View source for Ilocos Region

{{Short description|Administrative region of the Philippines}}
{{Redirect|Ilocos|the historical province|Ilocos (province)|the current provinces|Ilocos Norte|and|Ilocos Sur}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2008}}
{{infobox settlement
| name               = Ilocos
| native_name        = Deppaar ti Ilocos <br /> Sagor na Baybay na Luzon
| other_name         = 
| settlement_type    = [[Regions of the Philippines|Region]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 250
| image_style           = border:2;
| perrow                   = 1/2/2/2/2/2/1
| image1                   = Paoay Church and Bell Tower.jpg
| image2                   = Bantay Belfry.jpg
| image3                   = Aerial view of Baluarte Watch Tower.jpg
| image4                   = Pangasinan Hundred Islands.jpg
| image5                   = La Paz Sand Dunes.jpg
| image6                   = Calle Crisologo, Vigan, Philippines (50025182191).jpg
| image7                   = Harnessing the Wind.jpg
| image8                   = Cape Bojeador Lighthouse 03, Burgos, Ilocos Norte.jpg
| image9                   =Surf’s up.jpg
| image10                 = Manaoag Church front.jpg
}}
'''Clockwise from the top''': [[Paoay Church]], [[La Union Watchtowers|Baluarte Watch Tower]], [[La Paz Sand Dunes]], [[Bangui Wind Farm]], [[San Juan, La Union|Elyu Surf]], [[Manaoag Church]], [[Cape Bojeador Lighthouse]], [[Vigan City|Calle Crisologo]], [[Hundred Islands National Park]], [[Bantay Bell Tower]]
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| flag_size          = 120x80px
| image_seal         = 
| seal_size          = 100x80px
| image_map          = {{PH wikidata|image_map}}
| map_caption        = Location in the Philippines
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|region:PH|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{PHL}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Island groups of the Philippines|Island group]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Luzon]]
| seat_type          = Regional center
| seat               = [[San Fernando City, La Union|San Fernando {{small|(La Union)}}]]
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| area_total_km2     = 13,013.60
| area_footnotes     = 
| population_as_of   = {{Nobold|2024 census}}
| population_total   = {{PH census population|2024}}
| population_footnotes = {{PH census|2024}}
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = GDP {{Nobold|(Nominal, 2024)}}
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = [[US$]]15.4&nbsp;billion<ref name="GDP">{{Cite web |title=2022 to 2024 Gross Regional Domestic Product|url=https://psa.gov.ph/system/files/pad/2024%20GRDP%20Publication.pdf |publisher=[[Philippine Statistics Authority]]}}</ref>
| demographics1_title2 = Per capita
| demographics1_info2 = US$2,872<ref name="GDP" />
| timezone           = [[Philippine Standard Time|PST]]
| utc_offset         = +8
| iso_code           = PH-01
| blank3_name        = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2017)
| blank3_info        = 0.756<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-date=September 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923120638/https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|url-status=live}}</ref> – <span style="color:#090;">high</span>
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Provinces of the Philippines|Provinces]]
| blank_info_sec1    = {{Collapsible list
 | titlestyle = font-weight:normal;text-align:left;background-color:WhiteSmoke;
 | title = 4
 | [[Ilocos Norte]]
 | [[Ilocos Sur]]
 | [[La Union]]
 | [[Pangasinan]]
 }}
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[Cities of the Philippines|Independent cities]]
| blank1_info_sec1   = {{Collapsible list
 | titlestyle = font-weight:normal;text-align:left;background-color:WhiteSmoke;
 | title = 1
 | [[Dagupan]]
 }}
| blank2_name_sec1   = [[Cities of the Philippines|Component cities]]
| blank2_info_sec1   = {{Collapsible list
 | titlestyle = font-weight:normal;text-align:left;background-color:WhiteSmoke;
 | title = 8
 | [[Alaminos, Pangasinan|Alaminos]]
 | [[Batac]]
 | [[Candon]]
 | [[Laoag]]
 | [[San Carlos, Pangasinan|San Carlos]]
 | [[San Fernando, La Union|San Fernando]]
 | [[Urdaneta, Pangasinan|Urdaneta]]
 | [[Vigan]]
 }}
| blank3_name_sec1   = [[Municipalities of the Philippines|Municipalities]]
| blank3_info_sec1   = 116
| blank4_name_sec1   = [[Barangay]]s
| blank4_info_sec1   = 3,267
| blank5_name_sec1   = [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|Cong. districts]]
| blank5_info_sec1   = 12
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Languages of the Philippines|Languages]]
| blank_info_sec2    = {{hlist | item-style=white-space:nowrap; | [[Ilocano language|Ilocano (Iloco)]] | [[Pangasinan language|Pangasinan]] | [[Bolinao language|Bolinao]] | [[Kankana-ey]] | [[sambal language|Sambal]] | [[Itneg]] | [[Isnag]] | [[Ibaloi]] | [[Philippine English|English]] | [[Filipino language|Filipino]] }}
| blank1_name_sec2   = [[Human Development Index|HDI]]
| blank1_info_sec2   = {{increase}} 0.743 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
| blank2_name_sec2   = HDI rank
| blank2_info_sec2   = [[List of Philippine provinces and regions by Human Development Index|6th in the Philippines]] (2019)
| website            = 
| seat1_type         = Largest city
| seat1              = [[San Carlos, Pangasinan|San Carlos {{small|(Pangasinan)}}]]
| elevation_max_point = [[Mount Sicapoo]]
| elevation_max_ft   = 7,746
| image_map1         = {{hidden begin|title=OpenStreetMap|ta1=center}}{{Infobox mapframe|frame-width=250|zoom=8}}{{hidden end}}
}}
The '''Ilocos Region''' ({{langx|ilo|Rehion/Deppaar ti Ilocos}}; {{langx|pag|Rehiyon na Ilocos}}; {{langx|tl|Rehiyon ng Ilocos}}), designated as '''Region I''', is an [[Region of the Philippines|administrative region]] of the Philippines. Located in the northwestern section of [[Luzon]], it is bordered by the [[Cordillera Administrative Region]] to the east, the [[Cagayan Valley]] to the northeast and southeast, [[Central Luzon]] to the south, and the [[South China Sea]] to the west.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://depedro1.com/overview-of-the-region/|title=Overview of the Region &#124; DepEd RO1|access-date=2021-09-15|archive-date=2021-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915164634/https://depedro1.com/overview-of-the-region/|url-status=live}}</ref> The region comprises four provinces: [[Ilocos Norte]], [[Ilocos Sur]], [[La Union]], and [[Pangasinan]], along with one [[Independent Component City|independent-component city]], [[Dagupan|Dagupan City]]. The regional center is the city of [[San Fernando, La Union|San Fernando]] in La Union, which serves as the administrative hub of the region. The largest settlement in terms of population is [[San Carlos, Pangasinan|San Carlos City]] in Pangasinan.

The 2020 Philippine Statistics Authority census reported that the ethnolinguistic group composition of the region is predominantly made up of [[Ilocano people|Ilocanos]] (58.3%), followed by [[Pangasinan people|Pangasinans]] (29.7%), [[Tagalog people|Tagalogs]] (4.1%), and various Cordilleran ([[Igorot people|Igorot]]) indigenous groups.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Ethnicity in the Philippines (2020 Census of Population and Housing) {{!}} Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Republic of the Philippines |url=https://psa.gov.ph/content/ethnicity-philippines-2020-census-population-and-housing |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=psa.gov.ph}}</ref>

Natural attractions include hiking along the foothills of the [[Cordillera Central (Luzon)|Cordillera]], scenic waterfalls and rivers, various surfing destinations with [[San Juan, La Union|San Juan]] as the Surfing Capital of the North, beaches, and island-hopping in the [[Hundred Islands National Park]]. Cultural attractions include Spanish colonial buildings and structures, including two [[UNESCO]] [[UNESCO World Heritage|World Heritage sites]]: the [[Baroque Churches of the Philippines|Baroque churches]] of [[Paoay Church|Paoay]], Ilocos Norte and [[Santa Maria Church (Ilocos Sur)|Santa Maria]], Ilocos Sur; and the colonial city of [[Vigan]].

