Northern Mindanao

Northern Mindanao (Cebuano: Amihanang Mindanao; Maranao: Pangotaraan Mindanao; Tagalog: Hilagang Mindanao) is an administrative region in the Philippines, designated as Region X. It comprises five provinces: Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, and Lanao del Norte, as well as two highly urbanized cities: Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, all occupying the northern-central part of Mindanao, including the island of Camiguin. The regional center and largest city is Cagayan de Oro.

Northern Mindanao Region X
Region
From top, left to right: Kitanglad Mountain Range in Bukidnon, White Island in Camiguin, Maria Cristina Falls in Iligan, Port of Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental, and Skyline of Cagayan de Oro
Anthem: "Martsa Rehiyon Diyes" Old Version Revised Version
Location in the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Coordinates: 8°45′N 124°55′E
Country	Philippines
Island group	Mindanao
Regional center and largest city	Cagayan de Oro
Area
• Total	20,496.02 km2 (7,913.56 sq mi)
Highest elevation (Mount Dulang-dulang)	2,941 m (9,649 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[1]
• Total	5,178,326
• Density	250/km2 (650/sq mi)
GDP (Nominal, 2024)
• Total	US$22.3 billion[2]
• Per capita	US$4,276[2]
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ISO 3166 code	PH-10
Provinces	5 Bukidnon Camiguin Lanao del Norte Misamis Occidental Misamis Oriental
Independent cities	2 Cagayan de Oro Iligan
Component cities	7 El Salvador Gingoog Malaybalay Oroquieta Ozamiz Tangub Valencia
Municipalities	84
Barangays	2,022
Cong. districts	14
Languages	Cebuano Maranao Subanen Higaonon Bukid Kamigin Ilianen Matigsalug Iranun Western Bukidnon Hiligaynon Waray Tagalog English
HDI	0.694 (Medium)
HDI rank	12th in the Philippines (2019)
Website	www.northernmindanao.com

Etymology and history

The current name of the region was derived from its position on Mindanao island. The term was officially coined by the Americans after the establishment of American colonial rule in the Philippines due to the defeat of Filipino revolutionaries. There have been proposals to rename the current Northern Mindanao region, which is dominated by the Cebuano ethnic group, into the Amihanan region. Amihanan literally translates to 'northern area' from the Cebuano language, which is the lingua franca of the region.

Lanao del Norte was transferred to Northern Mindanao from Region XII (then called Central Mindanao) by virtue of Executive Order No. 36 in September 2001.^[3]

Geography

Northern Mindanao has a total land area of 2,049,602 hectares (5,064,680 acres).^[4] More than 60% of Northern Mindanao's total land area are classified as forest land. Its seas abound with fish and other marine products. The abundant vegetation, natural springs and high elevation contribute to the region's cool, mild and invigorating climate.

Administrative divisions

Northern Mindanao consists of five provinces, two highly urbanized cities, seven component cities, 84 municipalities, and 2,022 barangays.

Map of Region X

Provinces

•  †  Regional center

Province or HUC		Provincial Capital	Population (2020)[5]		Area[4][6]		Density		Cities	Muni.	Barangay
					km2	sq mi	/km2	/sq mi
Bukidnon		Malaybalay	30.7%	1,541,308	10,498.59	4,053.53	150	390	2	20	464
Camiguin		Mambajao	1.8%	92,808	241.44	93.22	380	980	0	5	58
Lanao del Norte		Tubod	14.4%	722,902	3,354.16	1,295.05	220	570	0	22	462
Misamis Occidental		Oroquieta City	12.3%	617,333	2,055.22	793.52	300	780	3	14	490
Misamis Oriental		† Cagayan de Oro	19.1%	956,900	3,131.52	1,209.09	310	800	2	23	424
Cagayan de Oro	†	—	14.5%	728,402	412.80	159.38	1,800	4,700	—	—	80
Iligan	†	—	7.2%	363,115	813.37	314.04	450	1,200	—	—	44
Total				5,022,768	20,458.51	7,899.07	250	600	9	84	2,022
†  Cagayan de Oro and Iligan are highly urbanized cities; figures are excluded from Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte respectively.

