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Province

Cebu

Cebu is a province in the Central Visayas region of Visayas, Philippines. Its population was 3,400,522 in the 2024 census, and it has 9 cities and 44 municipalities.

  • Population: 2024 Census
  • Places: PSGC 2Q 2026
  • Checked by Scene: October 8, 2026
  • Page updated: October 2, 2026
A turquoise pool below a twin waterfall in green forest, with a bamboo raft floating on the water.
Kawasan Falls, in Badian.Photo: “Badian Kawasan Falls Cebu” by Shemlongakit, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized by Scene. Scene's copy is shared under the same licence.

  • PeopleSources

    3,400,522

    people counted in the 2024 censusCensusA count of every person in the country, all on one day. The 2024 census counted people as they were on 1 July 2024.More in the glossary

    Up 29.8% from 2010 to 2024

  • Rank by peopleSources

    1st

    of the 2 provinces of Central Visayas by population, 2024Rank and shareWorked out by Scene from the PSA's counts: where a place stands among the places listed with it, and how many of every 100 of its parent's people live in it.More in the glossary

    About 51 of every 100 people in Central Visayas lived in Cebu in 2024 (51.21%)

  • Inside itSources

    53

    cities and municipalities

    1,203 barangays

  • LandSources

    4,389.23 km²

    of land, 2019 masterlistLand areaThe land inside the place's official boundary. A square kilometre is a square 1 km on each side, about the size of 140 football fields.Explained by Scene: Cebu's land would fill a square about 66.3 km on each side. That is only a way to picture its size: its real shape is on the map.More in the glossary

    Average density, 2024: 775 people per km²Population densityHow crowded a place is on average: its people divided by its land area. 1,000 people per square kilometre is 10 people per hectare, a square of 100 by 100 metres.Explained by Scene: About 8 people per hectare if everyone were spread evenly across the land. In fact people live closer together in towns and farther apart in the countryside.More in the glossary

  • HomesSources

    893,690

    households in 2024HouseholdA person living alone, or people who sleep in the same home and share their meals. A family may be one household or several.More in the glossary

    3.8 people in each, on average, in 2024

  • Town or countrySources

    55.1%

    About 55 of every 100 people lived in urban barangays in 2024Urban barangayThe PSA counts a barangay as urban when it has 5,000 people or more, or a big employer, or several businesses and public services close by. Every barangay in Metro Manila is urban.More in the glossary

PSGC codePSGC codeThe code the Philippine Statistics Authority gives every place, so each one is known exactly, even when two share a name.More in the glossary
0702200000[4]Formerly 072200000

People

Cebu had 3,400,522 people in the 2024 census, up 29.8% from 2010.
People at each census since 1960

Counts from 2000 on are on today’s borders; earlier counts are as the place was then, so the line may step where a border moved.

Cebu had the most people of the 2 provinces of Central Visayas in 2024[1]
  1. 1Cebu3,400,522
  2. 2Bohol1,412,726
All 2 provinces of Central Visayas
Of every 100 people in Cebu in 2024[1]

The PSA counts Cebu without Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City, which are highly urbanized cities and are counted on their own, as in every province.[1]

Age structure · 2024 Census[5]People living in households, by age and sex
  • About 27 of every 100 are children under 15 (27.2%)
  • About 66 of every 100 are of working age, 15 to 64 (66.1%)
  • About 7 of every 100 are 65 or older (6.7%)
MenWomen

The figures by age

People by age group, men and women
AgePeopleMenWomen
Under 5257,836133,711124,125
5 - 9323,537168,073155,464
10 - 14340,973177,586163,387
15 - 19335,715174,070161,645
20 - 24309,174159,155150,019
25 - 29281,234143,854137,380
30 - 34273,711140,556133,155
35 - 39232,443120,051112,392
40 - 44209,601108,555101,046
45 - 49181,48693,10488,382
50 - 54159,99680,70979,287
55 - 59137,04968,18668,863
60 - 64119,55558,69660,859
65 - 6989,63842,18447,454
70 - 7465,43928,54836,891
75 - 7936,59414,67121,923
80 - 8421,3437,49913,844
85 and over14,2254,08810,137

