Central Visayas

Central Visayas
Tunga-tungang Kabisay-an
Gitnang Visayas
Clockwise from the top: Boljoon Church, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape, Chocolate Hills, Magellan's Cross, Loboc River, Panglao Island, Moalboal Reef
Nickname(s): 
Center of Christianity
Rehiyon sa mga Sugboanon (Region of the Cebuanos)
Location in the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Coordinates: 10°0′N 123°30′E / 10.000°N 123.500°E / 10.000; 123.500
Country Philippines
Island groupVisayas
Regional center
and largest city
Cebu City
Area
  Total
10,114.52 km2 (3,905.24 sq mi)
Highest elevation
(Osmeña Peak)
1,072 m (3,517 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)
  Total
6,545,603
  Density650/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
GDP (Nominal, 2024)
  TotalUS$26.1 billion
  Per capitaUS$3,834
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ISO 3166 codePH-07
Provinces
Independent cities
Component cities
Municipalities91
Barangays2,312
Cong. districts11
Languages
GDP (2022)1.20 trillion
$20.5 billion
Growth rate (7.3%)
HDI 0.704 (High)
HDI rank8th in the Philippines (2019)

Central Visayas (Cebuano: Tunga-tungang Kabisay-an; Tagalog: Gitnang Kabisayaan or Filipino: Gitnang Visayas) is an administrative region in the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VII. With only two provinces: Cebu and Bohol, as well as three highly urbanized cities: Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue, it has the fewest number of provinces out of any region in the country. Despite this, it is the most populous region in the Visayas, with a population of 6,545,603.

The regional center, as well as its largest city, is Cebu City. The Cebuano language is the region's lingua franca. The region is also dominated by the native speakers of three Visayan languages: Bantayanon, Boholano and Porohanon.

In 2015, Central Visayas was redefined when it lost the province of Negros Oriental to the newly formed Negros Island Region. However, the Negros Island Region was dissolved in 2017, returning Negros Oriental to Central Visayas. After seven years, it lost Negros Oriental again, as well as the island province of Siquijor, after the Negros Island Region was re-established in 2024.