Governors and vice governors

Province	Image	Governor	Political Party		Vice Governor
Bukidnon		Rogelio Neil Roque		PFP	Clive D. Quiño
Camiguin		Xavier Jesus Romualdo		Lakas	Rodin M. Romualdo
Lanao del Norte		Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo		Lakas	Allan J. Lim
Misamis Occidental		Henry Oaminal		Nacionalista	Rowena Gutierrez
Misamis Oriental		Juliette Uy		NUP	Jeremy Pelaez

Cities

•  †  Regional center

City	Population (2015)[1]	Area[citation needed]		Density		City class	Province
		km2	sq mi	/km2	/sq mi
† Cagayan de Oro	728,402	412.80	159.38	1,800	4,700	Highly urbanized city	Misamis Oriental
El Salvador	58,771	106.15	40.98	550	1,400	Component
Gingoog	136,698	568.44	219.48	240	620
Iligan	363,115	813.37	314.04	450	1,200	Highly urbanized city	Lanao del Norte
Malaybalay	190,712	969.19	374.21	200	520	Component	Bukidnon
Oroquieta	72,301	237.88	91.85	300	780		Misamis Occidental
Ozamiz	140,334	169.95	65.62	830	2,100
Tangub	68,389	162.78	62.85	420	1,100
Valencia	216,546	587.29	226.75	370	960		Bukidnon

Demographics

Population census of Northern Mindanao

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	162,036	—
1918	273,415	+3.55%
1939	580,857	+3.65%
1948	772,322	+3.22%
1960	1,101,957	+3.01%
1970	1,611,228	+3.87%
1975	1,883,408	+3.18%
1980	2,226,169	+3.40%
1990	2,811,646	+2.36%
1995	3,197,059	+2.44%
2000	3,505,708	+2.00%
2007	3,952,437	+1.67%
2010	4,297,323	+3.09%
2015	4,689,302	+1.68%
2020	5,022,768	+1.46%
2024	5,178,326	+0.73%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[1][7]

Northern Mindanao is the 8th most populous region in the Philippines and 2nd in Mindanao (after Davao Region) according to the 2015 Philippine Statistics Authority Census. The major urban area of Region X is Metro Cagayan de Oro which includes Cagayan de Oro and some municipalities and cities of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.

The vast majority of the region's inhabitants descended from migrants from Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Negros Oriental. Some other inhabitants are of Bicolano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Ivatan, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Tagalog, Waray, Zamboangueño, Maguindanaon, Maranao and Tausug descent, while the autochthonous Bukidnons and Manobos populate the inner highlands.

The largest religion is Christianity, with Roman Catholicism forming 72% of the population and Protestants forming a significant minority of 14%. The second largest religion is Islam, forming 8% of the population.^[8]

The main language spoken in the region is Cebuano which is spoken with Northern Mindanao variant that is slightly different from standard Cebuano. The region is also home to sizeable speakers of Bohol dialect of Cebuano. Higaonon, Manobo and Binukid are among the languages native in the region, as are Maguindanaon and Maranao. Also spoken varyingly in the region are Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Ivatan, Kapampangan and Waray. Tagalog (Filipino) and English are widely understood and often used for administrative functions by the local government, business and in education.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Northern Mindanao

10 20 30 40 50 2000 48.64 2003 44.00 2006 39.01 2009 40.11 2012 39.47 2015 38.72 2018 23.08 2021 19.20 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

An aerial view of Cagayan de Oro as seen in August 2017

The economy of Northern Mindanao is the second largest regional economy in the island of Mindanao.^[17] While still a mainly agricultural region, there is also a booming growth of industries particularly in Cagayan de Oro and in Iligan. Del Monte Philippines is located in the province of Bukidnon and its processing plant is located in Cagayan de Oro, where it ships its products to the rest of the Philippines and Asia-Pacific region. The Agus-IV to VII Hydroelectric Plants in Iligan and Balo-i supply most of its electrical power in Mindanao.

Notable people

Main pages: Bukidnon § Notable people, Camiguin § Notable people, Lanao del Norte § Notable person, Iligan § Notable personalities, Misamis Occidental § Notable people, Category:People from Misamis Oriental, and List of people from Cagayan de Oro