Every figure, census by census

People, 2024 CensusCensusA count of every person in the country, all on one day. The 2024 census counted people as they were on 1 July 2024.More in the glossary
3,400,522[1, 2]
Households, 2024HouseholdA person living alone, or people who sleep in the same home and share their meals. A family may be one household or several.More in the glossary
893,690[1, 2]
People in each household, 2024
3.8 on average[1, 2]
Share of Central Visayas, 2024Rank and shareWorked out by Scene from the PSA's counts: where a place stands among the places listed with it, and how many of every 100 of its parent's people live in it.More in the glossary
51.21%[1]
In urban barangays, 2024Urban barangayThe PSA counts a barangay as urban when it has 5,000 people or more, or a big employer, or several businesses and public services close by. Every barangay in Metro Manila is urban.More in the glossary
55.1% (1,872,164 people)[6]
Men and women, 2024
1,723,296 men, 1,666,253 women[5]People living in households
Population at each census, with its source
CensusPopulationGrowth since the census beforeHouseholdsPeople per household
2024as of July 1, 20243,400,522[1, 2]0.54% a year893,6903.8
2020as of May 1, 20203,325,385[1]2.63% a year——
2015as of August 1, 20152,938,982[1]2.22% a year——
2010as of May 1, 20102,619,362[1]———
2007as of August 1, 2007; as it was then2,440,120[39]1.69% a year——
2000as of May 1, 2000; on today’s borders2,160,569[39, 40]2.90% a year——
1995as of September 1, 1995; as it was then1,890,357[39]1.90% a year——
1990as of May 1, 1990; as it was then1,709,621[39]2.08% a year——
1980as of May 1, 1980; as it was then1,392,008[39]2.17% a year——
1975as of May 1, 1975; as it was then1,249,997[39]1.52% a year——
1970as of May 6, 1970; as it was then1,159,219[39]1.42% a year——
1960as of February 15, 1960; as it was then1,003,874[39]———

Cities and municipalities

Cebu is made up of 44 municipalities, 6 cities, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City, with 1,203 barangays in all. Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City lie within it but govern themselves apart from the province.
Colour byColours the map of Cebu by the figure chosen; the key beside it says what each colour means.
Alcantara: 17,490 people, 677 per km², 0.81% a yearAlcoy: 19,207 people, 325 per km², 0.03% a yearAlegria: 26,520 people, 321 per km², 0.83% a yearAloguinsan: 34,990 people, 569 per km², 0.36% a yearArgao: 78,111 people, 396 per km², −0.02% a yearAsturias: 54,777 people, 359 per km², −0.27% a yearBadian: 44,626 people, 418 per km², 0.48% a yearBalamban: 98,170 people, 454 per km², 0.76% a yearBantayan: 87,394 people, 1,080 per km², 0.32% a yearBarili: 82,427 people, 680 per km², 0.50% a yearBoljoon: 17,153 people, 178 per km², −0.51% a yearBorbon: 40,097 people, 459 per km², 1.18% a yearCarmen: 60,230 people, 699 per km², 0.95% a yearCatmon: 34,608 people, 316 per km², 0.61% a yearBogo City: 90,187 people, 914 per km², 0.35% a yearCarcar City: 140,308 people, 1,199 per km², 0.67% a yearCebu City: 965,332 people, 3,293 per km², 0.03% a yearLapu-Lapu City: 497,813 people, 8,453 per km², 0.01% a yearMandaue City: 364,482 people, 14,133 per km², 0.02% a yearNaga City: 138,727 people, 1,493 per km², 0.98% a yearTalisay City: 263,832 people, 6,156 per km², 0.07% a yearToledo City: 206,692 people, 1,028 per km², −0.07% a yearCompostela: 58,178 people, 1,202 per km², 0.97% a yearConsolacion: 153,931 people, 3,947 per km², 0.94% a yearCordova: 72,915 people, 7,627 per km², 0.78% a yearDaanbantayan: 95,080 people, 1,019 per km², 0.40% a yearDalaguete: 75,937 people, 465 per km², 0.43% a yearDanao City: 161,307 people, 1,132 per km², 0.76% a yearDumanjug: 59,954 people, 702 per km², 0.87% a yearGinatilan: 17,184 people, 353 per km², 0.39% a yearLiloan: 158,387 people, 3,736 per km², 0.80% a yearMadridejos: 42,828 people, 1,753 per km², 0.45% a yearMalabuyoc: 20,378 people, 308 per km², 0.73% a yearMedellin: 62,163 people, 819 per km², 1.01% a yearMinglanilla: 155,934 people, 3,028 per km², 0.77% a yearMoalboal: 37,993 people, 536 per km², 0.68% a yearOslob: 29,378 people, 267 per km², 0.09% a yearPilar: 12,454 people, 373 per km², −0.10% a yearPinamungajan: 76,568 people, 699 per km², 0.46% a yearPoro: 26,908 people, 401 per km², 0.61% a yearRonda: 21,179 people, 442 per km², 0.20% a yearSamboan: 20,736 people, 396 per km², 0.42% a yearSan Fernando: 76,110 people, 878 per km², 1.26% a yearSan Francisco: 61,092 people, 644 per km², 0.74% a yearSan Remigio: 67,850 people, 810 per km², 0.76% a yearSanta Fe: 34,834 people, 4,976 per km², 0.25% a yearSantander: 18,669 people, 643 per km², 0.18% a yearSibonga: 54,610 people, 566 per km², 0.53% a yearSogod: 40,746 people, 365 per km², 0.78% a yearTabogon: 42,066 people, 469 per km², 0.36% a yearTabuelan: 29,662 people, 319 per km², 0.62% a yearTuburan: 68,307 people, 277 per km², 0.05% a yearTudela: 11,638 people, 350 per km², 0.70% a year

