Quick facts
Cebu City overview
Cebu City (orange) and the other large cities of Philippines
Cebu City lies in Central Visayas in Philippines at 10.32°N, 123.89°E, about 37 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Manila (UTC+8); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Zamboanga (1,018,849) and larger than Antipolo (913,712). The largest city in Philippines is Quezon City with 3,084,270 people; the capital, Manila, has 1,600,000.
The national capital, Manila, is about 572 km away; the nearest large city is Mandaue City, 4 km from Cebu City.
Philippines as a whole has a live population of 117,999,918 (+0.8% a year) and ranks #14 of 238 countries — see the Philippines population page for the full statistics and the Philippines atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Cebu City
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Mandaue City Central Visayas | 4 km | 331,320 |
| Lapu-Lapu City Central Visayas | 6 km | 497,813 |
| Talisay Central Visayas | 9 km | 133,148 |
| Naga Central Visayas | 19 km | 138,727 |
| Toledo Central Visayas | 28 km | 206,692 |
| Cadiz Western Visayas | 96 km | 129,053 |
| Mansilingan Western Visayas | 106 km | 454,150 |
| Ormoc Eastern Visayas | 110 km | 238,545 |
Largest cities in Philippines
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quezon City | National Capital Region | 3,084,270 |
| 2 | Davao | Davao Region | 1,848,947 |
| 3 | Caloocan | National Capital Region | 1,712,945 |
| 4 | ManilaCapital | National Capital Region | 1,600,000 |
| 5 | Taguig | National Capital Region | 1,308,085 |
| 6 | Budta | Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao | 1,273,715 |
| 7 | Malingao | Soccsksargen | 1,121,974 |
| 8 | Zamboanga | Zamboanga Peninsula | 1,018,849 |
| 9 | Cebu City | Central Visayas | 965,332 |
| 10 | Antipolo | Calabarzon | 913,712 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Cebu City?
Cebu City has about 965,332 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Cebu City the capital of Philippines?
No. The capital of Philippines is Manila (1,600,000 people), about 572 km away. Cebu City is the 9th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Cebu City compared with the rest of Philippines?
Its 965,332 residents are 0.8% of the 117,999,918 people living in Philippines today. Quezon City is larger with 3,084,270 people.
Where is Cebu City?
In Central Visayas, Philippines, at latitude 10.32 and longitude 123.89, 37 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Mandaue City (4 km), Lapu-Lapu City (6 km), Talisay (9 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Cebu City Population 2026 — Philippines. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/philippines/cebu-city/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/philippines/cebu-city/">Cebu City Population 2026 — Philippines</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.