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Province

Samar

Samar is a province in the Eastern Visayas region of Visayas, Philippines. Its population was 806,179 in the 2024 census, and it has 2 cities and 24 municipalities.

  • Population: 2024 Census
  • Places: PSGC 2Q 2026
  • Checked by Scene: October 8, 2026
  • Page updated: October 8, 2026
A weathered grey stone church with a pointed gable, a round window and a white-framed doorway, beside a thick round bell tower capped by a red-roofed lantern, behind a garden, under an overcast sky.
The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel and its round bell tower, in Basey.Photo: “Basey Church (002) 2023-11-18” by LMP 2001, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized by Scene. Scene's copy is shared under the same licence.

  • PeopleSources

    806,179

    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 9.9% from 2010 to 2024

  • Rank by peopleSources

    2nd

    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 17 of every 100 people in Eastern Visayas lived in Samar in 2024 (17.43%)

  • Inside itSources

    26

    cities and municipalities

    951 barangays

  • LandSources

    5,414.68 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: Samar's land would fill a square about 73.6 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: 149 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 1 person 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

    195,382

    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

    4.1 people in each, on average, in 2024

  • Town or countrySources

    14.9%

    About 15 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
0806000000[4]Formerly 086000000

People

Samar had 806,179 people in the 2024 census, up 9.9% 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.

Samar had the 2nd 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 Samar in 2024[1]
Age structure · 2024 Census[5]People living in households, by age and sex
  • About 30 of every 100 are children under 15 (30.1%)
  • About 63 of every 100 are of working age, 15 to 64 (63.2%)
  • 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 570,62336,36334,260
5 - 981,38342,15239,231
10 - 1490,35046,95943,391
15 - 1983,61243,28940,323
20 - 2475,00738,42036,587
25 - 2965,48833,70331,785
30 - 3456,95729,75127,206
35 - 3946,00924,35321,656
40 - 4442,24922,05520,194
45 - 4940,09221,00919,083
50 - 5438,48719,87618,611
55 - 5933,42317,07316,350
60 - 6427,28313,78213,501
65 - 6921,01710,36910,648
70 - 7414,1606,2587,902
75 - 799,4443,8195,625
80 - 845,7092,1143,595
85 and over3,3631,0832,280

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
806,179[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
195,382[1, 2]
People in each household, 2024
4.1 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
17.43%[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
14.9% (120,405 people)[6]
Men and women, 2024
412,428 men, 392,228 women[5]People living in households
Population at each census, with its source
CensusPopulationGrowth since the census beforeHouseholdsPeople per household
2024as of July 1, 2024806,179[1, 2]0.39% a year195,3824.1
2020as of May 1, 2020793,183[1]0.34% a year——
2015as of August 1, 2015780,481[1]1.19% a year——
2010as of May 1, 2010733,377[1]———
2007as of August 1, 2007; as it was then695,149[41]1.12% a year——
2000as of May 1, 2000; on today’s borders641,124[41, 42]1.82% a year——
1995as of September 1, 1995; as it was then589,373[41]1.87% a year——
1990as of May 1, 1990; as it was then533,733[41]0.63% a year——
1980as of May 1, 1980; as it was then501,439[41]0.95% a year——
1975as of May 1, 1975; as it was then478,378[41]1.59% a year——
1970as of May 6, 1970; as it was then442,244[41]1.79% a year——
1960as of February 15, 1960; as it was then368,823[41]———