People · 2024 Census

  • Under 20,000
  • 20,000 to 31,000
  • 31,000 to 45,000
  • 45,000 to 76,000
  • 76,000 and over

The same steps colour every map of cities and municipalities in the Atlas, so a colour means the same range everywhere.

Density · people per km², 2024

  • Under 140
  • 140 to 250
  • 250 to 390
  • 390 to 750
  • 750 and over

The same steps colour every map of cities and municipalities in the Atlas, so a colour means the same range everywhere.

Growth a year · 2020–2024

  • Fell by more than 1% a year
  • Fell, by up to 1% a year
  • Grew, by under 1% a year
  • Grew by 1 to 2% a year
  • Grew by 2% a year or more

Each place's yearly change between the 2020 and 2024 censuses, on the same steps as every map in the Atlas.

Borders from UN OCHA (PSA and NAMRIA), a guide and not the legal boundary[3]Open in OpenStreetMap
Cities and municipalities of Cebu. Each column heading sorts the table.
Kind[1, 7]Share (2024)
Cebu CityHighly urbanized city965,332counted on its own0.03% a year293.17 km²
Lapu-Lapu CityHighly urbanized city497,813counted on its own0.01% a year58.89 km²
Mandaue CityHighly urbanized city364,482counted on its own0.02% a year25.79 km²
Talisay CityComponent city263,8327.76%0.07% a year42.86 km²
Toledo CityComponent city206,6926.08%−0.07% a year201.09 km²
Danao CityComponent city161,3074.74%0.76% a year142.53 km²
LiloanMunicipality158,3874.66%0.80% a year42.39 km²
MinglanillaMunicipality155,9344.59%0.77% a year51.50 km²
ConsolacionMunicipality153,9314.53%0.94% a year39.00 km²
Carcar CityComponent city140,3084.13%0.67% a year117.00 km²
Naga CityComponent city138,7274.08%0.98% a year92.91 km²
BalambanMunicipality98,1702.89%0.76% a year216.45 km²
DaanbantayanMunicipality95,0802.8%0.40% a year93.27 km²
Bogo CityComponent city90,1872.65%0.35% a year98.62 km²
BantayanMunicipality87,3942.57%0.32% a year80.92 km²
BariliMunicipality82,4272.42%0.50% a year121.21 km²
ArgaoMunicipality78,1112.3%−0.02% a year197.02 km²
PinamungajanMunicipality76,5682.25%0.46% a year109.55 km²
San FernandoMunicipality76,1102.24%1.26% a year86.66 km²
DalagueteMunicipality75,9372.23%0.43% a year163.22 km²
CordovaMunicipality72,9152.14%0.78% a year9.56 km²
TuburanMunicipality68,3072.01%0.05% a year246.16 km²
San RemigioMunicipality67,8502%0.76% a year83.77 km²
MedellinMunicipality62,1631.83%1.01% a year75.94 km²
San FranciscoMunicipality61,0921.8%0.74% a year94.82 km²
CarmenMunicipality60,2301.77%0.95% a year86.17 km²
DumanjugMunicipality59,9541.76%0.87% a year85.35 km²
CompostelaMunicipality58,1781.71%0.97% a year48.39 km²
AsturiasMunicipality54,7771.61%−0.27% a year152.55 km²
SibongaMunicipality54,6101.61%0.53% a year96.47 km²
BadianMunicipality44,6261.31%0.48% a year106.74 km²
MadridejosMunicipality42,8281.26%0.45% a year24.43 km²
TabogonMunicipality42,0661.24%0.36% a year89.76 km²
SogodMunicipality40,7461.2%0.78% a year111.78 km²
BorbonMunicipality40,0971.18%1.18% a year87.37 km²
MoalboalMunicipality37,9931.12%0.68% a year70.85 km²
AloguinsanMunicipality34,9901.03%0.36% a year61.48 km²
Santa FeMunicipality34,8341.02%0.25% a year7.00 km²
CatmonMunicipality34,6081.02%0.61% a year109.64 km²
TabuelanMunicipality29,6620.87%0.62% a year92.89 km²
OslobMunicipality29,3780.86%0.09% a year109.92 km²
PoroMunicipality26,9080.79%0.61% a year67.09 km²
AlegriaMunicipality26,5200.78%0.83% a year82.54 km²
RondaMunicipality21,1790.62%0.20% a year47.87 km²
SamboanMunicipality20,7360.61%0.42% a year52.40 km²
MalabuyocMunicipality20,3780.6%0.73% a year66.06 km²
AlcoyMunicipality19,2070.56%0.03% a year59.16 km²
SantanderMunicipality18,6690.55%0.18% a year29.05 km²
AlcantaraMunicipality17,4900.51%0.81% a year25.84 km²
GinatilanMunicipality17,1840.51%0.39% a year48.74 km²

