Philippines - Ethnic groups

Filipinos of Malay (Malayan and Indonesian) stock constitute about 95.5% of the total population. They are divided into nine main ethnic groups: the Tagalog, Ilocanos, Pampanguenos, Pangasinans, and Bicolanos, all concentrated in Luzon; the Cebuanos, Boholanos, and Ilongos of the Visayas; and the Waray-Waray of the Visayas, Leyte, and Samar. The Chinese minority totaled about 1.5% of the population in 1999. In addition, 10 Muslim groups, mainly of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, comprised about 4% of the population. Numerous smaller ethnic groups inhabit the interior of the islands, including the Igorot of Luzon and the Bukidnon, Manobo, and Tiruray of Mindanao. These other groups accounted for the remaining 3% of the population in 1999.