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Province

Leyte

Leyte is a province in the Eastern Visayas region of Visayas, Philippines. Its population was 1,823,458 in the 2024 census, and it has 3 cities and 40 municipalities.

  • Population: 2024 Census
  • Places: PSGC 2Q 2026
  • Checked by Scene: October 8, 2026
  • Page updated: October 2, 2026
A small island of palm trees and a thatched hut, its white sandbar running out into clear turquoise shallows, seen from the air under a blue sky with white clouds.
Kalanggaman Island and its sandbar, off Palompon.Photo: “Kalanggaman Island 2024” by Gcabig2024, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized by Scene. Scene's copy is shared under the same licence.

  • PeopleSources

    1,823,458

    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 16.3% from 2010 to 2024

  • Rank by peopleSources

    1st

    of the 6 provinces of Eastern 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 39 of every 100 people in Eastern Visayas lived in Leyte in 2024 (39.42%)

  • Inside itSources

    43

    cities and municipalities

    1,616 barangays

  • LandSources

    4,969.46 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: Leyte's land would fill a square about 70.5 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: 367 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 4 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

    475,364

    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

    17.6%

    About 18 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
0803700000[4]Formerly 083700000

People

Leyte had 1,823,458 people in the 2024 census, up 16.3% 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.

Leyte had the most people of the 6 provinces of Eastern Visayas in 2024[1]
  1. 1Leyte1,823,458
  2. 2Samar806,179
  3. 3Northern Samar645,789
  4. 4Eastern Samar472,683
  5. 5Southern Leyte434,372
  6. 6Biliran184,095
All 6 provinces of Eastern Visayas
Of every 100 people in Leyte in 2024[1]

The PSA counts Leyte without Tacloban City, which is a highly urbanized city and is counted on its own, as in every province.[1]

Age structure · 2024 Census[5]People living in households, by age and sex
  • About 29 of every 100 are children under 15 (28.5%)
  • About 64 of every 100 are of working age, 15 to 64 (63.7%)
  • About 8 of every 100 are 65 or older (7.8%)
MenWomen

The figures by age

People by age group, men and women
AgePeopleMenWomen
Under 5143,23974,00869,231
5 - 9176,41392,24184,172
10 - 14198,169102,66195,508
15 - 19182,98094,60888,372
20 - 24155,14679,17075,976
25 - 29136,01969,39866,621
30 - 34131,63368,12363,510
35 - 39115,91660,86355,053
40 - 44105,25855,66749,591
45 - 4996,02150,73545,286
50 - 5487,22745,24041,987
55 - 5977,83339,33538,498
60 - 6469,86035,08434,776
65 - 6955,32826,87328,455
70 - 7439,21717,69121,526
75 - 7923,9459,69914,246
80 - 8413,5524,7648,788
85 and over8,9802,5956,385

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
1,823,458[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
475,364[1, 2]
People in each household, 2024
3.8 on average[1, 2]
Share of Eastern 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
39.42%[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
17.6% (320,827 people)[6]
Men and women, 2024
928,755 men, 887,981 women[5]People living in households
Population at each census, with its source
CensusPopulationGrowth since the census beforeHouseholdsPeople per household
2024as of July 1, 20241,823,458[1, 2]0.62% a year475,3643.8
2020as of May 1, 20201,776,847[1]0.63% a year——
2015as of August 1, 20151,724,679[1]1.83% a year——
2010as of May 1, 20101,567,984[1]———
2007as of August 1, 2007; as it was then1,506,096[38]0.88% a year——
2000as of May 1, 2000; on today’s borders1,413,697[38, 39]1.09% a year——
1995as of September 1, 1995; as it was then1,343,941[38]1.66% a year——
1990as of May 1, 1990; as it was then1,230,925[38]1.23% a year——
1980as of May 1, 1980; as it was then1,088,704[38]1.33% a year——
1975as of May 1, 1975; as it was then1,019,141[38]1.56% a year——
1970as of May 6, 1970; as it was then943,597[38]1.35% a year——
1960as of February 15, 1960; as it was then822,528[38]———