The 50 with the most people, of 53. See every municipality of Cebu

Land & Environment

Cebu covers 4,389.23 km² of land, 775 people for every km² in 2024. Its land rises to 1,054 m above the sea and it has 1,270.6 km of coast.
Land areaLand areaThe land inside the place's official boundary. A square kilometre is a square 1 km on each side, about the size of 140 football fields.More in the glossary
4,389.23 km²[7]As listed in the 2019 Masterlist of Land Areas (LMB, DENR)
Average density, 2024Population densityHow crowded a place is on average: its people divided by its land area. 1,000 people per square kilometre is 10 people per hectare, a square of 100 by 100 metres.More in the glossary
775 people per km²[7]
Coordinates
10.50927° N, 123.86904° E[3]The point inside its border farthest from every edge, so it always falls within the place.
Height above the sea[35]
Lowest
Sea level
Average
216 m
Highest
1,054 m

Heights from the Copernicus DEM, a 30 m model of the surface: it reads the tops of trees and roofs, not the bare ground, over the land inside the border, the sea left out. Produced using Copernicus WorldDEM-30 © DLR e.V. 2010-2014 and © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH 2014-2018 provided under COPERNICUS by the European Union and ESA; all rights reserved.

Water, coast and peaks

1,270.6 km of coastline[36]

Rivers[36]

  1. Lusaran River57.7 km
  2. Kotkot River36.5 km
  3. Ginabasan River35.7 km
  4. Argao River31.0 km
  5. Languyon River30.3 km
  6. Mananga River25.8 km
  7. Putat River20.0 km
  8. Bawo River19.2 km

The longest inside it: 88 in all.

Lakes[36]

  1. Lake Danao5.7 km²
  2. Malubog Lakereservoir1.5 km²
  3. Can-asujan Reservoirreservoir0.27 km²
  4. Lake Bensis0.09 km²
  5. Damon Lake0.08 km²
  6. Buswang Lake0.08 km²

The largest: 7 in all.

Peaks[36]

  1. Osmeña Peak1,037 m
  2. Rocking Peak1,037 m
  3. Mount Labalasan1,013 m
  4. Lugsangan Peak1,007 m
  5. Mount Manunggal980 m
  6. Kandungaw Peak930 m

The highest: 48 in all.

Named rivers, lakes and peaks as OpenStreetMap mapped them on 30 September 2026, and the coast within 150 m of the border. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, under the Open Database License.

Climate

Climate typeClimate typePAGASA sorts the country's climate into four types by when the rain falls. Type I has a dry season from November to April and a wet one for the rest of the year; Type II has no dry season, with the most rain from December to February; Type III has a short dry season; Type IV has rain spread through the year.More in the glossary

Type III[37]

No clear rainiest time of year, and a short dry season of one to three months, in December to February or in March to May.

Covers about 95 of every 100 parts of its land. Read by Scene off PAGASA's climate map, so approximate: the type that covers most of the place's land.

