Quick facts
Zamboanga overview
Zamboanga (orange) and the other large cities of Philippines
Zamboanga lies in Zamboanga Peninsula in Philippines at 6.91°N, 122.07°E, about 9 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Manila (UTC+8); GeoNames classifies it as a district seat.
It is smaller than Malingao (1,121,974) and larger than Cebu City (965,332). 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 864 km away; the nearest large city is Jolo, 152 km from Zamboanga.
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 Zamboanga
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Jolo Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao | 152 km | 101,002 |
| Pagadian Zamboanga Peninsula | 182 km | 206,483 |
| Muricay Zamboanga Peninsula | 185 km | 132,094 |
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 Zamboanga?
Zamboanga has about 1,018,849 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Zamboanga the capital of Philippines?
No. The capital of Philippines is Manila (1,600,000 people), about 864 km away. Zamboanga is the 8th largest city of the country and a district seat.
How big is Zamboanga compared with the rest of Philippines?
Its 1,018,849 residents are 0.9% of the 117,999,918 people living in Philippines today. Quezon City is larger with 3,084,270 people.
Where is Zamboanga?
In Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines, at latitude 6.91 and longitude 122.07, 9 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Jolo (152 km), Pagadian (182 km), Muricay (185 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Zamboanga Population 2026 — Philippines. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/philippines/zamboanga/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/philippines/zamboanga/">Zamboanga 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.