{{TOC limit|3}}

== History ==

=== Prehistory ===
The region was originally inhabited by [[Negrito]]s as early as 30,000 BC but over time, these early settlers were displaced by successive waves of [[Austronesian peoples|Austronesian]] migrants who arrived via the region's narrow coastal areas using traditional boats known as [[Balangay|balangay boat]] (referred to as ''biray'' or ''bilog'' in Ilocano). The migrations are explained by the widely accepted "[[Out of Taiwan]]" hypothesis, which posits that Neolithic Austronesian peoples migrated from [[Taiwan]], forming the ancestral populations of contemporary Austronesians.<ref name="Bellwood1">{{cite book |last1=Bellwood |first1=Peter |title=The Global Prehistory of Human Migration |date=2014 |page=213}}</ref>
[[File:The proposed route of Austroasiatic and Austronesian migration into Indonesia and the geographic distribution of sites that have produced red-slipped and cord-marked pottery.png|left|thumb|233x233px|Map Depicting the [[Austronesian migration|Austronesian Migration]] from Taiwan]]
Austronesians are believed to have originated from [[Southern China]] or Taiwan and arrived in the Philippines through at least two major migration waves. The first wave, approximately 10,000 to 7,000 years ago, brought the ancestors of indigenous groups in the [[Cordillera Mountain Range|Cordillera Central mountain range]]. Subsequent migrations introduced additional Austronesian populations, along with agricultural practices, which eventually supplanted the languages of earlier inhabitants.<ref name="Larena">{{Cite journal |last1=Larena |first1=Maximilian |last2=Sanchez-Quinto |first2=Federico |last3=Sjödin |first3=Per |last4=McKenna |first4=James |last5=Ebeo |first5=Carlo |last6=Reyes |first6=Rebecca |last7=Casel |first7=Ophelia |last8=Huang |first8=Jin-Yuan |last9=Hagada |first9=Kim Pullupul |last10=Guilay |first10=Dennis |last11=Reyes |first11=Jennelyn |date=March 30, 2021 |title=Multiple migrations to the Philippines during the last 50,000 years |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=118 |issue=13 |article-number=e2026132118 |bibcode=2021PNAS..11826132L |doi=10.1073/pnas.2026132118 |pmc=8020671 |pmid=33753512 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

These Austronesian settlers included the Cordilleran ([[Igorot people|Igorot]]) groups, such as the [[Itneg people|Itneg]] (Tingguian) and the [[Isnag people|Isnag]] in the northern highlands, as well as the [[Kankanaey people|Kankanaey]] and [[Ibaloi people|Ibaloi]] in the southern highlands, who arrived during the first wave of migration. The second wave brought the [[Ilocano people|Ilocanos]], who settled in the northern coastal areas, alongside the [[Pangasinan people|Pangasinans]], [[Bolinao people|Bolinao]] and [[Sambal people|Zambals]], who established communities in the southern and southwestern coastal zones.

=== Protohistory ===
With the establishment of commercial trading routes in Southeast Asia, settlements in the region flourished both culturally and economically through maritime trade.

The [[Ilocano people|Ilocanos]], known as ''Samtoy'' in pre-colonial times, actively traded goods and products with local and foreign merchants, including the [[Chinese in the Philippines|Chinese]] and [[Japanese in the Philippines|Japanese]]. One notable coastal trading post was ''Bee Gan'' (Chinese: 美岸; ''měi'àn''; ''bí-gān''), meaning "''beautiful shore''," which is now the city of [[Vigan]]. This site served as a significant hub for early Ilocano trade.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History – Vigan City |url=http://vigancity.gov.ph/city/history/ |access-date=2024-11-22 |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:玳瑁 Taipue - Unknown couple - Boxer Codex (1590).jpg|left|thumb|212x212px|Possible [[Caboloan]] inhabitants with [[kampilan]], Boxer Codex (1590), Lingayen Gulf, Luzon]]
In the southern part of the region, the pre-colonial polity (''panarian'') of Caboloan was situated at the [[Agno River]] basin with [[San Carlos, Pangasinan|Binalatongan]] as the capital, while [[Pangasinan (historical polity)|Pangasinan]] was located at the delta and near the [[Lingayen Gulf]], became a center for maritime trade. Gold mined from the [[Cordillera Central (Luzon)|Cordillera Mountain Range]] was transported along the [[Aringay-Tonglo-Balatok gold trail|Aringay-Tonglo-Balatok]] gold trail and traded in settlements like [[Agoo]].<ref name="RAPPLERGOLD">{{Cite news |last=Panela |first=Shaira |date=2017-03-19 |title=Looking into the past through the eyes of the future |language=en-US |work=[[Rappler]] |url=https://www.rappler.com/science/163689-filipino-archaeologist-traces-ancient-gold-trade-trail-north-luzon/ |url-status=live |access-date=2022-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103122714/https://www.rappler.com/science/163689-filipino-archaeologist-traces-ancient-gold-trade-trail-north-luzon/ |archive-date=2022-01-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=William |title=The Discovery of the Igorots |date=1974 |publisher=New Day Publishers |location=Quezon City |isbn=971-10-0087-3 |page=58}}</ref> At the time, Agoo's coastal shape made it an ideal harbor for foreign vessels.<ref name="Sals">{{Cite book |title=The History of Agoo: 1578-2005 |last=Sals |first=Florent Joseph |date=2005 |publisher=Limbagan Printhouse |location=La Union |page=80 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Pangasinan">{{Cite book |last=Mendoza-Cortes |first=Rosario |title=Pangasinan, 1572-1800 |publisher=University of the Philippines Press |year=1974 |location=Quezon City}}</ref>

This trade network connected the region to maritime routes spanning the [[Indian Ocean]] and the [[South China Sea]]. Goods exchanged included [[Tradeware ceramics in the Philippines|porcelain]], silk (''[[inabel]]''), cotton, beeswax, honey, gemstones, beads, precious minerals, locally crafted ''[[Tapayan|burnáy]]'' (stoneware jars), and particularly gold. 
[[File:Bowl, made in China for export and collected in the Philippines, 15th century, porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue floral design.JPG|thumb|180x180px|15th-century Chinese-Ming Dynasty porcelain |left]]
Evidence of this trade has been uncovered in the Pangasinense port of Agoo, where [[Tradeware ceramics in the Philippines|porcelain]] and [[Tradeware ceramics in the Philippines|ceramic]] or pottery fragments were found during renovations of the Catholic church. These artifacts are now preserved in the [[Museo de Iloko]].<ref name="Sals" /> Japanese fishermen later established one of their first settlements in the Philippines in Agoo, introducing advanced fishing techniques and technologies to the local population.<ref name="Sals" />

Another notable aspect of the region's early history is the discovery of the [[Bolinao Skull]], which dates to the 14th or 15th century and is associated with the early inhabitants of Pangasinan.<ref name="natlmuseum">National Museum. Retrieved from: http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/Collections/Archaeo/NCT.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804072726/http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/Collections/Archaeo/NCT.html|date=2020-08-04}}</ref> The skull is particularly notable for its ''dental ornamentation'', with teeth inlaid with ''gold''. It was found alongside 67 other similarly adorned skulls and trade ware [[Tradeware ceramics in the Philippines|ceramics]] from the early [[Ming dynasty|Ming Dynasty]].<ref name="vcam">{{cite web |title=Bolinao Teeth Ornaments |url=http://masterpieces.asemus.museum/masterpiece/detail.nhn?objectId=10380 |access-date=March 1, 2015 |website=Virtual Collection of Asian Masterpieces}}</ref> This discovery highlights the advanced aesthetic traditions, burial, trade practices, and social structures of ancient Filipino communities, offering valuable insights into the region's precolonial culture and history.<ref name="pinoyculture">{{cite web |title=Recovered Artefacts & Treasures from the Philippines |url=http://pinoy-culture.com/post/53484567177/recovered-artifacts-treasures-from-the |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518193749/http://pinoy-culture.com/post/53484567177/recovered-artifacts-treasures-from-the |archive-date=May 18, 2015 |access-date=March 1, 2015 |website=Pinoy-culture.com}}</ref><ref name="inquirer">{{cite news |last1=Campo |first1=Ambeth |date=September 1, 2011 |title=The Bolinao Skull |url=http://opinion.inquirer.net/11117/%E2%80%98the-bolinao-skull%E2%80%99 |access-date=March 1, 2015 |work=Opinion |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer}}</ref>

