Ethnolinguistic Groups of the Philippines (With Population Estimates)

I’m a 1.5 generation Filipino immigrant — I left the Philippines at 9 years old and grew up in the United States.

Like many others who moved young, I still find myself learning more about the history and cultural richness of our homeland. One of the most fascinating and often overlooked aspects of the Philippines is just how diverse it truly is.

The Philippines is home to over 175 ethnolinguistic groups, each with its own language, culture, and history. Below is a more detailed look at the major groups, including where they live and approximate population sizes.

Luzon

• Tagalog (~28–30 million) – Central & Southern Luzon, Metro Manila, Mindoro
• Ilocano (~9–10 million) – Northern Luzon, Ilocos, Cordillera, migrants in Mindanao
• Kapampangan (~2.9 million) – Pampanga, Tarlac, parts of Bulacan, Bataan
• Pangasinan (~1.5–1.8 million) – Pangasinan Province
• Bicolano (Central Bikol) (~4–5 million) – Bicol Region
• Ibanag (~500,000) – Cagayan Valley
• Ivatan (~30,000) – Batanes Islands
• Ifugao (~180,000) – Ifugao Province
• Kankanaey (~250,000) – Benguet, Mountain Province
• Isneg (Isnag) (~30,000) – Apayao
• Itawes (~120,000) – Cagayan Valley
• Gaddang (~110,000) – Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan Valley
• Kalinga (~120,000) – Kalinga Province
• Agta/Aeta (various groups) (~50,000–70,000) – Zambales, Pampanga, Bataan, Quezon

Visayas

• Cebuano (Bisaya) (~22–25 million) – Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Mindanao migrants
• Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) (~9–10 million) – Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Capiz, parts of Mindanao
• Waray-Waray (~3.1 million) – Samar, Leyte
• Aklanon (~500,000) – Aklan
• Karay-a (~500,000) – Antique, parts of Iloilo
• Capiznon (~600,000) – Capiz
• Cuyonon (~180,000) – Palawan, Cuyo Islands
• Kinaray-a (~500,000) – Panay Island

Mindanao

• Maguindanaoan (~1.4 million) – Maguindanao Province
• Maranao (~1.4 million) – Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte
• Tausug (~1.1 million) – Sulu, Basilan, Zamboanga City
• Sama-Bajau (~500,000) – Sulu Archipelago, Tawi-Tawi, coastal Mindanao
• Subanen (~450,000) – Zamboanga Peninsula
• Manobo (various subgroups) (~1.1 million combined) – Agusan, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao regions
• Bagobo (~250,000) – Davao region
• T’boli (~150,000) – South Cotabato
• Mandaya (~200,000) – Davao Oriental
• Higaonon (~120,000) – Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte
• Bukidnon (Binukid) (~120,000) – Bukidnon Province
• Bilaan (Blaan) (~150,000) – South Cotabato, Sarangani

Palawan & Other Groups

• Palaw’an (~50,000) – Southern Palawan
• Molbog (~15,000) – Southern Palawan
• Batak (~3,000) – Northern Palawan
• Tagbanwa (~25,000) – Palawan interior

Negrito Groups

• Aeta (Agta, Ayta) (~50,000) – Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bataan
• Ati (~20,000) – Panay, Negros
• Agta-Dumagat (~15,000) – Quezon, Aurora, Rizal
• Mamanwa (~12,000) – Surigao, Agusan del Norte

Note: Numbers are approximate and overlap due to migration, intermarriage, and language shift. Some groups speak the national language Filipino (based on Tagalog) as a second or first language today.

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