Mindanao

Mindanao
Native name:
  • Pulu nu Mindanaw (Maguindanaon)
  • Polo o Mindanao (Maranao)
  • Pu sin Mindanaw (Tausug)
  • Pu'yù to Mindanao (Manobo languages)
  • Pulu' ni Mindanaw (Central Subanen)
Nickname: Land of Promise [1]
Composite satellite image of Mindanao captured by Sentinel-2 in 2019
Mindanao
Location within the Philippines
EtymologyLand of the Lakes [2]
Geography
LocationPhilippines
Coordinates8°00′N 125°00′E / 8.000°N 125.000°E / 8.000; 125.000
ArchipelagoPhilippine
Adjacent to
Major islands
  • Mindanao
  • Basilan
  • Jolo
  • Tawi-Tawi
  • Bucas Grande
  • Dinagat
  • Siargao
  • Samal
  • Camiguin
Area97,530 km2 (37,660 sq mi)[3]
Area rank19th (Global)
Highest elevation2,954 m (9692 ft)
Highest pointMount Apo
Administration
Regions
  • Region 9 – Zamboanga Peninsula
  • Region 10 – Northern Mindanao
  • Region 11 – Davao Region
  • Region 12 – Soccsksargen
  • Region 13 – Caraga Region
  • Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao
Provinces
List
Largest settlementDavao City (pop. 1,848,947)
Demographics
DemonymMindanaoan
Mindanawon
Mindanese (colloquial) [4]
Population27,384,138 (2024) (Mindanao island group) [5]
Pop. density243/km2 (629/sq mi)
Ethnic groups
List

Mindanao (/ˌmɪndəˈnaʊ/ ⓘ MIN-də-NOW) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of the same name that also includes its adjacent islands, notably the Sulu Archipelago. According to the 2020 census, Mindanao had a population of 26,252,442, while the entire island group had an estimated population of 27,384,138 as of 2024.

Mindanao is divided into six administrative regions: the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, the Caraga region, the Davao region, Soccsksargen, and the autonomous region of Bangsamoro. According to the 2020 census, Davao City is the most populous city on the island, with 1,776,949 people, followed by Zamboanga City (pop. 977,234), Cagayan de Oro (pop. 728,402), General Santos (pop. 697,315), Butuan (pop. 372,910), Iligan (pop. 363,115) and Cotabato City (pop. 325,079).[6] About 70% of residents identify as Christian and 24% as Muslim.[7] Mindanao is considered the major Bread Basket of the Philippines.[8][9]

  1. ^ "MINDANAO: The Land of Promise, Holding a Key to Environmental Defense Worldwide, by Em Butler | Sierra Club". www.sierraclub.org. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  2. ^ lib.mainit.org/400/1/THE-MONOSYLLABIC-ft10162017-2.pdf
  3. ^ "Island Directory Tables". UN System-Wide Earthwatch Web Site. Archived from the original on December 1, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  4. ^ "Mindanese, Davanese and the joke of Mindanao separatism - VERA Files". verafiles.org. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  5. ^ "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities" (PDF). 2010 Census and Housing Population. National Statistics Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  6. ^ "Population and Housing". Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Fruits of Peace". The Economist. October 15, 2015. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  9. ^ Calderon, Justin (April 22, 2013). "Unearthed Gem". Investvine. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
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