Cities and municipalities

Samar is made up of 24 municipalities and 2 cities, with 951 barangays in all.
Colour byColours the map of Samar by the figure chosen; the key beside it says what each colour means.
Eastern SamarLeyteNorthern SamarAlmagro: 8,571 people, 360 per km², −1.87% a yearBasey: 57,645 people, 113 per km², 0.40% a yearCalbiga: 23,309 people, 99 per km², 0.00% a yearCalbayog City: 187,848 people, 223 per km², 0.11% a yearCatbalogan City: 107,896 people, 606 per km², 0.33% a yearDaram: 41,932 people, 438 per km², 0.19% a yearGandara: 36,826 people, 115 per km², 1.06% a yearHinabangan: 13,791 people, 34 per km², 0.17% a yearJiabong: 19,482 people, 191 per km², 0.34% a yearMarabut: 18,168 people, 127 per km², 0.44% a yearMatuguinao: 7,708 people, 41 per km², 1.10% a yearMotiong: 15,887 people, 141 per km², 0.94% a yearPagsanghan: 8,145 people, 306 per km², 0.56% a yearParanas: 35,281 people, 66 per km², 2.08% a yearPinabacdao: 18,639 people, 83 per km², 0.66% a yearSan Jorge: 17,863 people, 66 per km², 0.39% a yearSan Jose De Buan: 7,939 people, 26 per km², 0.53% a yearSan Sebastian: 9,110 people, 221 per km², 1.10% a yearSanta Margarita: 27,012 people, 209 per km², 0.17% a yearSanta Rita: 42,397 people, 116 per km², 0.01% a yearSanto Niño: 13,088 people, 443 per km², 1.07% a yearTagapul-An: 9,139 people, 335 per km², 0.90% a yearTalalora: 8,530 people, 305 per km², 1.99% a yearTarangnan: 26,013 people, 200 per km², 0.28% a yearVillareal: 27,909 people, 287 per km², 0.45% a yearZumarraga: 16,051 people, 416 per km², −0.34% 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 Samar. Each column heading sorts the table.
Kind[1, 7]Share (2024)
AlmagroMunicipality8,5711.06%−1.87% a year23.78 km²
BaseyMunicipality57,6457.15%0.40% a year509.36 km²
CalbigaMunicipality23,3092.89%0.00% a year235.60 km²
Calbayog CityComponent city187,84823.3%0.11% a year843.53 km²
Catbalogan CityComponent city107,89613.38%0.33% a year177.98 km²
DaramMunicipality41,9325.2%0.19% a year95.81 km²
GandaraMunicipality36,8264.57%1.06% a year320.51 km²
HinabanganMunicipality13,7911.71%0.17% a year405.02 km²
JiabongMunicipality19,4822.42%0.34% a year102.20 km²
MarabutMunicipality18,1682.25%0.44% a year143.54 km²
MatuguinaoMunicipality7,7080.96%1.10% a year189.58 km²
MotiongMunicipality15,8871.97%0.94% a year112.77 km²
PagsanghanMunicipality8,1451.01%0.56% a year26.60 km²
ParanasMunicipality35,2814.38%2.08% a year536.73 km²
PinabacdaoMunicipality18,6392.31%0.66% a year224.05 km²
San JorgeMunicipality17,8632.22%0.39% a year271.18 km²
San Jose De BuanMunicipality7,9390.98%0.53% a year310.78 km²
San SebastianMunicipality9,1101.13%1.10% a year41.30 km²
Santa MargaritaMunicipality27,0123.35%0.17% a year129.12 km²
Santa RitaMunicipality42,3975.26%0.01% a year364.42 km²
Santo NiñoMunicipality13,0881.62%1.07% a year29.53 km²
Tagapul-AnMunicipality9,1391.13%0.90% a year27.25 km²
TalaloraMunicipality8,5301.06%1.99% a year27.96 km²
TarangnanMunicipality26,0133.23%0.28% a year130.27 km²
VillarealMunicipality27,9093.46%0.45% a year97.25 km²
ZumarragaMunicipality16,0511.99%−0.34% a year38.56 km²

Land & Environment

Samar covers 5,414.68 km² of land, 149 people for every km² in 2024. Its land rises to 854 m above the sea and it has 968.2 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
5,414.68 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
149 people per km²[7]
Coordinates
11.99675° N, 124.96334° E[3]The point inside its border farthest from every edge, so it always falls within the place.
Height above the sea[37]
Lowest
Sea level
Average
175 m
Highest
854 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

968.2 km of coastline[38]

Rivers[38]

  1. Jibatang River83.7 km
  2. Gandara River52.1 of 53.1 km
  3. Calbiga River33.8 km
  4. San Jorge River30.8 km
  5. Himonini River28.9 km
  6. Sohoton River27.1 km
  7. Tubig River27.0 of 36.6 km
  8. Las Navas River25.1 of 93.6 km

The longest inside it: 53 in all.