===Spanish colonization===
A year after [[Miguel López de Legazpi]] declared [[Manila]] the capital of the Philippines on June 24, 1571, Spanish colonization efforts expanded to Northern Luzon to ''"pacify the people."'' <ref name="IlocosHeritage">{{cite book |last1=De la Torre |first1=Visitacion |title=The Ilocos Heritage |date=2006 |publisher=Tower Book House |isbn=978-971-91030-9-7 |location=Makati |page=2}}</ref>

Spanish conquistador [[Martín de Goiti]] began the conquest of [[Pangasinan]] and established several Spanish settlements between 1571 and 1573. By April 5, 1580, Pangasinan became an administrative and judicial district of the province, with [[Lingayen]] as its capital. However, its territorial boundaries were first delineated in 1611, with the area originating from the Spanish settlement in Manila through [[Pampanga]]. 
[[File:Juan de Salcedo, Spanish conquistador.png|thumb|244x244px|Portrait of [[Juan de Salcedo]], 16th-Century Spanish Conquistador in the Philippines]]
On May 20, 1572, a year after Goiti's conquest, conquistadores led by [[Juan de Salcedo]], the grandson of Legazpi, ventured northward with eight armed boats and 80 men. They sailed to [[Lingayen Gulf]] and landed at the mouth of the [[Agno River]]. In 1574, [[Limahong]], a Chinese pirate, fled to Pangasinan after his fleet was driven away from Manila. Limahong attempted to establish a colony in Pangasinan but failed as an army led by Salcedo chased him out of the region after a seven-month siege.

Salcedo then continued his journey to [[Agoo]], where he discovered a Japanese settlement and named it "''El Puerto de Japón"'' after its conquest. He then reached [[Vigan]] on June 13, 1572, which had been a Chinese trading post from the [[Fujian]] province of [[China]]. In Vigan, he founded '''Villa Fernandina de Vigan''<nowiki/>' and made it the diocesan seat of [[Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia|Nueva Segovia]] in honor of [[Philip II of Spain|King Philip II]]'s son, Prince Ferdinand. Salcedo then proceeded to [[Laoag]], [[Currimao]], and [[Badoc]], rounded the tip of Luzón, and continued to pacify the [[Bicol Region]].
[[File:Calle Crisologo at night, Vigan, Philippines - One of The New 7 Wonder Cities of The World - 16632334348.jpg|left|thumb|241x241px|[[Vigan|Villa Fernandina de Vigan]] is the diocesan seat of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia|Nueva Segovia]] in the North]]
In 1574, Salcedo returned to Vigan with soldiers and [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] missionaries to initiate the evangelization of the Ilocos region. He established a Spanish city to control the neighboring territories and convert the native population to [[Catholicism]].

As a reward for his services, Salcedo was granted the province of [[Ilocos (province)|Ylocos]], covering what is now [[Ilocos Norte]], [[Ilocos Sur]], [[Abra (province)|Abra]], [[La Union]], and parts of [[Mountain Province]], as his estate. He was also given the title ''Justicia Mayor de esta Provincia de Ylocos'' (Province Mayor of Ilocos). By the end of the 1700s, Ilocos had a population of 44,852 native families, 631 [[Spanish Filipinos|Spanish Filipino]] families, and 10,041 [[Chinese Filipinos|Chinese Filipino]] families.<ref name="Estadismo1">{{Cite web |title=ESTADISMO DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS TOMO PRIMERO By Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga (Original Spanish) |url=http://www.xeniaeditrice.it/zu%C3%B1igaIocrpdf.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309030040/http://www.xeniaeditrice.it/zu%C3%B1igaIocrpdf.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-09 |access-date=2024-02-23}}</ref>{{rp|539}}<ref name="Estadismo2">[https://ia601608.us.archive.org/10/items/bub_gb_ElhFAAAAYAAJ_2/bub_gb_ElhFAAAAYAAJ.pdf ESTADISMO DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS TOMO SEGUNDO By Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga (Original Spanish)]</ref>{{rp|31,54,113}}<ref name="Estadismo2" />{{rp|9}}
[[File:Basi Revolt.jpg|thumb|191x191px|Portrait of the Bloody [[Basi Revolt]] between the Ilocanos and local Spanish in [[San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur|Bantaoay]], c. 1807]]
Despite Spanish efforts, the Ilocanos in the northern parts of the region were less easily swayed and remained resistant to Spanish rule. These resentments led to several uprisings throughout the region's history, including the insurrections of [[Andres Malong|Andrés Malong]] in 1660, [[Palaris]] of Pangasinan in 1762, [[Pedro Almazán]] in Ilocos Norte in 1661, [[Diego Silang]] and [[Gabriela Silang]] in 1764 and [[Basi Revolt]] in 1807. After the Basi Revolt, tensions culminated in the division of Ilocos into two provinces (Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur) on February 2, 1818. The Pangasinans in the south were the last to resist Spanish rule.<ref>Culture and History by Nick Joaquin</ref>

During the [[Philippine Revolution]] of 1896–1898, [[Manuel Tinio|General Manuel Tinio]] allied with [[Emilio Aguinaldo]] to lead the revolution in Northern Luzon (Ilocos Siege), alongside [[Francisco Makabulos|General Francisco Makabulos]]. Makabulos led his forces to liberate Pangasinan and led revolutionaries in the Battle of Dagupan against the Spanish army. By August 1898, the revolutionaries had driven Spanish forces out of several towns, including Laoag, Ilocos Norte, marking a turning point in the revolution.

On June 12, 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed [[Philippine independence]] and became the first president of the Republic of the Philippines.

===American colonization===
[[File:Manuel Tinio.jpg|thumb|233x233px|[[Manuel Tinio|Gen. Manuel Tinio]], the leader of the Philippine Revolution in Northern Luzon]]
The American colonization of the Ilocos Region began following the conclusion of the [[Spanish–American War|Spanish-American War]] in 1898, when the Philippines was ceded to the [[United States]] under the [[Treaty of Paris (1898)|Treaty of Paris]]. This marked a period of profound transformation for the region, which came under American colonial administration after the [[Philippine–American War|Philippine-American War]] (1899–1902).<ref name="Avalon2008">{{cite web |year=2008 |title=Treaty of Peace Between the United States and Spain; December 10, 1898 |url=http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/sp1898.asp |access-date=June 15, 2014 |work=[[Avalon Project|The Avalon Project]] |publisher=[[Lillian Goldman Law Library]], Yale Law School |location=New Haven, Connecticut}}</ref>

On November 18, 1899, American forces landed in the Ilocos Region in pursuit of Emilio Aguinaldo, the leader of the Philippine resistance. While American troops swiftly occupied towns, they faced persistent resistance in the rural areas (barrios), where guerrilla forces led by Gen. Manuel Tinio continued the struggle. Tinio, a veteran of the 1896 Philippine Revolution against Spain, orchestrated a widespread guerrilla campaign, harassing American forces in the countryside.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2021-06-19 |title=BOOK REVIEW: Ilocano Responses to American Aggression 1900-1901 - |url=https://thefilipinochronicle.com/2021/06/19/book-review-ilocano-responses-to-american-aggression-1900-1901/#:~:text=The%20American%20forces%20landed%20in,a%20veteran%20of%20the%201896 |access-date=2024-11-22 |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:General Gregorio del Pilar and troops in Pampanga c1898.jpg|left|thumb|237x237px|[[Gregorio del Pilar|Gen. Gregorio del Pilar]] and His Troops, circa 1898, During the Philippine-American War]]
One of the most iconic events during this period was the [[Battle of Tirad Pass]] on December 2, 1899. [[Gregorio del Pilar|Gen. Gregorio del Pilar]] and his 60 soldiers faced over 300 troops of the U.S. 45th Infantry Division, led by [[Peyton C. March|Gen. Peyton C. March]]. Despite a valiant defense, the Filipinos ultimately lost their position, marking a significant, albeit symbolic, moment in the resistance against American forces.