Cities and municipalities

Leyte is made up of 40 municipalities, 1 city, Tacloban City and Ormoc City, with 1,616 barangays in all. Tacloban City and Ormoc City lie within it but govern themselves apart from the province.
Colour byColours the map of Leyte by the figure chosen; the key beside it says what each colour means.
SamarSouthern LeyteAbuyog: 61,854 people, 204 per km², 0.25% a yearAlangalang: 59,063 people, 385 per km², 0.78% a yearAlbuera: 47,333 people, 674 per km², 0.09% a yearBabatngon: 29,587 people, 215 per km², 0.63% a yearBarugo: 35,402 people, 374 per km², 0.62% a yearBato: 39,275 people, 543 per km², 0.48% a yearBurauen: 54,635 people, 172 per km², 0.96% a yearCalubian: 31,990 people, 746 per km², 0.26% a yearCapoocan: 34,388 people, 238 per km², 0.47% a yearCarigara: 56,060 people, 509 per km², 0.61% a yearBaybay City: 114,708 people, 284 per km², 0.61% a yearTacloban City: 259,353 people, 2,514 per km², 0.70% a yearDagami: 36,700 people, 550 per km², 0.34% a yearDulag: 50,728 people, 628 per km², 0.84% a yearHilongos: 66,774 people, 347 per km², 0.83% a yearHindang: 21,520 people, 308 per km², 0.76% a yearInopacan: 21,629 people, 198 per km², 0.27% a yearIsabel: 46,858 people, 732 per km², 0.04% a yearJaro: 44,643 people, 217 per km², 0.48% a yearJavier: 27,759 people, 201 per km², 0.98% a yearJulita: 16,053 people, 507 per km², 0.69% a yearKananga: 60,885 people, 391 per km², 0.47% a yearLa Paz: 19,797 people, 196 per km², 0.77% a yearLeyte: 40,622 people, 224 per km², 0.13% a yearMacarthur: 22,256 people, 590 per km², 0.74% a yearMahaplag: 28,424 people, 174 per km², 0.48% a yearMatag-Ob: 18,618 people, 352 per km², 1.47% a yearMatalom: 32,604 people, 274 per km², 0.01% a yearMayorga: 18,713 people, 651 per km², 0.84% a yearMerida: 32,373 people, 401 per km², 0.60% a yearOrmoc City: 238,545 people, 514 per km², 0.77% a yearPalo: 80,291 people, 917 per km², 1.26% a yearPalompon: 59,486 people, 322 per km², 0.48% a yearPastrana: 20,327 people, 375 per km², 1.18% a yearSan Isidro: 30,792 people, 770 per km², 0.05% a yearSan Miguel: 20,322 people, 140 per km², 0.68% a yearSanta Fe: 22,889 people, 517 per km², 0.84% a yearTabango: 33,888 people, 893 per km², 0.01% a yearTabontabon: 12,157 people, 503 per km², 0.51% a yearTanauan: 60,212 people, 875 per km², 1.13% a yearTolosa: 22,016 people, 1,014 per km², 1.48% a yearTunga: 8,301 people, 955 per km², 1.96% a yearVillaba: 42,981 people, 719 per km², 0.07% 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 Leyte. Each column heading sorts the table.
Kind[1, 7]Share (2024)
AbuyogMunicipality61,8543.39%0.25% a year302.98 km²
AlangalangMunicipality59,0633.24%0.78% a year153.57 km²
AlbueraMunicipality47,3332.6%0.09% a year70.20 km²
BabatngonMunicipality29,5871.62%0.63% a year137.50 km²
BarugoMunicipality35,4021.94%0.62% a year94.70 km²
BatoMunicipality39,2752.15%0.48% a year72.30 km²
BurauenMunicipality54,6353%0.96% a year317.33 km²
CalubianMunicipality31,9901.75%0.26% a year42.86 km²
CapoocanMunicipality34,3881.89%0.47% a year144.79 km²
CarigaraMunicipality56,0603.07%0.61% a year110.21 km²
Baybay CityComponent city114,7086.29%0.61% a year403.83 km²
Tacloban CityHighly urbanized city259,353counted on its own0.70% a year103.18 km²
DagamiMunicipality36,7002.01%0.34% a year66.75 km²
DulagMunicipality50,7282.78%0.84% a year80.76 km²
HilongosMunicipality66,7743.66%0.83% a year192.53 km²
HindangMunicipality21,5201.18%0.76% a year69.89 km²
InopacanMunicipality21,6291.19%0.27% a year109.11 km²
IsabelMunicipality46,8582.57%0.04% a year64.02 km²
JaroMunicipality44,6432.45%0.48% a year205.38 km²
JavierMunicipality27,7591.52%0.98% a year137.79 km²
JulitaMunicipality16,0530.88%0.69% a year31.68 km²
KanangaMunicipality60,8853.34%0.47% a year155.63 km²
La PazMunicipality19,7971.09%0.77% a year100.84 km²
LeyteMunicipality40,6222.23%0.13% a year181.26 km²
MacarthurMunicipality22,2561.22%0.74% a year37.70 km²
MahaplagMunicipality28,4241.56%0.48% a year163.44 km²
Matag-ObMunicipality18,6181.02%1.47% a year52.94 km²
MatalomMunicipality32,6041.79%0.01% a year119.16 km²
MayorgaMunicipality18,7131.03%0.84% a year28.73 km²
MeridaMunicipality32,3731.78%0.60% a year80.76 km²
Ormoc CityIndependent component city238,54513.08%0.77% a year463.97 km²
PaloMunicipality80,2914.4%1.26% a year87.55 km²
PalomponMunicipality59,4863.26%0.48% a year184.48 km²
PastranaMunicipality20,3271.11%1.18% a year54.27 km²
San IsidroMunicipality30,7921.69%0.05% a year39.98 km²
San MiguelMunicipality20,3221.11%0.68% a year145.11 km²
Santa FeMunicipality22,8891.26%0.84% a year44.31 km²
TabangoMunicipality33,8881.86%0.01% a year37.93 km²
TabontabonMunicipality12,1570.67%0.51% a year24.18 km²
TanauanMunicipality60,2123.3%1.13% a year68.83 km²
TolosaMunicipality22,0161.21%1.48% a year21.71 km²
TungaMunicipality8,3010.46%1.96% a year8.69 km²
VillabaMunicipality42,9812.36%0.07% a year59.81 km²

