What is the population of Cebu Province?

The 2024 Census of Population counted 3,400,522 people in Cebu province proper, the largest of any province in the Visayas. Geographic Cebu, the province plus the independent cities of Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue, has about 5.23 million residents. Metro Cebu alone has about 3.2 million.

What is the climate like in Cebu?

Cebu has a tropical monsoon climate. PAGASA's 1991–2020 normals for Mactan show a mean temperature of 28.1°C and about 1,685 mm of rain a year. February to April are the driest months and July to October the wettest, so December to May is the best time for outdoor activities.

How many cities and municipalities are in Cebu?

Geographic Cebu has 9 cities and 44 municipalities, 53 local government units in all. Three of the cities, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue, are highly urbanized and administratively independent, so the provincial government itself covers 6 component cities and 44 municipalities.

What are the major industries in Cebu?

Services make up 62.3% of Cebu province's economy, industry 29.3%, and agriculture, forestry and fishing 8.5%, based on the PSA's 2024 Provincial Product Accounts. Key sectors include IT-BPM, tourism, shipbuilding, export manufacturing, furniture and real estate.

Cebu Factbook

A quick factsheet of Cebu's geography, demographics, economy, culture, and more.

📍Geography & Location

Cebu is a province in Central Visayas (Region VII), made up of a long, narrow main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. The main island runs about 196 kilometers from north to south and is 32 kilometers across at its widest point. The province proper covers 4,943.72 square kilometers, or 5,342 square kilometers once the three independent cities of Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue are included.

196 km

Island Length

32 km

Maximum Width

167

Surrounding Islands

5,342 km²

Area incl. 3 Cities

Coordinates10°17'N 123°54'E

Land Area4,943.72 km² (1,908.78 sq mi) province proper; 5,342.00 km² (2,062.56 sq mi) including the three independent cities

CoastlineAbout 840 km (main island)

Highest PointOsmeña Peak, Dalaguete (about 1,013 m / 3,323 ft)

Major IslandsMactan, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango, and the Camotes group

Water BodiesCamotes Sea (east), Tañon Strait (west), Visayan Sea (north), Bohol Strait (south)

Adjacent ProvincesNegros Island (west), Bohol (southeast), Siquijor (south), Leyte (east)

👥Demographics

The 2024 Census of Population counted 3.40 million people in Cebu province proper, the largest of any province in the Visayas. Geographic Cebu, meaning the province plus the independent cities of Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue, is home to about 5.23 million people. Cebu City is the country's oldest city and its first Spanish settlement.

3.40M

Province Proper (2024)

5.23M

Geographic Cebu (incl. 3 Cities)

688

People per km²

0.54%

Annual Growth (2020–24)

Population (2024 Census, as of 1 July 2024)

Cebu Province (excl. independent cities)3,400,522

Cebu City965,332

Lapu-Lapu City497,813

Mandaue City364,482

Geographic Cebu (province + 3 cities)5,228,149

Metro Cebu (13 LGUs)3,207,256

Population Density688 per km² (province proper)

Growth Rate0.54% per year, 2020–2024 (fastest among Central Visayas provinces)

Under 15 Years Old30.6% (Central Visayas, 2020 Census)

LanguagesCebuano (Bisaya) is the primary language; Filipino and English are widely used

Religious Affiliation (2020 Census)

94.8% - Roman Catholic, Cebu Province

3,139,089 of 3,309,850 household population, the 4th-highest share among provinces and the largest number of Catholics of any province

94.7% - Roman Catholic, Cebu City

Among the highest shares of any highly urbanized city

90.5% - Roman Catholic, Central Visayas

Compared with 78.8% nationwide

📈Economy

Cebu is the commercial, industrial and educational hub of the Visayas. In the PSA's 2024 Provincial Product Accounts the province proper grew 7.3 percent, the second-fastest in Central Visayas, and produced about a third of the region's output. Adding Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue brings the combined economy to roughly ₱1.08 trillion.