The Philippine-American War officially ended in 1902, following years of intense conflict, with the establishment of a Filipino civilian government under American oversight. [[History of the Philippines (1898–1946)|Civil governance]] was introduced in the Ilocos Region, as well as the rest of the Philippines, on July 1, 1901, with [[William H. Taft]] serving as the first Civil Governor. The position was later renamed Governor-General by the U.S. Congress on February 3, 1903.<ref name="Zaide1994ch21p281">{{Citation|last=Zaide|first=Sonia M.|title=The Philippines: A Unique Nation|publisher=All-Nations Publishing Co.|year=1994|isbn=971-642-071-4|page=281}}</ref><ref name="Gates">{{cite book |author=Gates, John M. |title=The U.S. Army and Irregular Warfare |date=November 2002 |chapter=The Pacification of the Philippines |access-date=February 20, 2010 |chapter-url=http://www3.wooster.edu/history/jgates/book-ch3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805061319/http://www3.wooster.edu/history/jgates/book-ch3.html |archive-date=August 5, 2010}}</ref> One of the most notable reforms was the establishment of a centralized public school system in 1901, using English as the medium of instruction. To address a shortage of educators, the colonial government deployed 600 American teachers known as the [[Thomasites]]. 
[[File:School begins - Dalrymple. LCCN2012647459.jpg|thumb|267x267px|School Begins, a portrait of the imposition of American Imperial education in its territories]]
By September 1902, public secondary schools had been established across the region, including institutions in [[Lingayen]] (Pangasinan),<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.pangasinan.gov.ph/the-province/history/ |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=The Official Website of the Province of Pangasinan |language=en-US}}</ref> Vigan and [[Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur|Santa Maria]] (Ilocos Sur), [[Bauang]], [[Bacnotan]], and San Fernando (La Union), and [[Laoag]] and [[Dingras]] (Ilocos Norte)  with several US Thomasites serving as educators. The [[Taft Commission]] per instructions of [[William McKinley|US President McKinley]] introduced free primary education, designed to prepare citizens for civic duties. Additionally, church lands were purchased and redistributed following the disestablishment of the Catholic Church, further signaling the shift in socio-political structures under American rule.<ref>{{Citation |title=Historical Perspective of the Philippine Educational System |url=http://www.deped.gov.ph/about_deped/history.asp |access-date=March 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716160809/http://www.deped.gov.ph/about_deped/history.asp |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |publisher=RP Department of education}}</ref>[[File:History of the United States from the earliest discovery of America to the present time (1912) (14580109277).jpg|left|thumb|282x282px|All Boys' Public School in Vigan, c. 1912]]In 1901, several towns from [[Nueva Ecija]] including [[Balungao]], [[Rosales, Pangasinan|Rosales]], [[San Quintin, Pangasinan|San Quintin]], and [[Umingan]] were annexed to the province of Pangasinan.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dioceseofsanjose.org/about-us/history|title=Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija – History|last=Jose|first=Diocese of San|website=www.dioceseofsanjose.org|language=en-gb|access-date=February 7, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208033342/http://www.dioceseofsanjose.org/about-us/history|archive-date=February 8, 2017}}</ref> On November 30, 1903, additional municipalities from northern [[Zambales]] such as [[Agno, Pangasinan|Agno]], [[Alaminos, Pangasinan|Alaminos]], [[Anda, Pangasinan|Anda]], [[Bani, Pangasinan|Bani]], [[Bolinao]], [[Burgos, Pangasinan|Burgos]], [[Dasol]], [[Infanta, Pangasinan|Infanta]], and [[Mabini, Pangasinan|Mabini]] were transferred to Pangasinan.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bautista|first1=Joseph|title=Agno Rustic Pangasinan 0|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/agno-rustic-pangasinan/371628/|website=The Manila Times|date=January 2018|access-date=May 2, 2018|archive-date=May 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502143806/http://www.manilatimes.net/agno-rustic-pangasinan/371628/|url-status=live}}</ref> These towns, originally part of the homeland of the [[Sambal people|Sambal]] people, were reassigned due to their geographic distance from their original provincial capitals. Despite resistance from local communities, this decision has remained unchanged. 
[[File:Pangasinan Provincial Capitol inauguration.jpg|thumb|280x280px|Inauguration of Pangasinan Provincial Capitol, c. 1918]]
Under the [[Philippine Organic Act of 1902]], the Ilocos Region experienced significant political, economic, and social changes. Infrastructure development flourished, with the construction of public schools, bridges, railways, airports, and ports, enhancing the region's connectivity with other parts of the country.

However, these developments were accompanied by local unrest. Reports of war crimes, forced relocations, [[extrajudicial killing]]s, and destruction of property by American forces fueled discontent among the population. While the introduction of modern governance and infrastructure brought progress, these human rights abuses left a lasting impact on the region's history.

American colonization ended on July 4, 1946 in WWII's aftermath gaining Philippine Independence from the United States.

===Japanese occupation===
[[File:Lingayen Gulf Landings 1941.jpg|thumb|255x255px|Japanese landings on Lingayen Gulf, 22 Dec 1941]]
The Japanese invasion of the [[Commonwealth of the Philippines|Philippine Commonwealth]] began on December 8, 1941 during [[World War II]], when Japan launched an attack on U.S. military installations and residential areas, following the attack on [[Pearl Harbor]]. Just two days later, the Japanese ''Kanno Detachment'' landed in [[Vigan|Vigan, Ilocos Sur]], aiming to secure airstrips for further military operations. Although initially unopposed, the landing was delayed by bad weather and American air attacks, which damaged Japanese ships and caused casualties. By December 11, the Japanese forces had successfully captured Vigan and dispatched additional troops to seize [[Laoag]] and its airfield. As American forces retreated, [[Masaharu Homma|Lieutenan Gen. Masaharu Homma]] left a small garrison in Vigan and redirected the main forces to support operations at [[Lingayen Gulf]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=HyperWar: US Army in WWII: Fall of the Philippines [Chapter 6] |url=https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-PI/USA-P-PI-6.html |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=www.ibiblio.org}}</ref>

By December 20, the combined forces of the Col. Kanno and [[Shizuichi Tanaka|Gen. Shizuichi Tanaka]] Detachments advanced south along Route 3. After overcoming Philippine defenses in [[Bacnotan]], they reached [[San Fernando, La Union|San Fernando]], La Union, by December 22. The Japanese 14th Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma, had also landed at Lingayen Gulf, gaining control of key areas in [[Pangasinan]] and [[La Union]]. This marked the beginning of Japanese occupation of Northern Luzon, including the Lingayen Gulf region, which remained under Japanese control for three years, until it was recaptured by Allied forces in 1945. 
[[File:The Fighting Filipinos - NARA - 534127.jpg|left|thumb|236x236px|Propaganda poster of the widespread resistance movement]]
During the occupation, the region was part of the Japanese-controlled ''puppet republic'' led by [[Jose P. Laurel|President José P. Laurel]]. The local population endured widespread atrocities committed by the [[Japanese Imperial Army]], including gang rape, sexual slavery ([[comfort women]]), torture, and other human rights violations. These brutal acts sparked significant resistance movements across the region, with several guerrilla groups forming to oppose the Japanese occupation. One prominent leader of the local resistance was ''Captain Candonino Villalon Gaerlan'', who led a successful ambush against Japanese forces in [[Candon, Ilocos Sur]], symbolizing local defiance against the invaders.<ref name="William L. O'Neill p 115">William L. O'Neill, ''A Democracy at War: America's Fight at Home and Abroad in World War II'', p. 115 {{ISBN|0029236789}}</ref>