Land & Environment

Leyte covers 4,969.46 km² of land, 367 people for every km² in 2024. Its land rises to 1,333 m above the sea and it has 863.9 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
4,969.46 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
367 people per km²[7]
Coordinates
11.11691° N, 124.79926° E[3]The point inside its border farthest from every edge, so it always falls within the place.
Height above the sea[34]
Lowest
Sea level
Average
181 m
Highest
1,333 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

863.9 km of coastline[35]

Rivers[35]

  1. Binahaan River62.7 of 62.9 km
  2. Pagsangahan River43.4 km
  3. Marabang River39.4 km
  4. Leyte River39.0 km
  5. Mainit River38.4 km
  6. Daguitan River36.4 km
  7. Bao River25.0 km
  8. Quiot River24.3 km

The longest inside it: 97 in all.

Lakes[35]

  1. Lake Danao1.5 km²
  2. Lake Bito1.4 km²
  3. Danao Lake0.22 km²
  4. Lake Kasudsuran0.14 km²

Peaks[35]

  1. Janagdanvolcano1,200 m
  2. Mount Aminduen1,200 m
  3. Mount Tabaan1,170 m
  4. Proto-labivolcano1,120 m
  5. Mount Tinagan1,115 m
  6. Mount Pangasugan1,070 m

The highest: 72 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 IV[36]

Rain spread fairly evenly through the year, with no dry season.

Covers about 91 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 Tacloban City, the nearest PAGASA station, 27 km away[37]Averages for 1991 to 2020: 2,841 mm of rain on 182 days a year; 28.1 °C on average

Rain each month Average temperature

The figures by month

Climate at Tacloban City, 1991 to 2020, by month
MonthRainRainy daysAverageHighLow
January367 mm1826.7 °C29.5 °C23.8 °C
February278 mm1526.9 °C30.2 °C23.7 °C
March233 mm1427.6 °C31.0 °C24.1 °C
April124 mm1228.5 °C32.0 °C25.0 °C
May143 mm1129.0 °C32.5 °C25.6 °C
June211 mm1528.7 °C32.1 °C25.4 °C
July188 mm1528.5 °C31.9 °C25.1 °C
August156 mm1228.8 °C32.3 °C25.3 °C
September186 mm1328.6 °C32.1 °C25.1 °C
October215 mm1628.4 °C31.7 °C25.1 °C
November288 mm1927.9 °C31.0 °C24.8 °C
December450 mm2227.3 °C30.1 °C24.4 °C
The year2,841 mm18228.1 °C31.4 °C24.8 °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 3 m above the sea.