At Mactan International Airport, the nearest PAGASA station, 24 km away[38]Averages for 1991 to 2020: 1,685 mm of rain on 138 days a year; 28.1 °C on average

Rain each month Average temperature

The figures by month

Climate at Mactan International Airport, 1991 to 2020, by month
MonthRainRainy daysAverageHighLow
January135 mm1226.8 °C29.7 °C24.0 °C
February89 mm927.0 °C30.0 °C24.0 °C
March61 mm727.8 °C31.0 °C24.6 °C
April56 mm528.8 °C32.2 °C25.5 °C
May94 mm929.4 °C32.8 °C26.0 °C
June181 mm1328.9 °C32.3 °C25.5 °C
July211 mm1528.3 °C31.6 °C25.1 °C
August158 mm1328.5 °C31.9 °C25.2 °C
September190 mm1428.4 °C31.9 °C25.0 °C
October208 mm1528.2 °C31.4 °C24.9 °C
November131 mm1228.0 °C31.0 °C25.0 °C
December172 mm1427.4 °C30.3 °C24.6 °C
The year1,685 mm13828.1 °C31.3 °C24.9 °C

A station's figures describe the place around it only roughly: inland and in the hills it may be cooler and wetter. The station stands 26 m above the sea.

Life & Economy

Cebu's economy made ₱547.4 billion of goods and services in 2025, ₱153,167 for each person. About 22 of every 100 people lived below the poverty line in 2023.
Economy, 2025Gross domestic productThe value of all the goods and services made in a place in a year: the size of its economy. The PSA measures it for every region, province and highly urbanized city. Counted at 2018 prices, it leaves out the rise in prices, so one year can be set beside another.More in the glossary
₱547.4 billion[22]Its gross domestic product at current prices; ₱453.8 billion at 2018 prices. It leaves out Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City, which the PSA counts apart.
Growth, 2024–2025
2.7%[23]How much more it made than the year before, at 2018 prices.
For each person, 2025
₱153,167[24]Its economy divided by its projected population, at current prices, as the PSA works it out.
Poverty, 2023Poverty incidenceHow many of every 100 people live in families whose income is below the poverty line: what a person needs in a year for food and other basic needs, as the PSA sets it for each province. It is an estimate, from a survey or, for a town, a statistical model, so the PSA gives a range it is likely to fall in.More in the glossary
21.9% of people[25]Below the poverty line, by the PSA's survey.
Income classIncome classThe Department of Finance sorts provinces, cities and municipalities into classes by their average yearly income over recent years: 1st class has the most. It measures the local government's income, not how well off its people are.More in the glossary
1st class[4]
About 22 of every 100 people in Cebu lived below the poverty line in 2023 (21.9%)[25]

The PSA's survey puts it between 18.3% and 25.6%, with 95% confidence. The poverty line was ₱35,418 a person for the year. As the PSA counts it, without the Cities of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.

Public places

  • 1,641government offices
  • 295hospitals and health centres
  • 1,950schools
  • 492places of worship
  • 109markets
  • 106stations and terminals
  • 97parks
  • 49beaches
  • 75monuments and memorials

Counted from OpenStreetMap[3, 8]. Each town's page lists its own; this page lists the stations, parks, beaches and monuments.

Where a kind has more than 8, this page shows 6: first those with “Cebu” in their name, then one in each of its most populous cities and municipalities.

Stations and terminals105

99 more stations and terminals are listed on the pages of the cities and municipalities they stand in. See the 53 cities and municipalities of Cebu

Parks96

90 more parks are listed on the pages of the cities and municipalities they stand in. See the 53 cities and municipalities of Cebu

Beaches49

43 more beaches are listed on the pages of the cities and municipalities they stand in. See the 53 cities and municipalities of Cebu

Monuments and memorials75

69 more monuments and memorials are listed on the pages of the cities and municipalities they stand in. See the 53 cities and municipalities of Cebu

As OpenStreetMap maps them on September 30, 2026. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, under the Open Database License.

Government & Leaders

A governor leads Cebu. Its local laws, called ordinances, are passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (the provincial board), led by the vice governor. The governor, the vice governor and the board's elected members serve three-year terms, and none may serve more than three in a row.[16, 17]

Capital
Cebu City[4]

7 legislative districtsLegislative districtThe area that elects one member of the House of Representatives. A big province or city may have several.More in the glossary[18, 19, 20, 21]

Each district elects one member of the House of Representatives. These are the districts as the laws drew them for the 2025 elections.

1st district6 cities and municipalities

2nd district7 cities and municipalities

3rd district7 cities and municipalities

4th district9 cities and municipalities

5th district11 cities and municipalities

6th district2 cities and municipalities

7th district8 cities and municipalities

Leaders

The governor and vice governor elected at each election since 2001, as COMELEC's lists of the elected name them, and those in office now, as the DILG's directory lists them.

