Whole Area 1,294,450 sq km Land Area 300,000 sq km 116,000 sq mi Coastline 36,289 km 22,549 mi Highest point Mount Apo 2,954

954 m/9,692 ft

The Philippines is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea, on the south by the Sulu and Celebes seas, on the west by the South China Sea, and on the north by Luzon Strait. The Philippine Islands lie off the south eastern coast of the Asian mainland, across the South China Sea from Vietnam and China. The shortest distance to the mainland, from the northern Philippines to Hong Kong, is about 805 km (500 mi). The Philippines extends about 1,850 km (1,150 mi) from north to south (between Taiwan and Borneo Island) and about 1,100 km (700 mi) from east to west. Malaysia and Indonesia, which each hold territory on Borneo, are the republics closest political neighbours.

The Philippines covers a total area, not including its extensive coastal waters, of 300,000 sq km (116,000 sq mi). More than 7,100 islands and islets are included in the Philippine archipelago. The 11 largest islands make up more than 90 percent of the total area. Only about 460 islands are larger than 2.6 sq km (1 sq mi), and about 1,000 are populated.

The Philippines can be divided into three geographic areas: the northern islands of Luzon and Mindoro, the central islands of the Visayan Islands (Visayas) and Palawan, and the southern islands of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.

Luzon and Mindanao are the two largest islands, anchoring the archipelago in the north and south. Luzon has an area of 104,700 sq km (40,400 sq mi) and Mindanao has an area of 94,630 sq km (36,540 sq mi). Only nine other islands have an area of more than 2,600 sq km (1,000 sq mi) each: Samar, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Mindoro, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, and Masbate. The centrally located Visayan Islands include all of these islands except Mindoro and Palawan.

Luzon Mindanao Palawan Panay Negros Mindoro Leyte Cebu

Samar Bohol Masbate

Volcanic in origin, the Philippine Islands are the higher portions of a partly submerged mountain chain. The mountains are the principal topographical feature on the smaller islands. The larger islands, particularly Luzon and Mindanao, have a more diversified topography, with fertile river valleys in the interior. Mountain ranges generally parallel the coasts, forming narrow coastal plains. The inland plains and valleys are the most densely populated areas.

Sierra Madre Mount Pulog - 2,930 m (9,613 ft). Cagayan Valley Central Luzon Valley Mount Pinatubo - 1,780 m/5,840 ft) Bicol Peninsula Mount Mayon - 2,525 m (8,284 ft)

Agusan Mindanao River Valley Diuata Mountains Mount Apo - (2,954 m/9,692 ft) Zamboanga Peninsula Sulu Archipelago

Samar Panay Cebu Bohol Negros Masbate

With its numerous islands, the Philippines has a total coastline of about 36,289 km (22,549 mi). The coastline is irregular, with numerous bays, gulfs, and inlets. Manila Bay, with its superb naturally sheltered harbor, is the most commercially important. Also significant is the wide, unsheltered Davao Gulf of southeastern

Cagayan River Agno (Pangasinan) and Pampanga River Chico River (Cordillera) Pasig River Bicol River Mindanao (Rio Grande de Mindanao) Pulangi and Agusan

Lake Taal Laguna de Bay Lake Lanao Manila Bay Maria Christina Falls Tubbataha Reef

421 Rivers 58 Gulfs 2,400 species of fish 500 species of corals 20% of land area forests 6,015,000 hectares 80,000 hectares virgin forest

3,800 plant species 600 bird species 150 migratory bird species

The Philippines is divided into a hierarchy of local government units (LGUs) with the 81 provinces as the primary unit. Provinces are further subdivided into cities and municipalities, which are in turn composed of barangays. The barangay is the smallest local government unit. The Philippines is divided into 178,000 regions with all provinces grouped into one of 16 regions for administrative convenience. The National Capital Region however, is divided into four special districts. Most government offices establish regional offices to serve the constituent provinces. The regions themselves do not possess a separate local government, with the exception of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan

Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino

Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales

Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon

Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan

Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon

Aklan, Antique, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Guimaras and Iloilo

Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor

Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar and Southern Leyte

Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay

Bukidnon Camiguin Lanao del Norte Misamis Occidental Misamis Oriental

Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur

South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani

Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur

Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi

Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Apayao

The Capital District - Manila Eastern Manila District Mandaluyong City, Marikina City, Pasig City, Quezon City, and San Juan City CAMANAVA District - Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas City, and Valenzuela City Southern Manila District - Las Pias City, Makati City, Muntinlupa City, Paraaque City, Pasay City, Pateros, and Taguig City