Life & Economy

Leyte's economy made ₱288.1 billion of goods and services in 2025, ₱154,963 for each person. About 29 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
₱288.1 billion[21]Its gross domestic product at current prices; ₱272.4 billion at 2018 prices. It leaves out Tacloban City, which the PSA counts apart.
Growth, 2024–2025
−1.2%[22]How much more it made than the year before, at 2018 prices.
For each person, 2025
₱154,963[23]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
29.3% of people[24]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 29 of every 100 people in Leyte lived below the poverty line in 2023 (29.3%)[24]

The PSA's survey puts it between 25.4% and 33.2%, with 95% confidence. The poverty line was ₱33,736 a person for the year. As the PSA counts it, without the City of Tacloban.

Public places

  • 704government offices
  • 166hospitals and health centres
  • 1,661schools
  • 407places of worship
  • 61markets
  • 52stations and terminals
  • 56parks
  • 7beaches
  • 49monuments 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 “Leyte” in their name, then one in each of its most populous cities and municipalities.

Stations and terminals51

45 more stations and terminals are listed on the pages of the cities and municipalities they stand in. See the 43 cities and municipalities of Leyte

Parks55

49 more parks are listed on the pages of the cities and municipalities they stand in. See the 43 cities and municipalities of Leyte

Beaches7

Monuments and memorials48

42 more monuments and memorials are listed on the pages of the cities and municipalities they stand in. See the 43 cities and municipalities of Leyte

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

Government & Leaders

A governor leads Leyte. 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.[18, 19]

Capital
Tacloban City[4]

5 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, 20]

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

1st district8 cities and municipalities

2nd district14 cities and municipalities

3rd district5 cities and municipalities

4th district7 cities and municipalities

5th district9 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
    Carlos Jericho Loreto Petilla[25]
    Vice governor
    Leonardo Morales Javier Jr.[25]

  2. 2022–2025

    Governor
    Carlos Jericho Loreto Petilla[26]
    Vice governor
    Leonardo Morales Javier Jr.[26]

  3. 2019–2022

    Governor
    Leopoldo Dominico Loreto Petilla[27]
    Vice governor
    Carlo Petilla Loreto[27]

  4. 2016–2019

    Governor
    Leopoldo Dominico Loreto Petilla[28]
    Vice governor
    Carlo Petilla Loreto[28]

  5. 2013–2016

    Governor
    Leopoldo Dominico Loreto Petilla[29]
    Vice governor
    Carlo Petilla Loreto[29]

  6. 2010–2013

    Governor
    Carlos Jericho Loreto Petilla[30]
    Vice governor
    Ma. Mimietta Satorre Bagulaya[30]

  7. 2007–2010

    Governor
    Carlos Jericho Loreto Petilla[31]
    Vice governor
    Ma. Mimietta Satorre Bagulaya[31]

  8. 2004–2007

    Governor
    Carlos Jericho Loreto Petilla[32]
    Vice governor
    Ma. Mimietta Aviles/satorre Bagulaya[32]

  9. 2001–2004

    Governor
    Remedios L. Petilla[33]
    Vice governor
    Nestor P. Villasin[33]
Governors and vice governors of Leyte, by term
TermGovernorVice governor
2025–2028In office as of February 2026Carlos Jericho Loreto Petilla[25]Leonardo Morales Javier Jr.[25]
2022–2025Carlos Jericho Loreto Petilla[26]Leonardo Morales Javier Jr.[26]
2019–2022Leopoldo Dominico Loreto Petilla[27]Carlo Petilla Loreto[27]
2016–2019Leopoldo Dominico Loreto Petilla[28]Carlo Petilla Loreto[28]
2013–2016Leopoldo Dominico Loreto Petilla[29]Carlo Petilla Loreto[29]
2010–2013Carlos Jericho Loreto Petilla[30]Ma. Mimietta Satorre Bagulaya[30]
2007–2010Carlos Jericho Loreto Petilla[31]Ma. Mimietta Satorre Bagulaya[31]
2004–2007Carlos Jericho Loreto Petilla[32]Ma. Mimietta Aviles/satorre Bagulaya[32]
2001–2004Remedios L. Petilla[33]Nestor P. Villasin[33]

History & Identity

Leyte's fiesta and days

Everything listed for Leyte in Now

Created
A politico-military province under Spain from 1735; its civil government was set up under Act No. 121, enacted 22 April 1901, with Tacloban as its capital[9, 10]

How it got its name

In February 1543 the Spanish navigator Ruy López de Villalobos named the island Felipina, after Philip of Spain, a name later given to the whole archipelago.[9]

Its story

On 28 March 1521 Magellan's expedition landed on Limasawa, at the southern tip of Leyte, where Magellan made a blood compact with its ruler, Rajah Kolambu, and took possession of the land for Spain.[9, 11]