  1. 2025–2028In office as of February 2026

    Governor
    Pamela Silagan Baricuatro[26]
    Vice governor
    Glenn Anthony Ocampo Soco[26]

  2. 2022–2025

    Governor
    Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia[27]
    Vice governor
    Hilario Perez Davide III[27]

  3. 2019–2022

    Governor
    Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia[28]
    Vice governor
    Hilario Perez Davide III[28]

  4. 2016–2019

    Governor
    Hilario Perez Davide III[29]
    Vice governor
    Agnes Almendras Magpale[29]

  5. 2013–2016

    Governor
    Hilario Perez Davide III[30]
    Vice governor
    Agnes Almendras Magpale[30]

  6. 2010–2013

    Governor
    Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia[31]
    Vice governor
    Gregorio Gallarde Sanchez Jr.[31]

  7. 2007–2010

    Governor
    Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia[32]
    Vice governor
    Gregorio Gallarde Sanchez Jr.[32]

  8. 2004–2007

    Governor
    Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia-Codilla[33]
    Vice governor
    Gregorio Gallarde Sanchez Jr.[33]

  9. 2001–2004

    Governor
    Pablo P. Garcia[34]
    Vice governor
    John Henry Gregory J U. Osmeña[34]
Governors and vice governors of Cebu, by term
TermGovernorVice governor
2025–2028In office as of February 2026Pamela Silagan Baricuatro[26]Glenn Anthony Ocampo Soco[26]
2022–2025Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia[27]Hilario Perez Davide III[27]
2019–2022Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia[28]Hilario Perez Davide III[28]
2016–2019Hilario Perez Davide III[29]Agnes Almendras Magpale[29]
2013–2016Hilario Perez Davide III[30]Agnes Almendras Magpale[30]
2010–2013Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia[31]Gregorio Gallarde Sanchez Jr.[31]
2007–2010Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia[32]Gregorio Gallarde Sanchez Jr.[32]
2004–2007Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia-Codilla[33]Gregorio Gallarde Sanchez Jr.[33]
2001–2004Pablo P. Garcia[34]John Henry Gregory J U. Osmeña[34]

History & Identity

Cebu's fiesta and days

Everything listed for Cebu in Now

Created
A province of the Spanish era, which counts its founding from 6 August 1569; its civil government was set up under Act No. 116, enacted 18 April 1901[9, 10, 11]

How it got its name

In Cebuano the province is Sugbo, as the NHCP's Cebuano marker on its capitol names it; before 1521 the place was known as Zebu or Zubu.[12, 13]

Its story

Before 1521 it was a fishing village and a busy port, where ships came from as far as Siam, China and Arabia.[13]

Magellan's expedition reached Cebu in 1521. On 14 April the first Mass in Cebu was said, and Rajah Humabon, his family and about 800 of his people were baptized; Magellan was killed soon after on Mactan, by the chief Lapulapu.[13, 14]

Legazpi's fleet arrived in 1565, and on 4 June 1565 Rajah Tupas and Legazpi signed the first peace treaty in the Philippines at the site of Fort San Pedro. The wooden cathedral became the seat of the diocese of Cebu in 1595.[12, 14]

The province counts its founding from 6 August 1569 and keeps the day as a holiday under a law of 1994; it marked its 457th anniversary in 2026.[9, 10]

Act No. 116 set up its civil government on 18 April 1901, but that July Cebu was put back under the military governor. The present capitol, designed by Juan Arellano, was begun in December 1936 and inaugurated by President Manuel Quezon on 14 June 1938.[11, 12, 15]

Timeline

  1. 14 April 1521

    The first Mass in Cebu; Rajah Humabon and his people are baptized.[14]

  2. 4 June 1565

    Rajah Tupas and Legazpi sign a peace treaty.[14]

  3. 6 August 1569

    The day from which the province counts its founding.[9]

  4. 1595

    Cebu becomes the seat of a diocese.[12]

  5. 18 April 1901

    Act No. 116 extends the Provincial Government Act to Cebu.[11]

  6. 17 July 1901

    Act No. 173 returns Cebu, Batangas and Bohol to the military governor's control.[15]

  7. 14 June 1938

    President Quezon inaugurates the provincial capitol.[12]

  8. 29 April 1994

    Republic Act No. 7698 makes 6 August a holiday in the province.[10]

Nearby

Cebu shares no land border with another province. Nearest across the water are Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Leyte.

How it compares

Cebu beside Central Visayas, and where it stands among the provinces of Central Visayas.

