Apayao

Apayao
(from top: left to right) Abulog River in Kabugao, Dibagat home and Pudtol church ruins.
Location in the Philippines
Interactive map of Apayao
Coordinates: 17°45′N 121°15′E / 17.75°N 121.25°E / 17.75; 121.25
CountryPhilippines
RegionCordillera Administrative Region
FoundedMay 8, 1995
CapitalKabugao*
Administrative centerLuna
Largest municipalityConner
Government
 • GovernorElias C. Bulut Jr. (NPC)
 • Vice GovernorKyle Mariah Chelsea S. Bulut-Cunan (Lakas)
 • LegislatureApayao Provincial Board
Area
 • Total
4,413.35 km2 (1,704.00 sq mi)
 • Rank27th out of 82
Highest elevation
(Mount Lungod)
1,921 m (6,302 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)
 • Total
126,587
 • Estimate 
(2020)
123,898
 • Rank78th out of 82
 • Density28.6827/km2 (74.2880/sq mi)
  • Rank81st out of 82
Demonyms
  • Apayaoan
  • Apayaoense
Divisions
 • Independent cities0
 • Component cities0
 • Municipalities
7
 • Barangays133
 • DistrictsLegislative district of Apayao
Time zoneUTC+8 (PHT)
IDD:area code+63 (0)74
ISO 3166 codePH-APA
Spoken languages
Websitewww.apayao.gov.ph
* Kabugao is the officially recognized capital and seat of government, although the province carries out many of its operations in a new government center established in Luna.

Apayao, officially the Province of Apayao (Ilocano: Probinsia ti Apayao; Itawit: Provinsiya ya Apayao; Isnag: Provinsia nga Apayao; Tagalog: Lalawigan ng Apayao), is a landlocked province in the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Kabugao serves as its capital. The provincial capitol and its associated offices are located at the New Government Center in Luna.

The province borders Cagayan to the north and east, Abra and Ilocos Norte to the west, and Kalinga to the south. Prior to 1995, Kalinga and Apayao comprised a single province named Kalinga-Apayao, which was partitioned to better service the needs of individual ethnic groups.

With a population of 124,366 (as of the 2020 census) covering an area of 4,413.35 square kilometres (1,704.00 sq mi), Apayao is the least densely-populated province in the Philippines, the least developed province in Luzon and one of the poorest.