{{Multiple images
| image1            = US warships entering Lingayen Gulf 1945.jpg
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| caption1          = US Navy Battleship entering Lingayen Gulf, January 1945
| caption2          = US Landing Areas for Assault Forces on Lingayen Gulf, January 1945
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}}

By 1944, with the [[United States]] beginning its campaign to liberate the Philippines, the region became a crucial focal point for military operations. On October 20, 1944, the [[Allied forces (World War II)|Allied forces]] initiated the liberation of the Philippines, setting the stage for the [[Battle of Lingayen Gulf]] in early 1945. On January 6, 1945, the [[U.S. Navy]], supported by the [[Royal Australian Navy]], began heavy bombardments of Japanese coastal defenses and infrastructure, lasting until January 8. Japanese [[kamikaze]] attacks targeted Allied vessels from January 7 to 9, but despite the damage, the U.S. Navy maintained control of the Gulf, securing it for the imminent invasion.<ref name="Pacific wrecks - Lingayan Gulf">{{Cite web |title=Pacific Wrecks – Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippines |url=https://pacificwrecks.com/provinces/philippines_lingayen_gulf.html |website=pacificwrecks.com |access-date=2024-11-25 |archive-date=2022-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707114726/https://pacificwrecks.com/provinces/philippines_lingayen_gulf.html }}</ref>

On January 9, known as [[S-Day]], [[Douglas MacArthur|Gen. Douglas MacArthur]] and U.S. Army forces from the Sixth Army landed on a 25-mile beachhead between [[Lingayen]] and [[San Fabian, Pangasinan|San Fabian]]. The landings, supported by over 800 ships and extensive air support, faced light resistance, as the Japanese had concentrated their defenses inland. By January 15, 1945, Allied forces had firmly secured the Lingayen Gulf region and began advancing into the heart of Luzon, paving the way for the [[liberation of Manila]] and the eventual defeat of Japanese forces in the Philippines.

===Postwar period ===
{{see also|Tobacco production in the Philippines |Stonehill scandal}}
The Ilocos region produced two presidents of the Republic of the Philippines within the first two decades after the recognition of Philippine independence: [[Elpidio Quirino]] and [[Ferdinand Marcos]].
[[File:NTA-Tobacco-Producing-Provinces-Map.png|left|thumb|230x230px|Tobacco-producing provinces in the Philippines, including the four provinces in the region]]
This period also marked a return of the [[tobacco production in the Philippines|tobacco industry]] to the Ilocos Region. Ever since the end of the tobacco monopoly, tobacco production had declined in the Ilocos as Filipinos started shifting from locally made cigars to foreign made cigarettes.<ref name="StarTabacalera">{{Cite news |last=Sison |first=Norman |title=Tabacalera: 130 years of cigars and Philippine history |url=https://www.philstar.com/business/business-as-usual/2011/12/05/754678/tabacalera-130-years-cigars-and-philippine-history |access-date=2024-03-26 |work=The [[Philippine Star]] |archive-date=2023-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028200759/https://www.philstar.com/business/business-as-usual/2011/12/05/754678/tabacalera-130-years-cigars-and-philippine-history |url-status=live }}</ref> But after reading a feature article series by [[Maximo Soliven]] which explained why Virginia tobacco would grow well on Ilocos soil,  businessman [[Harry Stonehill]] was convinced to invest extensively in rebuilding the industry, establishing the Philippine Tobacco Flue-Curing and Redrying Corporation (PTFCRC) in 1951 and recruiting farmers from throughout Region 1 to produce tobacco.<ref name="NTA"/><ref name="StonehillGhost">{{Cite web |url=https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2014/05/26/1327283/ghost-past-stonehill-scandal |title=A ghost from the past – the Stonehill scandal |website=[[The Philippine STAR]] |access-date=2024-03-30 |archive-date=2022-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423201858/https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2014/05/26/1327283/ghost-past-stonehill-scandal |url-status=live }}</ref> The following year, La Union Congressman Manuel T. Cases filed a bill to "limit the importation of foreign leaf tobacco," which was eventually signed by President [[Elpidio Quirino]] as Republic Act 698.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=June 1951 |title=The American Chamber of Commerce Journal, June 1951 |url=https://repository.mainlib.upd.edu.ph/omekas/s/rare-periodicals/media/86281 |url-status=live |journal=The American Chamber of Commerce Journal  |volume=XXVII |issue=6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330124126/https://repository.mainlib.upd.edu.ph/omekas/s/rare-periodicals/media/86281 |archive-date=2024-03-30}}</ref> This allowed Stonehill's investments to make a handsome profit,<ref name="Kasaysayan9ch2"/> and the newly rebuilt local industry to bloom.<ref name="NTA">{{Cite web |last=Department of Agriculture |first=National Tobacco Administration |title=Tobacco History |url=https://www.nta.da.gov.ph/tobacco/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=National Tobacco Administration |language=en-US}}</ref> Stonehill was later deported a decade later, in the 1960s, for tax evasion and bribery of government officials, in what would later be called the [[Stonehill scandal]],<ref name="Kasaysayan9ch2">{{Cite book |title=Kasaysayan, The Story of the Filipino People Volume 9:A Nation Reborn. |publisher=Asia Publishing Company Limited |year=1998 |editor-last=Magno |editor-first=Alexander R. |location=Hong Kong |chapter=A Web of Corruption}}</ref> but the tobacco industry continued to grow.<ref name="StonehillGhost"/><ref name="Kasaysayan9ch2"/>

===Rule under Ferdinand Marcos===
[[File:Marcos Declares Martial Law.jpg|thumb|266x266px|The declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines was announced via the [[Philippines Daily Express]] on September 24, 1972]]
Various [[Human rights violations of the Marcos dictatorship|human rights violations]] were documented in the Ilocos region during the [[Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos|Marcos martial law era]], despite [[Solid North|public perception that the region was supportive]] of Marcos' administration.<ref name ="ilocosnorteHR">{{Cite web|url = https://www.bulatlat.com/2012/10/02/ilocanos-remember-dark-days-of-martial-law-vow-to-continue-fight/|title = Ilocanos remember dark days of martial law, vow to continue fight|date = October 2, 2012|access-date = September 15, 2021|archive-date = September 15, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210915163609/https://www.bulatlat.com/2012/10/02/ilocanos-remember-dark-days-of-martial-law-vow-to-continue-fight/|url-status = live}}</ref> In Ilocos Norte, various farmers from the towns of Vintar, Dumalneg, Solsona, Marcos, and Piddig were documented to have been tortured,<ref name ="ilocosnorteHR"/> and eight farmers in Bangui and three indigenous community members in Vintar were "[[Extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances in the Philippines|salvaged]]" in 1984.<ref name ="ilocosnorteHR"/>