Cebu beside Central Visayas
FigureCebuCentral VisayasRank among the provinces of Central Visayas
People, 2024CensusA count of every person in the country, all on one day. The 2024 census counted people as they were on 1 July 2024.More in the glossary3,400,522[1, 2]6,640,8751st of 2
Growth a year, 2020–2024Growth a yearHow fast the number of people changed each year between two censuses. 1% a year means about 1 more person for every 100 people, each year.More in the glossary0.54% a year[1, 2]faster0.35% a year1st of 2
People per km², 2024Population densityHow crowded a place is on average: its people divided by its land area. 1,000 people per square kilometre is 10 people per hectare, a square of 100 by 100 metres.More in the glossary775[7]more crowded7401st of 2
Land areaLand areaThe land inside the place's official boundary. A square kilometre is a square 1 km on each side, about the size of 140 football fields.More in the glossary4,389.23 km²[7]8,975.04 km²1st of 2
People in each household, 2024HouseholdA person living alone, or people who sleep in the same home and share their meals. A family may be one household or several.More in the glossary3.8[1, 2]higher3.7not ranked
In urban barangays, 2024Urban barangayThe PSA counts a barangay as urban when it has 5,000 people or more, or a big employer, or several businesses and public services close by. Every barangay in Metro Manila is urban.More in the glossary55.1%[6]lower58.3%not ranked

The nearest provinces across the water[3]

  1. BoholCentral Visayas4.6 km southeast
  2. Negros OrientalNegros Island Region5.4 km southwest
  3. Negros OccidentalNegros Island Region7.4 km west
  4. LeyteEastern Visayas7.5 km northeast

Measured between the two borders where they come closest, on the Earth's surface, across the water. Not a boat or ferry route.

