Samar

Samar, also known as 'Western Samar,' is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas Region (Region VIII) of the Visayas. The province covers roughly 6,048.03 square kilometers and is composed of 24 municipalities, 2 cities and a total of 951 barangays. The capital of the province is Cathalogan. The name Samar comes from the local Waray-Waray word 'Samal' or 'Samaria,' which early Spanish colonizers recorded.

HISTORY

Samar, historically called Western Samar, is the largest of the three provinces on the island of Samar in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. The island was originally inhabited by the Waray people, who were skilled seafarers and traders. Early Spanish explorers, including Ferdinand Magellan's expedition in 1521, documented the island and its inhabitants. The name 'Samar' is believed to have come from the local word 'Samal' or 'Samaria,' referring to the rough terrain or strong coastal currents. During the Spanish colonial period, Samar became an important area for trade and missionary activities, with several towns established along its rivers and coastlines. The province played a notable role in the Philippine struggle against Spanish and later American colonization. In 1898, following the Philippine Revolution, Samar became part of the short-lived First Philippine Republic. During the American period, it was organized under civil governance, and the province faced several uprisings, including the famous Balangiga encounter in 1901, where Filipino insurgents attacked American troops. In 1965, the island of Samar was divided into three provinces: Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Western Samar, with Cathalogan as the capital of Western Samar. Four years later, in 1969, Western Samar officially reverted to the name Samar. Today, Samar is known for its rich natural resources, historical landmarks, and cultural heritage, remaining an important province in the Eastern Visayas region.

QUICK FACTS
Population Census (2024)	806,179
Land Area (2015)	6,048.03 km²
No. of households	181,794
Average Household Size	4.35
Registered Voters	625,543
Major Landmarks	Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Park
Coastal Access	yes
Economic Zone estimated elevation above sea level	154 meters

Map

Samar Province is located in the Eastern Visayas Region (Region VIII) in the central part of the island of Samar in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by Northern Samar Province, on the east by Eastern Samar Province, on the west by the Samar Sea, and on the south by Leyte Gulf.

MUNICIPALITIES POPULATION DATA

Samar has 24 municipalities, 2 cities and 951 barangays.

name	type	barangay_count	population_2020	population_2024
Almagro	Municipality	23	9273	8571
Basey	Municipality	51	56685	57645
City of Calbayog	City	157	186960	187848
Calbiga	Municipality	41	23310	23309
City of Cathalogan	City, Capital	57	106440	107896
Daram	Municipality	58	41608	41932
Gandara	Municipality	69	35242	36826
Hinabangan	Municipality	21	13693	13791
Jiabong	Municipality	34	19205	19482
Marabut	Municipality	24	17842	18168
Matuguinao	Municipality	20	7364	7708
Motiong	Municipality	30	15276	15887
Pagsanghan	Municipality	13	7959	8145
Paranas	Municipality	44	32374	35281
Pinabacdao	Municipality	24	18136	18639
San Jorge	Municipality	41	17579	17863
San Jose De Buan	Municipality	14	7767	7939
San Sebastian	Municipality	14	8704	9110
Santa Margarita	Municipality	36	26816	27012
Santa Rita	Municipality	38	42384	42397
Santo Niño	Municipality	13	12519	13088
Tagapul-an	Municipality	14	8805	9139
Talalora	Municipality	11	7856	8530
Tarangnan	Municipality	41	25713	26013
Villareal	Municipality	38	27394	27909
Zumarraga	Municipality	25	16279	16051

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population by Age Group

Based on the 2020 Census, the largest age group is 5-9 years, with 90,736 individuals, followed closely by those aged 10-14 years (89,274) and 15-19 years (89,168). In contrast, the smallest population is found in 80 years and above, with only 7,872 individuals.

age	population_2020
Below 5	85418
5-9	90736
10-14	89274
15-19	89168
20-24	74149
25-29	59324
30-34	47522
35-39	42671
40-44	41079
45-49	39168
50-54	35166
55-59	28988
60-64	23946
65-69	17176
70-74	12757
75-79	8769
80+	7872

Population by Gender

In 2020, the population was composed of approximately 51.49% males and 48.51% females, indicating a higher number of males than females.

ECONOMY

Production Value of Agriculture and Fisheries in Samar (in Million Pesos)

Agricultural Production Trends (2018–2023)

title	2022	2023
Crops	9476	10366
Livestock	1287	1044
Poultry	1114	1139
Fisheries	3659	4392

BARANGAY