Ilocanos who were critical of Marcos' authoritarian rule included Roman Catholic Archbishop and [[Agoo, La Union]] native [[Antonio L. Mabutas]], who spoke actively against the torture and killings of church workers.<ref name="Davaob">{{cite web |title=Honoring Davao's Contributions to the Struggle for Rights, Freedom |url=http://www.bantayog.org/davao-konsensya/ |website=Bantayog ng mga Bayani |date=February 23, 2018 |access-date=8 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228182116/http://www.bantayog.org/davao-konsensya/ |archive-date=2018-02-28 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MindaNews">{{cite news |last1=Maglana |first1=MAgz |title=VOICES FROM MINDANAO: Fear is not a good foundation for getting Mindanao out of the rut |url=https://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2017/07/voices-from-mindanao-fear-is-not-a-good-foundation-for-getting-mindanao-out-of-the-rut/ |access-date=8 February 2020 |work=MindaNews |date=2017-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208094745/https://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2017/07/voices-from-mindanao-fear-is-not-a-good-foundation-for-getting-mindanao-out-of-the-rut/ |archive-date=2020-02-08}}</ref> Other La Union natives who fought the dictatorship were student activists Romulo and [[Armando Palabay]] of [[San Fernando, La Union]], whose torture and death in a military camp in Pampanga would lead them to being honored as martyrs in the fight against the dictatorship in the Philippines' [[Bantayog ng mga Bayani]] memorial.<ref name="BantayogProfileMandrake">{{cite web|url=http://www.bantayog.org/palabay-armando-d/|title=PALABAY, Armando D. &ndash; Bantayog ng mga Bayani|website=bantayog.org|date=January 18, 2017|access-date=2020-01-22|archive-date=January 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111133837/http://www.bantayog.org/palabay-armando-d/}}</ref>
[[File:BantayogWall20181115Alternativity-2000-2001-2002-2004-2005.jpg|left|thumb|The Wall of Remembrance at [[Bantayog ng mga Bayani]] honors those who resisted the martial law regime]]
In Ilocos Norte, one of the prominent victims of the Martial Law era who came from Laoag was Catholic layperson and social worker [[Purificacion Pedro]], who volunteered in organizations protesting the [[Chico River Dam Project]] in the nearby Cordillera Central mountains.<ref name="BantayogProfilePEDRO">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bantayog.org/pedro-purificacion-a/|title=MARTYRS & HEROES: PEDRO, Purificacion A.|date=July 13, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2021|archive-date=October 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030173721/https://www.bantayog.org/pedro-purificacion-a/|url-status=live}}</ref> Wounded while visiting activist friends in Bataan, she was later killed by Marcos administration soldiers while recuperating in the hospital.<ref name="Bulatlat">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bulatlat.com/news/3-45/3-45-martyrs.html |title=Human Rights Martyrs of the Word |last=Remollino |first=Alexander Martin |date=December 14–20, 2003  |website=www.bulatlat.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040312211338/http://bulatlat.com/news/3-45/3-45-martyrs.html |archive-date=2004-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=No Way to Go But Onwards! Philippine Religious Resist Marcos Repression |url=http://religion.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/servlet/outpdf?id=A00764320009 |format=PDF |journal=Christian Conference of Asia: CCA News |publisher=Christian Conference of Asia |date=March 1983 |volume=18 |issue=3 |page=4 |access-date=2021-11-13 |archive-date=2021-11-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113155916/http://religion.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/servlet/outpdf?id=A00764320009 |url-status=live }}</ref> Another prominent opponent of the martial law regime was human rights advocate and Bombo Radyo Laoag program host [[David Bueno]], who worked with the [[Free Legal Assistance Group]] in Ilocos Norte during the later part of the Marcos administration and the early part of the succeeding Aquino administration. He would later be assassinated by motorcycle-riding men in fatigue uniforms on October 22, 1987 – part of a wave of assassinations which coincided with the [[1986–90 Philippine coup attempts|1986-87 coup d'état]] which tried to unseat the democratic government set up after the [[1986 People Power Revolution]].<ref>{{cite book|publisher=Routledge|title=The Politics of NGOs in Southeast Asia|year=2006|first=Gerard|last=Clarke}}</ref> Both Bueno and Pedro were later honored among the first 65 people to have their names inscribed on the wall of remembrance of the Philippines' [[Bantayog ng mga Bayani]], which honors the martyrs and heroes who fought the dictatorship,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bantayog.org/a-tribute-to-human-rights-lawyer-david-bueno-1988/|title=A Tribute to Human Rights Lawyer David Bueno (1988)|date=August 19, 2015|access-date=October 31, 2021|archive-date=May 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523180742/https://www.bantayog.org/a-tribute-to-human-rights-lawyer-david-bueno-1988/}}</ref> and Pedro was listed among Filipino Catholics nominated to be named [[Servant of God#Catholic Church|Servant of God]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://newsaints.faithweb.com/new_martyrs/Philippines1.htm |title=Philippines |website=newsaints.faithweb.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009161948/http://newsaints.faithweb.com/new_martyrs/Philippines1.htm |archive-date=2019-10-09}}</ref>

=== Integration and realignment ===
The integration of provinces into the Ilocos Region has evolved over time, shaped by political decisions aimed at administrative restructuring and cultural integration.

{{Multiple images
| image1            = Ilocos Norte province 1918 map.JPG
| image2            = Mountain province 1918 map.jpg
| image3            = Ilocos Sur province 1918 map.JPG
| image4            = Lepanto subprovince 1918 map.JPG
| direction         = horizontal
| total_width       = 450
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| footer            = Map of Northwestern Luzon with its former territories and provinces, c. 1918
| footer_align      = center
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}}

In 1973, ''Presidential Decree No. 1'', issued by [[Ferdinand Marcos|President Ferdinand Marcos]], transferred the province of [[Pangasinan]] from Region III ([[Central Luzon]]) to Region I (Ilocos Region). Before this decree, Pangasinan had not been part of the Ilocos Region.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1972/09/24/presidential-decree-no-1-s-1972/|title=Presidential Decree No. 1, s. 1972|date=September 24, 1972|access-date=May 27, 2019|archive-date=September 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928072949/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1972/09/24/presidential-decree-no-1-s-1972/|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the same period, the provinces of [[Mountain Province]] and [[Benguet]] were also included in the Ilocos Region. Abra was already part of Ilocos Region before 1973.<ref name="official_gazette">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1973/06/22/presidential-decree-no-224-s-1973/|title=Presidential Decree No. 224, s. 1973|work=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines |date=June 22, 1973|access-date=November 5, 2016|archive-date=May 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527023300/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1973/06/22/presidential-decree-no-224-s-1973/|url-status=live|quote= 1.a. Region No. 1 is called the Ilocos Region, and comprises the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, Benguet, Mountain Province, and Pangasinan, and the cities of Baguio, Laoag, Dagupan, and San Carlos, with regional center at San Fernando, La Union.}}</ref>

On July 15, 1987, [[Corazon Aquino|President Corazon Aquino]] issued ''Executive Order No. 220'', creating the [[Cordillera Administrative Region]] (CAR). This order transferred Abra, Mountain Province, and Benguet from the Ilocos Region to the newly established CAR, recognizing the Cordillera's indigenous peoples' unique cultural and historical identities.<ref name="ChanRobles">{{cite web |title=Republic Act No. 4695: An Act Creating the Provinces of Benguet, Mountain Province, Ifugao and Kalinga-Apayao |url=http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno4695.html |access-date=September 18, 2014 |website=Chan Robles Virtual Law Library}}</ref>

As of today, the Ilocos Region consists of four provinces: [[Ilocos Norte]], [[Ilocos Sur]], [[La Union]], and [[Pangasinan]]. Meanwhile, Abra, Mountain Province, and Benguet are part of the Cordillera Administrative Region.

=== Contemporary history ===
The Ilocos region has produced 3 more Philippine Presidents in the years since the 1986 [[People Power revolution]]: Pangasinense [[Fidel V. Ramos]], [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]] (Ilocano on mother's side), and Ferdinand Marcos' son [[Bongbong Marcos]].
[[File:1990 Luzon intensity.jpg|left|thumb|231x231px|1990 Luzon earthquake intensity map]]
The southern parts of the region were severely hit by the [[1990 Luzon earthquake]]. Five municipalities in [[La Union]] were affected: [[Agoo, La Union|Agoo]], [[Aringay, La Union|Aringay]], [[Caba, La Union|Caba]], [[Santo Tomas, La Union|Santo Tomas]], and [[Tubao, La Union|Tubao]] with a combined population of 132,208. Many buildings, including the Agoo Municipal hall,<ref name="AgooMunicipalHallreferece">{{Cite web |date=2015-12-12 |title=23 Years in La Union |url=https://www.philnavs.org/23-years-of-ministry-in-la-union/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716172926/https://www.philnavs.org/23-years-of-ministry-in-la-union/ |archive-date=2020-07-16 |access-date=2020-07-16 |website=The Philippine Navigators |language=en-US}}</ref> the [[Museo de Iloko]], the parish church of Aringay,<ref>{{cite web|title=Aringay through the years|url=https://aringaytourism.site123.me/articles/aringay-through-the-years-an-analysis|access-date=2024-05-06|archive-date=2024-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507030715/https://aringaytourism.site123.me/articles/aringay-through-the-years-an-analysis|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Charity|Basilica Minore of our Lady of Charity]],<ref name="Sals" /> collapsed or were severely damaged. Sitio Nagpanauan in Aringay completely submerged when the sea level rose and the land collapsed during the earthquake.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Suarez |first=K. D. |date=2017-12-13 |title=Vanishing Brgy. Alaska: Who's paying for loss and damage? |url=https://www.rappler.com/environment/191288-brgy-alaska-la-union-climate-change-loss-and-damage/#:~:text=In%20the%2090s,%20there%20used,and%20eat%20away%20their%20shoreline. |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}}</ref> 100,000 families were displaced when two coastal villages sank due to [[liquefaction]]. The province suffered many casualties leaving 32 people dead. In Pangasinan, about 90 buildings in [[Dagupan]] were damaged, and about 20 collapsed. Some structures sustained damage because liquefaction caused buildings to sink as much as {{convert|1|m|in|abbr=off}}. The earthquake caused a decrease in the elevation of the city and several areas were flooded. The city suffered 64 casualties of which 47 survived and 17 died. Most injuries were sustained during stampedes at a university building and a theater.

