Quick answerManila is the capital of Philippines, with 1,902,590 people inside the city limits in 2024. The wider metropolitan area had about 24.9 million people in 2024. It is best known for the Intramuros, the Fort Santiago and the Rizal Park. Its official languages are Filipino and English, and its currency is the Philippine peso.
Manila is the capital of the Philippines, with about 1.9 million people in the city and about 24.9 million in Metro Manila (2024). It stands on Manila Bay on Luzon and is known for the walled city of Intramuros, Rizal Park and Binondo, the world's oldest Chinatown.
Key facts
| Country | Philippines |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,902,590 (2024) |
| Population (metro) | 24,922,000 (2024) · Metro Manila |
| Elevation | 9 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Asia/Manila |
| Language | Filipino, English |
| Currency | Philippine peso (PHP, ₱) |
| Coordinates | 14.5958° N, 120.9772° E |
Overview
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines, after Quezon City. It had 1,902,590 residents in the 2024 census, while the Metro Manila area held 24,922,000 people, and the city sits 9 metres above sea level on the eastern shore of Manila Bay, on the island of Luzon. With about 44,935 people per square kilometre, Manila is one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
A Tagalog polity called Maynila existed on the site by 1258, and in 1571 the Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi built the walled city of Intramuros here. Manila became the capital of the Spanish East Indies and the western hub of the trans-Pacific galleon trade, the first trade network to circle the planet. Its landmarks include Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Today Manila is the seat of the Philippine government and the centre of Metro Manila, the capital region. It is listed as an Alpha global city, and its districts include Binondo, the world's oldest Chinatown, the historic Ermita and Malate quarters, and the port that still handles much of the country's trade.
What Manila is known for
- Intramuros
- Fort Santiago
- Rizal Park
- Manila Cathedral
- Binondo Chinatown
- National Museum
Landmarks
- Intramuros
- Fort Santiago
- Manila Cathedral
- San Agustin Church
- Rizal Park
- National Museum of the Philippines
- Binondo
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Manila?
About 1.9 million people live in Manila (1,902,590 in the 2024 census). The wider Metro Manila area had about 24.9 million people. That makes Manila the second-most populous city in the Philippines, after Quezon City, and one of the most densely populated cities proper in the world.
What is Manila famous for?
Manila is famous as the capital of the Philippines and for the walled city of Intramuros, with Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church. It is also known for Rizal Park, the National Museum, Binondo, the world's oldest Chinatown, and as the hub of the historic galleon trade with the Americas.
Where is Manila located?
Manila is on the eastern shore of Manila Bay, on the island of Luzon, at the mouth of the Pasig River. It is the capital of the Philippines and the centre of Metro Manila. Its coordinates are 14.60° N, 120.98° E, and its time zone is Philippine Standard Time.
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Keep exploring
- Philippines — the country Manila is in
- Quezon City — another city in Philippines
- Davao City — another city in Philippines
- Caloocan — another city in Philippines
- All cities in Philippines
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.