Visayas

Visayas
Native name: Kabisay-an (Visayan); Kabisayaan (Tagalog);
	Cebu City is the largest city in Visayas
Geography
Location	Southeast Asia
Archipelago	Philippines
Major islands	Bohol; Cebu; Leyte; Negros; Panay; Samar;
Area	71,503 km2 (27,607 sq mi)
Highest elevation	2,465 m (8087 ft)
Highest point	Mount Kanlaon
Administration
	Philippines
Regions	Region 6 – Western Visayas; Region 7 – Central Visayas; Region 8 – Eastern Visayas;
Largest settlement	Cebu City (pop. 964,169)
Demographics
Demonym	Visayan (natively "Bisayâ");
Population	21,155,014 (2021)
Pop. density	292/km2 (756/sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Visayans Aklanon; Boholano; Butuanon; Capiznon; Cebuano; Cuyunon; Eskaya; Hiligaynon; Karay-a; Masbateño; Porohanon; Romblomanon; Suludnon; Surigaonon; Waray; ; Negrito (Ati); other ethnic groups;

The Visayas or Visayan Islands (Cebuano and Wáray-Wáray: Kabisay-an, Tagalog: Kabisayaan, Spanich: Bisayas), is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines; the other two divisions are Mindanao, to the south, and Luzon, to the north.

People living in this islands are called Visayans.

Geography

The Visayas consists of several islands in central Philippines around the Visayan Sea, with the Philippine Sea to the east and the Sulu Sea to the west.

The main islands (and area) are:

Bohol, 3,269 km² (1,262 sq mi)
Cebu, 4,468 km² (1,725 sq mi)
Leyte, 7,367.6 km² (2,844.6 sq mi)
Negros, 13,328.4 km² (5,146.1 sq mi)
Panay, 12,011 km² (4,637 sq mi)
Samar, 12,849 km² (4,961 sq mi)

Regions and provinces

Administratively, the Visayas is divided into 3 regions: Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas. Each region is headed by a Regional Director.

List of provinces of Visayas state

Province	Capital	Region
Aklan	Kalibo	Western Visayas
Antique	San Jose de Buenavista	Western Visayas
Biliran	Biliran	Eastern Visayas
Bohol	Tagbilaran City	Central Visayas
Capiz	Roxas City*	Western Visayas
Cebu	CEBU CITY* (Regional center)	Central Visayas
Eastern Samar	Borongan City	Eastern Visayas
Guimaras	Jordan	Western Visayas
Iloilo	ILOILO CITY (Regional center)	Western Visayas
Leyte	TACLOBAN CITY (Regional center)	Eastern Visayas
Negros Occidental	Bacolod City	Western Visayas
Negros Oriental	Dumaguete City	Central Visayas
Northern Samar	Catarman	Eastern Visayas
Samar	Catbalogan City	Eastern Visayas
Siquijor	Siquijor	Central Visayas
Southern Leyte	Maasin City	Eastern Visayas

The Visayas is composed of 16 provinces, each headed by a governor.

Western Visayas (Region VI)

Western Visayas consists of the islands of Panay and the western half of Negros; it has a population, in 2010, of 7,102,438.^[2] The regional center is Iloilo City.

Central Visayas (Region VII)

Central Visayas includes the islands of Cebu and Bohol and the eastern half of Negros; it has a population, in 2010, of 6,800,180.^[2] The regional center is Cebu City.

Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)

Eastern Visayas consists of the islands of Leyte and Samar; it has a population, in 2010, of 4,101,322.^[2] The regional center is Tacloban.

Regions of the Visayas State

Island group: VISAYAS (CENTRAL PHILIPPINES)
	Western Visayas (Region VI)	ILOILO CITY	Aklan Antique Bacolod^[3] Capiz Guimaras Iloilo Iloilo City^[3] Negros Occidental	20,223	7,102,438	351.2
	Central Visayas (Region VII)	CEBU CITY	Bohol Cebu Cebu City^[3]^[4] Lapu-Lapu^[3] Mandaue^[3] Negros Oriental Siquijor	14,951	6,800,180	454.8
	Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)	TACLOBAN	Biliran Eastern Samar Leyte Northern Samar Ormoc^[5] Samar Southern Leyte Tacloban^[3]	21,432	4,101,322	191.4

Largest cities of Visayas

Largest cities or towns in {{{country}}} Source: 2020 PH Census Bureau Estimate
	Rank		Region	Pop.	Rank		Region	Pop.
Cebu City Bacolod	1	Cebu City	Central Visayas	922,611	11	Calbayog	Eastern Visayas	183,851	Iloilo City Lapu-Lapu City
	2	Bacolod	Western Visayas	600,783	12	Roxas	Western Visayas	179,292
	3	Iloilo City	Western Visayas	457,626	13	Toledo	Central Visayas	170,335
	4	Lapu-Lapu City	Central Visayas	408,112	14	Cadiz	Western Visayas	158,544
	5	Mandaue	Central Visayas	362,654	15	Danao	Central Visayas	136,471
	6	Tacloban	Eastern Visayas	242,089	16	San Carlos	Western Visayas	132,650
	7	Talisay	Central Visayas	227,645	17	Dumaguete	Central Visayas	131,377
	8	Ormoc	Eastern Visayas	215,031	18	Silay	Western Visayas	130,478
	9	Kabankalan	Western Visayas	200,198	19	Carcar	Central Visayas	119,664
	10	Bago	Western Visayas	191,210	20	Bayawan	Central Visayas	117,900