,108  32  2,135.25  61    13 Surigao del Norte Surigao City  Region XIII  534,636  60  1,972.9  64     37 Surigao del Sur  Tandag  Bislig  Region XIII  642,255  50  4,925.18  24    63 Tarlac Tarlac City  Region III  1,503,456  21  2,736.64  52    12 Tawi-Tawi BongaoThe National Statistical Coordination Board  recognizes both Bongao and Panglima Sugala as capitals of the province. However, the provincial capitol is located in Bongao, the de facto seat of government. BARMM  440,276  64  3,426.55  45    56 ZambalesFigures include the independent city of Olongapo. Iba  Olongapo  Region III  909,932  34  3,714.40  36    43 Zamboanga del Norte Dipolog  Region IX  1,047,455  31  7,301.00  11    59 Zamboanga del SurFigures include the independent city of Zamboanga.  Pagadian  Zamboanga City  Region IX   	2,027,902  16  5,914.16  15    22 Zamboanga Sibugay Ipil  Region IX  669,840  49  3,607.75  38    52

NOTES:
 All population and land area figures include cities independent from provinces. In this table, they are counted as part of the province to which they are often grouped for statistical purposes, but in actuality they are first-level entities on their own right.
 Metro Manila is included for comparison although it is not a province but an administrative region.
 Land area figures taken from 2009 IRA computation factors .
<small> Population figures taken from 

References