Peaks[38]

  1. Mount Huraw890 m
  2. Mount Capotoan850 m
  3. Mount Capoto-on555 m
  4. Mount Opao553 m
  5. Mount Yaua545 m
  6. Mount Canyaba540 m

The highest: 32 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[39]

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

Covers about 64 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 Catbalogan, the nearest PAGASA station, 26 km away[40]Averages for 1991 to 2020: 2,991 mm of rain on 181 days a year; 28.4 °C on average

Rain each month Average temperature

The figures by month

Climate at Catbalogan, 1991 to 2020, by month
MonthRainRainy daysAverageHighLow
January296 mm1626.7 °C30.8 °C22.7 °C
February208 mm1227.0 °C31.4 °C22.6 °C
March191 mm1328.6 °C32.4 °C23.2 °C
April124 mm1128.8 °C33.5 °C24.1 °C
May179 mm1229.5 °C33.9 °C25.0 °C
June230 mm1529.2 °C33.4 °C25.0 °C
July292 mm1728.8 °C32.7 °C24.9 °C
August196 mm1229.1 °C32.9 °C25.3 °C
September280 mm1528.9 °C32.8 °C24.9 °C
October299 mm1928.4 °C32.3 °C24.4 °C
November293 mm1927.8 °C31.9 °C23.8 °C
December404 mm2027.3 °C31.2 °C23.4 °C
The year2,991 mm18128.4 °C32.4 °C24.1 °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 5 m above the sea.

Life & Economy

Samar's economy made ₱81.9 billion of goods and services in 2025, ₱101,124 for each person. About 32 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
₱81.9 billion[24]Its gross domestic product at current prices; ₱65.3 billion at 2018 prices.
Growth, 2024–2025
1.4%[25]How much more it made than the year before, at 2018 prices.
For each person, 2025
₱101,124[26]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
32.3% of people[27]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 32 of every 100 people in Samar lived below the poverty line in 2023 (32.3%)[27]

The PSA's survey puts it between 28.0% and 36.7%, with 95% confidence. The poverty line was ₱29,039 a person for the year.

Public places

  • 338government offices
  • 27hospitals and health centres
  • 988schools
  • 92places of worship
  • 23markets
  • 51stations and terminals
  • 17parks
  • 2beaches
  • 5monuments 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 “Samar” 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 26 cities and municipalities of Samar

Parks17

11 more parks are listed on the pages of the cities and municipalities they stand in. See the 26 cities and municipalities of Samar

Beaches2

Monuments and memorials5

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

Government & Leaders

A governor leads Samar. 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.[21, 22]

Capital
Catbalogan City[4]

2 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[23]

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

1st district

2nd district

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
    Sharee Ann Tan Delos Reyes[28]
    Vice governor
    Arnold Vasquez Tan[28]

  2. 2022–2025

    Governor
    Sharee Ann Tee Tan[29]
    Vice governor
    Arnold Vasquez Tan[29]

  3. 2019–2022

    Governor
    Milagrosa Tee Tan[30]
    Vice governor
    Reynolds Michael Tee Tan[30]

  4. 2016–2019

    Governor
    Sharee Ann Tee Tan[31]
    Vice governor
    Stephen James Tee Tan[31]

  5. 2013–2016

    Governor
    Sharee Ann Tee Tan[32]
    Vice governor
    Stephen James Tee Tan[32]

  6. 2010–2013

    Governor
    Sharee Ann Tee Tan[33]
    Vice governor
    Stephen James Tee Tan[33]

  7. 2007–2010

    Governor
    Milagrosa Tee Tan[34]
    Vice governor
    Jesus Bello Redaja[34]

  8. 2004–2007

    Governor
    Milagrosa Tee Tan[35]
    Vice governor
    Jesus Bello Redaja[35]