The Jesuits set up their first mission in Leyte in 1595. In 1735 it became a politico-military province with Samar under it. Its capital moved from Carigara to Palo and Tanauan, and in 1787 to Tacloban, where it stayed.[9, 11]

Sources differSources differ on when Samar was separated from Leyte: the province's own history gives 1768, while proclamations of 1997 and 2010 date Spain's declaration of Samar as a province independent of Leyte and Cebu to 11 August 1841.[9, 12, 13]

A royal decree of 31 July 1860 reorganizing the Visayan provinces ranked Leyte a third-class province, with 28 towns.[11]

Its civil government under the Americans was organized on 22 April 1901, with Tacloban as its capital.[10, 11]

On 20 October 1944 American troops under General Douglas MacArthur, with President Sergio Osmeña, landed at Palo, and from 23 October 1944 to 27 February 1945 Tacloban was the temporary seat of the Commonwealth.[9, 11]

A 1923 law to divide Leyte in two was never put into effect. In 1959 Republic Act No. 2227 made its southern towns the Province of Southern Leyte, and Republic Act No. 2141 made Biliran a sub-province, which became a province of its own in 1992.[11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18]

Timeline

  1. 28 March 1521

    Magellan's expedition lands on Limasawa.[11]

  2. February 1543

    Villalobos names the island Felipina.[9]

  3. 1595

    The Jesuits found their first mission in Leyte.[11]

  4. 1735

    Leyte becomes a politico-military province, with Samar under it.[9]

  5. 1768 or 11 August 1841

    Sources differSamar is separated from Leyte; the sources differ on the date.[9, 12, 13]

  6. 1787

    Tacloban becomes the capital for good.[11]

  7. 22 April 1901

    Act No. 121 extends the Provincial Government Act to Leyte, with Tacloban as its capital.[10]

  8. 20 October 1944

    MacArthur's forces land at Palo.[9, 11]

  9. 8 April 1959

    Republic Act No. 2141 makes Biliran a sub-province of Leyte.[17]

  10. 22 May 1959

    Republic Act No. 2227 creates Southern Leyte, in effect from 1 July 1960.[16]

  11. 11 May 1992

    The sub-province of Biliran becomes a province.[11, 18]

Nearby

Leyte shares a border with Samar and Southern Leyte.

How it compares

Leyte beside Eastern Visayas, and where it stands among the provinces of Eastern Visayas.

Leyte beside Eastern Visayas
FigureLeyteEastern VisayasRank among the provinces of Eastern 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 glossary1,823,458[1, 2]4,625,9291st of 6
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 glossary0.62% a year[1, 2]faster0.41% a year2nd of 6
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 glossary367[7]more crowded2201st of 6
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 glossary4,969.46 km²[7]21,017.38 km²3rd of 6
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]lower4.0not 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 glossary17.6%[6]about the same17.3%not ranked

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: Eastern Visayas (OpenSTAT table 0081A6DTPH7). 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 Leyte. About Us. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  10. 10.United States Philippine Commission. Act No. 121: An Act Extending the Provisions of the Provincial Government Act to the Province of Leyte. Published April 22, 1901. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  11. 11.Provincial Government of Leyte. General Information: History (2002 site, as archived by the Internet Archive on 11 December 2002). Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  12. 12.Office of the President of the Philippines. Proclamation No. 1025, s. 1997: Declaring Monday, August 11, 1997 as a Special Day in the Province of Samar. Published June 11, 1997. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  13. 13.Office of the President of the Philippines. Proclamation No. 11, s. 2010: Declaring Wednesday, August 11, 2010, as Special (Non-Working) Day in the Province of Samar. Published August 6, 2010. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  14. 14.Philippine Legislature. Act No. 3117: An Act to Provide for the Division of the Province of Leyte into Two Provinces Independent from Each Other, Fix the Boundaries of Each, and for Other Purposes. Published March 27, 1923. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  15. 15.Provincial Government of Southern Leyte. History (as archived by the Internet Archive on 3 June 2025). Published July 28, 2022. 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. 2227: An Act Creating the Province of Southern Leyte. Published May 22, 1959. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  17. 17.Congress of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 2141: An Act Creating the Sub-Province of Biliran. Published April 8, 1959. 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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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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Scene.ph. “Leyte.” Scene Atlas. Updated October 2, 2026. https://scene.ph/atlas/leyte