Explore all cities and municipalities of Ilocos Sur in the Ilocos Region. Includes administrative divisions, population, land area, and official local government units.
Cities & Municipalities of Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Sur is a province in the Ilocos Region (Region I) of the Philippines, composed of 2 cities and 32 municipalities that serve as the core administrative and local government units of the province. This page provides a complete breakdown of all LGUs, including population, land area, and administrative classification.
Overview of Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Sur is located in Region I (Ilocos Region) and is known for its rich Spanish colonial heritage, coastal landscapes, and agricultural economy. The province is subdivided into:
- Cities
- Municipalities
- Barangays
These local government units form the administrative backbone of the province.
List of Cities in Ilocos Sur
Below is the complete list of component cities within the province.
Cities
- Vigan City — The capital of Ilocos Sur and a UNESCO World Heritage City known for its preserved Spanish colonial architecture.
- Candon City — A commercial hub in southern Ilocos Sur known for its tobacco industry and strategic location.
List of Municipalities in Ilocos Sur
Below is the complete list of municipalities grouped alphabetically.
Municipalities
- Alilem — A mountainous municipality known for its cool climate and remote barangays.
- Banayoyo — A quiet inland town with strong agricultural roots.
- Bantay — Home to the iconic Bantay Church Bell Tower overlooking Vigan.
- Burgos — A rural municipality with scenic hills and farmlands.
- Cabugao — A coastal town known for beaches and fishing communities.
- Caoayan — A small municipality adjacent to Vigan with pottery and fishing industries.
- Cervantes — A highland town serving as a gateway to the Cordillera mountains.
- Galimuyod — An inland agricultural municipality.
- Gregorio del Pilar — Known for Tirad Pass, a historic battle site.
- Lidlidda — A small upland municipality with indigenous cultural heritage.
- Magsingal — A coastal municipality with strong fishing and farming sectors.
- Nagbukel — A quiet rural town surrounded by hills and rivers.
- Narvacan — A major municipality with coastal attractions and agricultural lands.
- Quirino — A mountainous municipality named after President Elpidio Quirino.
- Salcedo — A rural municipality with scenic landscapes.
- San Emilio — A remote upland municipality with indigenous communities.
- San Esteban — A coastal town known for its fishing industry.
- San Ildefonso — An inland agricultural municipality.
- San Juan — A coastal municipality with beaches and farming communities.
- San Vicente — A small municipality near Vigan known for furniture making.
- Santa — A riverside municipality along the Abra River.
- Santa Catalina — A coastal municipality adjacent to Vigan.
- Santa Cruz — One of the largest municipalities, serving as a commercial center in the north.
- Santa Lucia — A major inland municipality with a strong agricultural base.
- Santa Maria — Home to the UNESCO‑listed Santa Maria Church.
- Santiago — A coastal municipality with beaches and fishing communities.
- Santo Domingo — Known for its black sand beaches and pottery industry.
- Sigay — A remote upland municipality with rugged terrain.
- Sinait — Known for the pilgrimage site of Apo Lakay.
- Sugpon — A mountainous municipality with remote barangays.
- Suyo — A highland municipality with cool climate.
- Tagudin — A southern gateway municipality with historical landmarks.
Administrative Divisions of Ilocos Sur
Cities and Municipalities Count
- Total Cities: 2
- Total Municipalities: 32
- Total Barangays: 768
Districts
- District 1: Vigan City, Bantay, Caoayan, Santa Catalina, San Vicente, Santa, Santo Domingo, Magsingal, San Ildefonso, San Juan, Cabugao, Sinait
- District 2: Candon City, Santa Lucia, Narvacan, Santa Cruz, Santiago, Tagudin, Burgos, Galimuyod, Salcedo, Banayoyo, Lidlidda, Nagbukel, San Esteban, Cervantes, Suyo, Gregorio del Pilar, Quirino, Sigay, Alilem, Sugpon, San Emilio
Population & Land Area
Population
- Province Population: ~706,000 (2020 Census)
- Largest City: Vigan City
- Largest Municipality: Santa Cruz
Land Area
- Total Land Area: ~2,579 sq km
- Largest LGU by Land Area: Cervantes
Related Administrative Pages
- Province of Ilocos Sur Administrative Page
- Region I – Ilocos Region Administrative Page
- Cities of the Philippines
- Municipalities of the Philippines