  9. 2001–2004

    Governor
    Milagrosa T. Tan[36]
    Vice governor
    Ernesto C. Arcales[36]
Governors and vice governors of Samar, by term
TermGovernorVice governor
2025–2028In office as of February 2026Sharee Ann Tan Delos Reyes[28]Arnold Vasquez Tan[28]
2022–2025Sharee Ann Tee Tan[29]Arnold Vasquez Tan[29]
2019–2022Milagrosa Tee Tan[30]Reynolds Michael Tee Tan[30]
2016–2019Sharee Ann Tee Tan[31]Stephen James Tee Tan[31]
2013–2016Sharee Ann Tee Tan[32]Stephen James Tee Tan[32]
2010–2013Sharee Ann Tee Tan[33]Stephen James Tee Tan[33]
2007–2010Milagrosa Tee Tan[34]Jesus Bello Redaja[34]
2004–2007Milagrosa Tee Tan[35]Jesus Bello Redaja[35]
2001–2004Milagrosa T. Tan[36]Ernesto C. Arcales[36]

History & Identity

Stories that tell of Samar

Samar is part of these Stories, told from their own place.

And from Visayas, which Samar is part of:

All Stories

Samar's fiesta and days

  • Samar DayLocal special day · Every 11 August · next Wednesday, 11 August 2027

Everything listed for Samar in Now

Former name
Western Samar[4]
Created
A province under Spain, governed apart from Leyte from 1768 or from 11 August 1841 as the sources differ, with its civil government set up under Act No. 419, enacted 17 June 1902; Republic Act No. 4221, approved 19 June 1965, divided it into three, and its western part, Western Samar, took the name Samar under Republic Act No. 5650 of 21 June 1969[9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14]

How it got its name

The province gives Tandaya as its ancient name and uses it for the festival held each year on Samar Day.[16]

Its story

From 1735 Samar was governed with Leyte as a single politico-military province, under Leyte's jurisdiction.[9]

Sources differSources differ on when Samar became a province of its own: Leyte's history separates the two in 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, 10, 11]

Act No. 419 set up Samar's civil government on 17 June 1902, keeping Catbalogan as its capital, and in view of the people's distressed condition spared them that year's land tax. In 1903 its 43 towns were merged into 25.[12, 17]

Republic Act No. 4221 of 19 June 1965 divided Samar into Northern, Eastern and Western Samar, subject to a plebiscite held with that November's general elections, and kept Catbalogan as the capital of Western Samar. On 21 June 1969 Republic Act No. 5650 renamed Western Samar as Samar.[13, 14]

In 1987 and 1992 the province kept its anniversary on 11 November, the charter anniversary of Western Samar; by 1997 the island celebrated Samar Day on 11 August, the day in 1841 when Spain recognized Samar as a province. Republic Act No. 12038 made Samar Day a yearly holiday in 2024.[10, 18, 19, 20]

Timeline

  1. 1735

    Samar is placed under Leyte in a single politico-military province.[9]

  2. 1768 or 11 August 1841

    Sources differSamar becomes a province apart from Leyte; the sources differ on the date.[9, 10, 11]

  3. 17 June 1902

    Act No. 419 extends the Provincial Government Act to Samar, with Catbalogan as its capital.[12]

  4. 23 October 1903

    Act No. 960 reduces Samar's 43 towns to 25.[17]

  5. 19 June 1965

    Republic Act No. 4221 divides Samar into Northern, Eastern and Western Samar.[13]

  6. 21 June 1969

    Republic Act No. 5650 renames Western Samar as Samar.[14]

  7. 26 October 2024

    Republic Act No. 12038 makes 11 August, Samar Day, a yearly holiday in the province.[20]

Nearby

Samar shares a border with Eastern Samar, Leyte and Northern Samar.

