Southern Leyte
Southern Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas Region (Region VIII) of the Visayas. The province covers roughly 1,801.46 square kilometers and is composed of 19 municipalities, 1 component city and a total of 500 barangays. The capital of the province is Maasin City. The name 'Southern Leyte' was derived from its geographical location, as it occupies the southern portion of Leyte Island.
HISTORY
Southern Leyte was originally part of the province of Leyte. For a long time, its municipalities were governed from Tacloban, which was distant from the southern towns and made administration difficult. Because of this, local leaders and residents sought for a separate province to better manage their affairs. Their efforts succeeded when Republic Act No. 2227 was signed into law on May 22, 1960, officially creating the Province of Southern Leyte with Maasin as its capital. The province has also been notable in Philippine history. It is home to Limasawa Island, where the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines was celebrated on March 31, 1521, by Ferdinand Magellan and his expedition. Throughout its history, Southern Leyte has faced challenges, particularly natural calamities like landslides and typhoons, but it has continued to develop, balancing its agricultural base with growing tourism and trade.
QUICK FACTS | |
| Population Census (2024) | 434,372 |
| Land Area (2015) | 1,801.46 km² |
| No. of households | 100,876 |
| Average Household Size | 4.25 |
| Registered Voters | 300,005 |
| Major Landmarks | Agas-Agas Bridge |
| Coastal Access | yes |
| Estimated elevation above sea level | 66 meters |
Map
Southern Leyte Province is located in the Eastern Visayas Region (Region VIII) in the central part of the Philippines, bordered by the province of Leyte, on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the Mindanao Sea or Bohol Sea, and on the west by the Canigao Channel, which separates it from Bohol Province.
MUNICIPALITIES POPULATION DATA
Southern Leyte has 19 municipalities, 1 city and 500 barangays.
| name | type | barangay_count | population_2020 | population_2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anahawan | Municipality | 14 | 8429 | 8766 |
| Bontoc | Municipality | 40 | 29799 | 32082 |
| Hinunangan | Municipality | 40 | 29149 | 30384 |
| Hinundayan | Municipality | 17 | 12398 | 13042 |
| Libagon | Municipality | 14 | 15244 | 16146 |
| Liloan | Municipality | 24 | 24800 | 23787 |
| Limasawa | Municipality | 6 | 6191 | 6480 |
| City of Maasin | City, Capital | 70 | 87446 | 85486 |
| Macrohon | Municipality | 30 | 26580 | 27276 |
| Malitbog | Municipality | 37 | 23256 | 21691 |
| Padre Burgos | Municipality | 11 | 11159 | 11515 |
| Pintuyan | Municipality | 23 | 10202 | 10930 |
| Saint Bernard | Municipality | 30 | 28414 | 28131 |
| San Francisco | Municipality | 22 | 13436 | 12897 |
| San Juan | Municipality | 18 | 14912 | 15036 |
| San Ricardo | Municipality | 15 | 10500 | 10385 |
| Silago | Municipality | 15 | 13116 | 14677 |
| Sogod | Municipality | 45 | 47552 | 48815 |
| Tomas Oppus | Municipality | 29 | 16990 | 16846 |
DEMOGRAPHICS
Population by Age Group
Based on the 2020 Census, the largest age group is 10-14 years, with 43,552 individuals, followed closely by those aged 15-19 years (42,905) and 5-9 years (41,230). In contrast, the smallest population is found in 75-79, with only 6,519 individuals.
| age | population_2020 |
|---|---|
| Below 5 | 39643 |
| 5-9 | 41230 |
| 10-14 | 43552 |
| 15-19 | 42905 |
| 20-24 | 35757 |
| 25-29 | 30470 |
| 30-34 | 28263 |
| 35-39 | 25777 |
| 40-44 | 25236 |
| 45-49 | 22348 |
| 50-54 | 22290 |
| 55-59 | 19675 |
| 60-64 | 16945 |
| 65-69 | 12588 |
| 70-74 | 9695 |
| 75-79 | 6519 |
| 80+ | 6680 |
Population by Gender
In 2020, the population was composed of approximately 50.94% males and 49.06% females, indicating a higher number of males than females.
ECONOMY
Production Value of Agriculture and Fisheries in Southern Leyte (in Million Pesos)
From 2018 to 2023, Southern Leyte's agricultural production showed mixed trends. Crops production started at 4,267 in 2018, declined in 2019, slightly recovered in 2020 and 2021, dropped in 2022, and modestly rose again in 2023. Livestock remained relatively stable, ranging between 759 and 933, with a peak in 2021. Poultry production increased overall, starting at 261 in 2018 and reaching 469 in 2023, despite some fluctuations. Fisheries showed the most significant growth, rising steadily from 539 in 2018 to 1,973 in 2023.
| title | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Crops | 3136 | 3440 |
| Livestock | 886 | 802 |
| Poultry | 352 | 469 |
| Fisheries | 1725 | 1973 |