Palawan

Palawan
Clockwise from the top: Coron Island, Busuanga, Bataraza Grand Mosque, Fort Santa Isabel, Calauit Safari Park, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, El Nido, and Puerto Princesa Cathedral
Nicknames: 
  • The (Spaniards') Land of Promise
  • Philippines' Best Island
  • Philippines' Last Frontier
Location in the Philippines
Interactive map of Palawan
Coordinates: 10°00′N 118°50′E / 10°N 118.83°E / 10; 118.83
CountryPhilippines
RegionMimaropa (in transition)
Founded1818
Capital
and largest city
Puerto Princesa*
Government
 • TypeSangguniang Panlalawigan
 • GovernorAmy R. Alvarez (PPP)
 • Vice GovernorLeoncio N. Ola (PPP)
 • LegislaturePalawan Provincial Board
Area
 • Total
14,649.73 km2 (5,656.29 sq mi)
 • Rank1st out of 82
 (excludes Puerto Princesa)
Highest elevation2,086 m (6,844 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)
 • Total
968,795
 • Rank28th out of 82
 • Density66.1306/km2 (171.277/sq mi)
  • Rank80th out of 82
 (excludes Puerto Princesa)
Demonyms
  • Palaweño
  • Palawanense
Divisions
 • Independent cities
 • Component cities0
 • Municipalities
 • Barangays
 • DistrictsLegislative districts of Palawan (shared with Puerto Princesa City)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PHT)
IDD:area code+63 (0)48
ISO 3166 codePH-PLW
Spoken languages
Websitewww.palawan.gov.ph
* Puerto Princesa is a highly-urbanized city, politically independent from Palawan.

Palawan (/pəˈlɑːwən/, Tagalog: [pɐˈlaː.wan]; officially the Province of Palawan; Cuyonon: Probinsya i'ang Palawan; Tagalog: Lalawigan ng Palawan) is an archipelagic province of the Philippines that is located in the region of Mimaropa. It is the largest province in the country in terms of total area, with 14,649.73 km2 (5,656.29 mi2). The capital and largest city is Puerto Princesa which is geographically grouped with but administered independently from the province. Palawan is known as the Philippines' Last Frontier and as the Philippines' Best Island.

The islands of Palawan stretch between Mindoro island in the northeast and Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The province is named after its largest island, Palawan Island, measuring 450 kilometers (280 mi) long, and 50 kilometers (31 mi) wide.

In 2019, it was proposed to divide Palawan into three separate provinces, though the proposal was rejected by the local population in a 2021 plebiscite.