How it compares

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

Samar beside Eastern Visayas
FigureSamarEastern 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 glossary806,179[1, 2]4,625,9292nd 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 glossary0.39% a year[1, 2]slower0.41% a year3rd 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 glossary149[7]less crowded2205th 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 glossary5,414.68 km²[7]21,017.38 km²1st 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 glossary4.1[1, 2]higher4.0not 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 glossary14.9%[6]lower17.3%not ranked

Sources

Page updated October 8, 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.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
  11. 11.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
  12. 12.United States Philippine Commission. Act No. 419: An Act Extending the Provisions of the Provincial Government Act and Its Amendments to the Province of Samar. Published June 17, 1902. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  13. 13.Congress of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 4221: An Act Creating the Provinces of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Western Samar. Published June 19, 1965. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  14. 14.Congress of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 5650: An Act Changing the Name of the Province of Western Samar to Samar. Published June 21, 1969. 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 Samar. Home. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  16. 16.Philippine News Agency (report by Lizbeth Ann Abella). Grand celebration set for Samar Day (as archived by the Internet Archive on 10 December 2023). Published August 6, 2019. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  17. 17.Philippine Commission. Act No. 960: An Act Reducing the Forty-three Municipalities of the Province of Samar to Twenty-Five. Published October 23, 1903. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  18. 18.Office of the President of the Philippines. Proclamation No. 173, s. 1987: Declaring Wednesday, November 11, 1987, as a Special Day in the Province of Samar. Published October 22, 1987. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  19. 19.Office of the President of the Philippines. Proclamation No. 94, s. 1992: Declaring Wednesday, November 11, 1992, as a Special Day in the Province of Samar. Published November 6, 1992. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  20. 20.Congress of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 12038: An Act Declaring August 11 of Every Year a Special Nonworking Holiday in the Province of Samar to Be Known as "Samar Day", in Commemoration of Its Foundation Day. Published October 26, 2024. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. Philippine government work, no copyright (Republic Act No. 8293, Section 176.1). Open the source
  21. 21.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
  22. 22.1986 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
  23. 23.1986 Constitutional Commission (text from the Chan Robles Virtual Law Library). Ordinance appended to the 1987 Constitution, apportioning the seats of the House of Representatives. 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
  24. 24.Philippine Statistics Authority. Gross Domestic Product by Province and HUC (OpenSTAT table 0012A5FPPA0). Published August 28, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. CC BY (PSA Terms of Use). Open the source
  25. 25.Philippine Statistics Authority. Gross Domestic Product by Province and HUC, Growth Rates (OpenSTAT table 0032A5FPPA2). Published August 28, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. CC BY (PSA Terms of Use). Open the source
  26. 26.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
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.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
  29. 29.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
  30. 30.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
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Records and Statistics Division, ERSD. List of Elected Provincial Candidates, May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections. Published January 10, 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
  34. 34.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
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Records and Statistics Division, ERSD. List of Elected Provincial Candidates, May 14, 2001 National and Local Elections (its pages are headed "LIST OF ELECTED MEMBER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES"). 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
  37. 37.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
  38. 38.OpenStreetMap contributors, extract by Geofabrik. Named rivers, lakes, reservoirs, peaks and the coastline of the Philippines in OpenStreetMap (Geofabrik extract, cut by osmium). Published September 30, 2026. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. ODbL 1.0. Open the source
  39. 39.Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Climatology and Agrometeorology Division. Climate Map of the Philippines (1951-2010), Modified Coronas Climate Classification. Published August 2014. 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
  40. 40.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
  41. 41.Philippine Statistics Authority. 2015 Census of Population, Statistical Tables, Table 1: Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by City/Municipality, 1960-2015 (one workbook for each province, highly urbanized city and region). Published 2017. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. CC BY (PSA Terms of Use). Open the source
  42. 42.Philippine Statistics Authority. 2020 Census of Population and Housing: Table A (Population and Annual Growth Rate for the Philippines and its Regions, Provinces and Highly Urbanized Cities) and Table B (Population and Annual Growth Rates by Province, City and Municipality, by Region). Published July 2021. Read by Scene October 2, 2026. CC BY (PSA Terms of Use). Open the source

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. “Samar.” Scene Atlas. Updated October 8, 2026. https://scene.ph/atlas/samar