Sources

Page updated October 2, 2026. Sources checked by Scene October 8, 2026.
  1. 1.Philippine Statistics Authority. Population and Annual Population Growth Rate of the Philippines and its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities Based on the 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2024 Population Census (OpenSTAT table 0211A6DAPG0). Published August 7, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. CC BY (PSA Terms of Use). Open the source
  2. 2.Philippine Statistics Authority. Total Population, Household Population, and Number of Households by Province, City, Municipality, and Barangay as of 01 July 2024: Central Visayas (OpenSTAT table 0071A6DTPH6). Published August 5, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. CC BY (PSA Terms of Use). Open the source
  3. 3.UN OCHA, from the PSA and NAMRIA. Philippines: Subnational Administrative Boundaries (COD-AB), barangay layer. Published February 13, 2025. Read by Scene September 25, 2026. CC BY-IGO 3.0. Open the source
  4. 4.Philippine Statistics Authority. Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC), 2nd Quarter 2026: Publication Datafile. Published June 30, 2026. Read by Scene September 24, 2026. CC BY (PSA Terms of Use). Open the source
  5. 5.Philippine Statistics Authority. Household Population by Age-Group Region, Province, and Highly Urbanized City: Philippines, 2024 Census of Population (OpenSTAT table 0201A6DPAG0). Published August 7, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. CC BY (PSA Terms of Use). Open the source
  6. 6.Philippine Statistics Authority. Total Population and Urban Population by Urban Classification and Region, Province, Highly Urbanized City, City/Municipality and Barangay: Philippines, 2024 (OpenSTAT table 0231A6DPUP0). Published August 7, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. CC BY (PSA Terms of Use). Open the source
  7. 7.Philippine Statistics Authority, from the Land Management Bureau (DENR). Population, Land Area, Population Density, and Percent Change in Population Density by Region, Province/Highly Urbanized City, and City/Municipality: 2015, 2020, and 2024 (OpenSTAT table 0221A6DLPD0). Published August 7, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. CC BY (PSA Terms of Use). Open the source
  8. 8.OpenStreetMap contributors. Named public places in OpenStreetMap: schools, hospitals and health centres, places of worship, government offices, markets, stations, parks, beaches and monuments, from Geofabrik's extract of the Philippines. Published September 30, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. ODbL 1.0. Open the source
  9. 9.Provincial Government of Cebu. Cebu Province Opens 457th Founding Anniversary Celebration. Published August 4, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  10. 10.Congress of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 7698: An Act Declaring August Six of Every Year a Special Nonworking Public Holiday in the Province of Cebu. Published April 29, 1994. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  11. 11.United States Philippine Commission. Act No. 116: An Act Extending the Provisions of the Provincial Government Act to the Province of Cebu, and Incorporating the Pueblo of San Nicolas in the Municipality of Cebu. Published April 18, 1901. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  12. 12.National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Panandang Pangkasaysayan 2007-2016. Published 2024. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  13. 13.Provincial Government of Cebu. History (2004 site, as archived by the Internet Archive on 4 December 2004). Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  14. 14.National Historical Institute. Historical Markers: Regions V-XII. Published 1994. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  15. 15.United States Philippine Commission. Act No. 173: An Act Restoring the Provinces of Batangas, Cebu, and Bohol to the Executive Control of the Military Governor. Published July 17, 1901. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  16. 16.Congress of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 7160: the Local Government Code of 1991. Published October 10, 1991. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  17. 17.1986 Constitutional Commission. The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. Published February 2, 1987. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
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  19. 19.Congress of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 10684: An Act creating an additional legislative district in the Province of Cebu to be known as the seventh legislative district. Published September 18, 2015. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
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  21. 21.Congress of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 11257: An Act separating the City of Mandaue from the sixth legislative district of the Province of Cebu. Published April 5, 2019. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
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  24. 24.Philippine Statistics Authority. Per Capita Gross Domestic Product by Province and HUC (OpenSTAT table 0092A5FPPA8). Published August 28, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. CC BY (PSA Terms of Use). Open the source
  25. 25.Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Table 2a. Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold and Poverty Incidence Among Population with Measures of Precision, by Region, Province and Highly Urbanized Cities: 2018, 2021, and 2023 (OpenSTAT table 0041F3DF02A). Published August 15, 2024. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. CC BY (PSA Terms of Use). Open the source
  26. 26.Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Directory of LGU Elective Officials for Term 2025-2028 as of February 2026 (its sheet: Consolidated List of Officials for Election Terms (2025-2028)), released through the FOI portal. Published February 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. A work of the Government of the Philippines: RA 8293, Section 176 (no copyright subsists in it; exploiting it for profit needs the agency's prior approval). Open the source
  27. 27.Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Records and Statistics Division, ERSD. List of Elected Provincial Candidates, May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections. Published December 23, 2025. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Public domain: comelec.gov.ph says "All content is in the public domain unless otherwise stated." Each list carries COMELEC's data privacy notice (RA 10173).. Open the source
  28. 28.Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Records and Statistics Division, ERSD. List of Elected Provincial Candidates, May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections. Published December 23, 2025. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Public domain: comelec.gov.ph says "All content is in the public domain unless otherwise stated." Each list carries COMELEC's data privacy notice (RA 10173).. Open the source
  29. 29.Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Records and Statistics Division, ERSD. List of Elected Provincial Candidates, May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections. Published January 12, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Public domain: comelec.gov.ph says "All content is in the public domain unless otherwise stated." Each list carries COMELEC's data privacy notice (RA 10173).. Open the source
  30. 30.Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Records and Statistics Division, ERSD. List of Elected Provincial Candidates, May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections. Published January 12, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Public domain: comelec.gov.ph says "All content is in the public domain unless otherwise stated." Each list carries COMELEC's data privacy notice (RA 10173).. Open the source
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  32. 32.Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Records and Statistics Division, ERSD. List of Elected Provincial Candidates, May 14, 2007 National and Local Elections. Published January 14, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Public domain: comelec.gov.ph says "All content is in the public domain unless otherwise stated." Each list carries COMELEC's data privacy notice (RA 10173).. Open the source
  33. 33.Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Records and Statistics Division, ERSD. List of Elected Provincial Candidates, May 10, 2004 National and Local Elections. Published January 8, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Public domain: comelec.gov.ph says "All content is in the public domain unless otherwise stated." Each list carries COMELEC's data privacy notice (RA 10173).. Open the source
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  35. 35.European Union and the European Space Agency (Copernicus), from DLR and Airbus Defence and Space (WorldDEM). Copernicus DEM GLO-30: global digital surface model at 30 m, one-degree tiles (2021 release). Published 2021. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Copernicus DEM GLO-30 licence: free, any use including commercial, with the Copernicus notice. Open the source
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  38. 38.Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Climatology and Agrometeorology Division. Climatological Normals, 1991-2020, by synoptic station (one PDF each). Published January 2022. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. A work of the Government of the Philippines: no copyright (RA 8293 s.176.1); PAGASA's approval is needed to use it for profit. Open the source
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Scene adds what the sources do not print themselves: growth rates, shares, barangay areas and densities, coordinates, neighbours and distances, each computed from the figures and borders above. How each is made.

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Cite this page

Scene.ph. “Cebu.” Scene Atlas. Updated October 2, 2026. https://scene.ph/atlas/cebu