== Geography ==
The Ilocos Region, situated in the northwestern part of Luzon, Philippines, encompasses a total land area of 12,840.2 square kilometers. Of this area, 810,062 hectares are classified as alienable and disposable land, while 473,957 hectares are designated as forest land.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Philippine Board of Investments |title=ILOCOS REGION |url=https://boi.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/ilocos.pdf |website=Philippine Board of Investments}}</ref> The region is strategically positioned with direct access to international sea lanes and features diverse geographical landscapes. It is bordered by the [[South China Sea]] to the west and the [[Cordillera Mountain Range|Central Cordillera Mountain Range]] to the east. In contrast, Pangasinan occupies the northwestern section of the vast Central Luzon Plain, with the [[Zambales Mountains]] forming its natural western boundary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Region 1 - Regional Profile |url=https://www.dti.gov.ph/regions/region1/profile/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=Department of Trade and Industry Philippines |language=en-US}}</ref>

{{Multiple image
| image1            = Road to Protected Patapat Mountains.jpg
| caption1          = North Cordillera Mountain Range
| image2            = Abra River 1.jpg
| caption2          = Abra River watershed
| image3            = Paoay sand dunes.jpg
| caption3          = Paoay Sand Dunes
| direction         = horizontal
| align             = center
| total_width       = 900
| width             = 200
| caption_align     = center
| image4            = Pangasinan Hundred Islands.jpg
| caption4          = Hundred Islands National Park
| image5            = Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Ilocos Norte (16016349609).jpg
| caption5          = Kapurpurawan Rock Formation
}}

The region's highest peak is [[Mount Sicapoo]], located within the [[Cordillera Central (Luzon)|Central Cordillera]] range in Ilocos Norte and Abra. This mountain, characterized by dense [[Pine|pine forests]], reaches an elevation of 7,746 feet (2,361 meters) above sea level, making it the tallest point in region.

The Ilocos Region is traversed by 29 river systems, including two significant river basins: the Agno River Basin and the Abra River Basin. The [[Agno River]], originating in [[Benguet]], flows through Pangasinan and forms a broad delta in [[Lingayen]] before emptying into Lingayen Gulf. It is one of the largest river systems in the Philippines, with a drainage area of 5,952 square kilometers (2,298 square miles). The [[Abra River]], originating near [[Mount Data]] in Benguet, flows through [[Abra (province)|Abra]] and Ilocos Sur and is the country's seventh-largest river system, with a drainage area of approximately 5,125 square kilometers (1,979 square miles) and a length of 179 kilometers (111 miles). The river's delta and mouth are located between the municipalities of [[Santa, Ilocos Sur|Santa]] and [[Caoayan]] in Ilocos Sur, before emptying into the [[South China Sea]].

The [[Lingayen Gulf]], a notable body of water in the region, is particularly significant in Pangasinan and La Union. It hosts numerous islands, including the famed [[Hundred Islands National Park]]. To the north of the region lies the [[Luzon Strait]], underscoring its strategic geographic importance.

[[Cabarruyan Island]] is the largest island in the region. It is situated in the municipality of [[Anda, Pangasinan]], along the Lingayen Gulf. The island has an approximate area of 77.78 square kilometers (30.03 square miles) and a coastline length of roughly 59.16 kilometers (36.76 miles).

[[Paoay Lake]] is one of the largest natural lakes in the region, located at [[Paoay|Paoay, Ilocos Norte]], It has a surface area of approximately 3.86 square kilometers (1.49 square miles), with an average depth of 6 meters (20 feet) a maximum depth of 10 meters (33 feet) with surface elevation is below sea level.

Aw-asen Falls, at [[Sigay|Sigay, Ilocos Sur]], is the tallest waterfall in the region. It stands at a height of 120 meters (394 feet) and has a plunge pool depth of approximately 8 meters (26 feet).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-27 |title=Enchanted Aw-asen Falls - Sigay LGU |url=https://sigay.gov.ph/enchanted-aw-asen-falls/ |access-date=2024-12-02 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Given its location, the Ilocos Region plays a pivotal role in [[East Asia]], being in close proximity to dynamic economies such as Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Southern China.

=== Administrative Divisions ===
[[File:Ph ilocos.png|thumb|329x329px|Political Map of the Ilocos Region]]
The Ilocos Region (Region I) is composed of four provinces, namely Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan. It also includes one [[Cities in the Philippines|independent component city]] ([[Dagupan|Dagupan City]]) and eight component cities: [[Laoag]], [[Candon]], [[Vigan]], [[San Fernando, La Union|San Fernando]], [[Alaminos, Pangasinan|Alaminos]], [[Urdaneta, Pangasinan|Urdaneta]], [[San Carlos, Pangasinan|San Carlos]], and [[Batac]]. The region is further subdivided into 116 municipalities and 3,265 barangays. There are 12 [[Congressional districts of the Philippines|congressional districts]]: 2 each in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union, and 6 in Pangasinan. These political divisions reflect the administrative organization of the region, facilitating governance and development initiatives.<ref name="NSCB">{{cite web|title=List of Regions|url=http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/listreg.asp|publisher=National Statistical Coordination Board|access-date=January 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013150956/http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/listreg.asp|archive-date=October 13, 2008}}</ref>

==== [[Provinces of the Philippines|Provinces]] ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="background-color:#FDFDFD;text-align:center;font-size:90%;"
|-
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" | Province
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" | Capital
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;white-space:nowrap;" class="unsortable" colspan=2 | Population {{small|(2020)}}<ref>{{cite web|date=August 27, 2020|title=POPULATION PROJECTIONS BY REGION, PROVINCE, CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, 2020-2025|url=https://www.doh.gov.ph/node/15619|access-date=October 16, 2020|work=www.doh.gov.ph|publisher=Department of Health|archive-date=May 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514203439/https://doh.gov.ph/node/15619}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" colspan=2 | Area<ref name="PSA-NSCB-ProvinceList">{{cite web|title=PSGC Interactive; List of Provinces|url=http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/listprov.asp|website=[[Philippine Statistics Authority]] |access-date=March 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111015112/http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/listprov.asp|archive-date=January 11, 2013}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" colspan=2 | Density
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" | Cities
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Muni.|Municipalities}}
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Barangay|Barangays}}
|-
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" |
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" |
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" colspan=2 |
! scope="col" style="border-style:none none solid solid;" | km<sup>2</sup>
! scope="col" style="border-style:none solid solid none;white-space:nowrap;" class="unsortable" | sq mi
! scope="col" style="border-style:none none solid solid;" | /km<sup>2</sup>
! scope="col" style="border-style:none solid solid none;white-space:nowrap;" class="unsortable" | /sq mi
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" |
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" |
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" |
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | {{flag|Ilocos Norte}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Laoag|Laoag City]]
| {{percent and number|609588|5301139|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| {{convert|3,418.75|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|609,588/3,418.75|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| 2
| 21
| [[List of barangays in Ilocos Norte|559]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | {{flag|Ilocos Sur}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Vigan|Vigan City]]
| {{percent and number|706009|5301139|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| {{convert|2,596.00|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|706,009/2,596.00|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| 2
| 32
| [[List of barangays in Ilocos Sur|768]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | {{flag|La Union}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[San Fernando, La Union|San Fernando City]]
| {{percent and number|822352|5301139|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| {{convert|1,499.28|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|822,352/1,499.28|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| 1
| 19
| [[List of barangays in La Union|576]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | {{flag|Pangasinan}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Lingayen, Pangasinan|Lingayen]]
| {{percent and number|3163190|5301139|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| {{convert|5,450.59|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|3,163,190/5,450.59|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| 4
| 44
| [[List of barangays in Pangasinan|1,364]]
|-class="sortbottom"
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;" colspan=3 | Total
! scope="col" style="text-align:right;" | 5,301,139
! scope="col" style="text-align:right;" | 12,964.62
! scope="col" | {{convert|12,964.62|km2|disp=number|2}}
! scope="col" style="text-align:right;" | {{sigfig|5301139/12,964.62|2}}
! scope="col" style="text-align:right;" | {{convert|{{sigfig|5,301,139/12,964.62|2}}|PD/km2|disp=number}}
! scope="col" | 9
! scope="col" | 116
! scope="col" | 3,267
|-class="sortbottom" style="text-align:left;background-color:#F2F2F2;border-top:double grey;"
| style="padding-left:1em;" colspan=13 |
• Figures for Pangasinan include the ''independent component city'' of [[Dagupan]].
|}

