Central Luzon
Central Luzon
Gitnang Luzon Tengnga a Luzon Kalibudtarang Luzon Botlay a Luzon Pegley a Luzon Region III | |
|---|---|
| Nickname: Rice Granary of the Philippines | |
Location in the Philippines | |
Interactive map of Central Luzon | |
| Coordinates: 15°28′N 120°45′E / 15.47°N 120.75°E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Island group | Luzon |
| Regional center | San Fernando (Pampanga) |
| Largest city | San Jose del Monte |
| Area | |
• Total | 22,014.63 km2 (8,499.90 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 2,037 m (6,683 ft) |
| Population (2024 census) | |
• Total | 12,989,074 |
| • Density | 590.0201/km2 (1,528.145/sq mi) |
| GDP (Nominal, 2024) | |
| • Total | US$50.6 billion |
| • Per capita | US$3,935 |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ISO 3166 code | PH-03 |
| Provinces | |
| Independent cities | |
| Component cities | |
| Municipalities | 115 |
| Barangays | 3,102 |
| Cong. districts | 20 |
| Languages | |
| HDI | 0.734 (High) |
| HDI rank | 3rd (2023) |
Central Luzon (Tagalog: Gitnang Luzon; Kapampangan: Kalibudtarang Luzon; Sambal: Botlay a Luzon; Pangasinan: Pegley a Luzon; Ilocano: Tengnga a Luzon), designated as Region III, is an administrative region in the Philippines. The region comprises seven provinces: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga (with its capital, City of San Fernando serving as the regional center), Tarlac, and Zambales; and two highly urbanized cities, Angeles and Olongapo. San Jose del Monte is the most populous city in the region. The region contains the largest plain in the country and produces most of the country's rice supply, earning itself the nickname "Rice Granary of the Philippines". It is also the region to have the most number of provinces.