Province of Batanes

Stephen Jerry 0 years ago 5 min read

Batanes is the northernmost province of the Philippines, located in the Cagayan Valley region. It covers roughly 209 square kilometers and is composed of 6 municipalities and 29 barangays. The capital is Basco. The name 'Batanes' comes from the Ivatan word 'batan,' referring to the main island of Batan and meaning 'plain' or 'flatland.'

History

Batanes was originally inhabited by the Ivatan people, who developed a unique culture shaped by the islands’ harsh climate and isolation. Before Spanish colonization, they farmed, fished, and traded with Taiwan. Spanish expeditions reached Batanes in 1687, and the islands were annexed in 1783 by Governor José Basco y Vargas. The Spanish introduced Catholicism, stone churches, and resettlement policies. Under American rule, governance and education improved. The Japanese occupied the islands in 1941 during World War II, but they were later liberated by Filipino and American forces. After independence, Batanes remained isolated but resilient, and in 2000, it was declared part of a protected seascape and landscape to preserve its environment and Ivatan heritage.

Quick Facts

Population (2024)	18,907
Land Area (sq.km)	209
No. of Households	5,547
Average Household Size	3.35
Registered Voters	13,655
Major Landmark	Basco Lighthouse
Coastal Access	Yes
Elevation (above sea level)	100m

Map

Batanes is located at the northernmost part of the Philippines, about 162 kilometers north of Luzon and 190 kilometers south of Taiwan, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east and the West Philippine Sea to the west.

Municipalities Population Data

Batanes has 6 municipalities with a total of 29 barangays.

name	type	barangay_count	population_2020	population_2024
Basco	Municipality (Capital)	6	9517	9647
Itbayat	Municipality	5	3128	2937
Ivana	Municipality	4	1407	1368
Mahatao	Municipality	4	1703	1745
Sabtang	Municipality	6	1696	1744
Uyugan	Municipality	4	1380	1466

Demographics

Population by Age Group (2020)

In 2020, the largest age group was 15–19 years (1,802 individuals), followed by 10–14 years (1,656) and 20–24 years (1,647). The smallest was 75–79 years (318 individuals).

age	population_2020
Below 5	1342
5–9	1518
10–14	1656
15–19	1802
20–24	1647
25–29	1553
30–34	1331
35–39	1228
40–44	1218
45–49	1206
50–54	1039
55–59	903
60–64	684
65–69	561
70–74	387
75–79	318
80+	438

Population by Gender (2020)

In 2020, Batanes’ population was 51.88% male and 48.12% female.

Economy

Agriculture

From 2018 to 2023, crop production remained stable until 2021 before rising sharply in 2022 and peaking in 2023. Livestock production fluctuated, poultry remained almost unchanged, and fisheries showed consistent growth, becoming the fastest-growing sector.

title	2022	2023
Crops	133	170
Livestock	86	78
Poultry	9	12
Fisheries	193	394

BARANGAY