₱441B

Provincial GDP (2024)

7.3%

GDP Growth (2024)

₱129,727

GDP per Capita (2024)

8.1%

Inflation, C. Visayas (Aug 2026)

Key Economic Indicators (PSA, constant 2018 prices)

GDP, Cebu Province₱441.14 billion (2024), up from ₱411.12 billion (2023)

GDP Growth7.3% (2024); 5.9% (2023)

GDP per Capita₱129,727 (2024)

Share of Central Visayas34.6% of the region's ₱1.28 trillion GDP (2024)

GDP, Cebu City₱334.48 billion (+7.0%); per capita ₱346,491

GDP, Lapu-Lapu City₱176.36 billion (+6.5%)

GDP, Mandaue City₱126.08 billion (+6.9%)

Combined (province + 3 cities)About ₱1.08 trillion (2024)

InflationCentral Visayas 8.1% in August 2026 (national 6.1%); Cebu province 10.9% and Cebu City 8.4% in July 2026

Economic Structure, Cebu Province (2024)

62.3% - Services

Grew 7.8% in 2024, led by accommodation and food services (+16.6%), transport and storage (+13.3%), and health and social work (+12.8%)

29.3% - Industry

Grew 7.9% in 2024; covers manufacturing, construction, utilities and mining

8.5% - Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

Grew 2.0% in 2024

Key Industries

IT-BPM and shared services, tourism, shipbuilding and port logistics, export manufacturing on Mactan, furniture, real estate and construction

Competitiveness Rankings

📊

Explore the DTI Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index for Cebu

View economic rankings, government profiles, and competitiveness scores.

→

🏛️Culture & Heritage

Cebu has a rich cultural heritage as the site of the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines and the birthplace of Christianity in the Far East. The province is known for its vibrant festivals, historical landmarks, and unique traditions.

Cultural Highlights

Sinulog Festival

Held every January, it's one of the grandest and most colorful festivals in the Philippines, honoring the Santo Niño (Child Jesus)

Historical Sites

Magellan's Cross, Basilica del Santo Niño, Fort San Pedro, Colon Street (oldest street in the Philippines)

Traditional Arts

Guitar-making (Carcar), furniture crafting, shell craft, and basket weaving

Cuisine

Lechon Cebu (roasted pig), dried mangoes, otap (flaky pastry), puso (hanging rice), and seafood specialties

Music & Dance

Sinulog dance, Rondalla music, and Cebuano love songs (balak)

☀️Climate

Cebu has a tropical monsoon climate with warm temperatures all year and a drier stretch from roughly December to May. The figures below are PAGASA's 1991–2020 climatological normals for the Mactan International Airport station.

28.1°C

Mean Temperature

1,685 mm

Annual Rainfall

138

Rainy Days a Year

82%

Mean Humidity

Climate Normals (PAGASA, Mactan, 1991–2020)

Climate TypeTropical monsoon (Köppen Am)

TemperatureDaily mean 28.1°C; average high 31.3°C, average low 24.9°C

Hottest MonthMay (mean 29.4°C, average high 32.8°C)

Coolest MonthJanuary (mean 26.8°C, average low 24.0°C)

Annual Rainfall1,685 mm (66 in) over about 138 rainy days

Wettest MonthsJuly (211 mm), October (208 mm), September (190 mm)

Driest MonthsApril (56 mm), March (61 mm), February (89 mm)

Humidity78–85% through the year, averaging 82%

Best Time to Visit: February to April are the driest months, and January brings Sinulog. December to May is generally the drier half of the year.

🏢Government & Administration

Cebu is a first-class province governed from the Capitol in Cebu City. The three highly urbanized cities of Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue are administratively independent of the province, while six component cities and 44 municipalities fall under the provincial government.

Cities (incl. 3 Independent)

Municipalities

1,203

Barangays (incl. 3 Cities)

Legislative Districts

Administrative Divisions

Provincial CapitalCebu City (a highly urbanized city, independent of the province)

Highly Urbanized CitiesCebu City, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue (3, independent of the province)

Component CitiesBogo, Carcar, Danao, Naga, Talisay, Toledo (6)

Municipalities44

Barangays1,066 in the province proper; 1,203 including the three independent cities

Legislative Districts7 for the province, plus 2 for Cebu City and 1 each for Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue

Provincial Officials (2025–2028 term)

Governor

Pamela S. Baricuatro, in office since 30 June 2025

Vice Governor

Glenn Anthony O. Soco, in office since 30 June 2025

📚References & Sources

The information in this factbook is compiled from the following official sources:

Official Data Sources

PopulationPhilippine Statistics Authority (PSA): 2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) and 2020 Census of Population and Housing

EconomyPSA Provincial Product Accounts 2024 (released October 2025); PSA Central Visayas Consumer Price Index reports for July and August 2026

GeographyPSA Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC); National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA)

ClimatePAGASA Climatological Normals 1991–2020, Mactan International Airport station

GovernmentCebu Provincial Government; Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); Commission on Elections, 2025 results

CultureNational Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); Cebu Provincial Tourism Office

Last Updated: September 13, 2026

Data accuracy is maintained through regular updates from official government sources and verified publications. If you notice any inaccuracies or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us.

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