===== Governors and Vice Governors =====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!width=140 |Province
!width=150 |Image
!width=235 |Governor
!width=120 colspan=2 |Political Party
!width=150 |Vice Governor
|-
|{{center|[[File:Seal_of_Ilocos_Norte.png|75px]]}}{{center|[[Ilocos Norte]]}}
|[[File:Governor Cecilia Marcos Official Portrait Ilocos Norte Government.jpg|138x138px]]
|[[Cecilia Marcos (politician)|Cecilia Araneta Marcos]]
| {{party name with colour|Nacionalista Party}} 
|[[Matthew Manotoc|Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc]]
|-
|{{center|[[File:Ph seal ilocos sur.png|75px]]}}{{center|[[Ilocos Sur]]}}
|align=center |[[File:Gov Singson.png|138x138px]]
|[[Jerry Singson|Jeremias C. Singson]]
| {{party name with colour|Bileg Ti Ilokano}}
|[[Ryan Luis Singson]]
|-
|{{center|[[File:Ph seal la union.png|75px]]}}{{center|[[La Union]]}}
|align=center |[[File:Vice Governor Mario Eduardo Ortega.jpg|138x138px]]
|[[Mario Eduardo Ortega|Mario Eduardo C. Ortega]]
| {{party name with colour|Partido Federal ng Pilipinas}}
|Eric O. Sibuma
|-
|{{center|[[File:Official Seal of Pangasinan.svg|75px]]}}{{center|[[Pangasinan]]}}
|align=center |[[File:Gov Guico.png|138x138px]]
|[[Ramon Guico III]]
| {{party name with colour|Nacionalista Party}}
|Mark Ronald DG. Lambino
|}

==== [[Cities of the Philippines|Cities]] and [[Municipalities of the Philippines|Municipalities]] ====
{{Multiple image
| image1            = Ph fil ilocos norte.png
| image2            = Ph fil ilocos sur.png
| image3            = Ph fil la union.png
| image4            = Ph fil pangasinan.png
| direction         = horizontal
| total_width       = 700
| align             = center
| footer            = Political map of the Ilocos Region showing its municipalities and cities
| footer_align      = center
}}
{{unbulleted list
| {{Color box|#BFF5FF|†|border=silver}} {{font|Regional center|size=90%}}
}}
{{unbulleted list
| {{Color box|#00FF00|^|border=silver}} {{font|Independent City|size=90%}}
}}

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:center;background-color:#FDFDFD;font-size:90%;"
|-
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" | City/Municipality
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" | Population {{small|(2020)}}{{PH census|2020}}
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" colspan=2 | Area<ref name="PSA-CitiesList">{{cite web|title=PSGC Interactive; List of Cities |url=http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/listcity.asp |website=Philippine Statistics Authority |access-date=March 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429190752/http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/listcity.asp |archive-date=April 29, 2011 }}</ref>
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" colspan=2 | Density
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" | Class
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" | Income class
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:none;" class="unsortable" | Province
|-
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" |
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" |
! scope="col" style="border-style:hidden hidden solid solid;" | km<sup>2</sup>
! scope="col" style="border-style:hidden solid solid hidden;" class="unsortable" | {{nowrap|sq mi}}
! scope="col" style="border-style:hidden hidden solid solid;" | /km<sup>2</sup>
! scope="col" style="border-style:hidden solid solid hidden;" class="unsortable" | {{nowrap|/sq mi}}
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" |
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" |
! scope="col" style="border-top:none;" |
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Adams, Ilocos Norte|Adams]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 2,189
| {{convert|159.31|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|2189/159.31|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Agno, Pangasinan|Agno]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 29,947
| {{convert|169.75|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|29947/169.75|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Agoo]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 66,028
| {{convert|52.84|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|66028/52.84|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Aguilar, Pangasinan|Aguilar]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 45,100
| {{convert|195.07|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|45100/195.07|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Alaminos, Pangasinan|Alaminos]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 99,397
| {{convert|164.26|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|99397/164.26|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Component city
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Alcala, Pangasinan|Alcala]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 48,908
| {{convert|45.71|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|48908/45.71|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Alilem]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 7,361
| {{convert|119.33|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|7361/119.33|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Anda, Pangasinan|Anda]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 41,548
| {{convert|74.55|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|41548/74.55|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Aringay]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 50,380
| {{convert|84.54|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|50380/84.54|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Asingan]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 57,811
| {{convert|66.64|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|57811/66.64|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Bacarra]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 33,496
| {{convert|65.32|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|33496/65.32|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Bacnotan]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 44,388
| {{convert|76.60|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|44388/76.60|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Badoc]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 32,530
| {{convert|76.68|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|32530/76.68|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Bagulin]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 14,428
| {{convert|107.33|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|14428/107.33|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Balaoan]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 40,339
| {{convert|68.70|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|40339/68.70|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Balungao]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 30,004
| {{convert|73.25|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|30004/73.25|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Banayoyo]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 7,931
| {{convert|24.63|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|7931/24.63|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Bangar, La Union|Bangar]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 38,041
| {{convert|37.36|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|38041/37.36|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Bangui, Ilocos Norte|Bangui]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 15,019
| {{convert|112.98|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|15019/112.98|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Bani, Pangasinan|Bani]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 52,603
| {{convert|179.65|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|52603/179.65|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Banna, Ilocos Norte|Banna]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 19,297
| {{convert|92.73|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|19297/92.73|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Bantay]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 37,118
| {{convert|76.60|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|37118/76.60|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Basista]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 37,679
| {{convert|24.00|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|37679/24.00|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Batac]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 55,484
| {{convert|161.06|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|55484/161.06|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Component city
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Bauang]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 78,449
| {{convert|73.15|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|78449/73.15|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Bautista, Pangasinan|Bautista]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 35,398
| {{convert|46.33|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|35398/46.33|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Bayambang]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 129,011
| {{convert|143.94|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|129011/143.95|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Binalonan]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 56,382
| {{convert|47.57|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|56382/47.57|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Binmaley]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 86,881
| {{convert|118.50|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|86881/118.50|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Bolinao]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 83,979
| {{convert|197.22|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|83979/197.22|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Bugallon]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 74,962
| {{convert|189.64|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|74962/189.64|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Burgos, Ilocos Norte|Burgos]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 10,759
| {{convert|128.90|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|10759/128.90|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Burgos, Ilocos Sur|Burgos]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 12,793
| {{convert|44.38|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|12793/44.38|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Burgos, La Union|Burgos]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 9,006
| {{convert|70.80|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|9006/70.80|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Burgos, Pangasinan|Burgos]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 23,749
| {{convert|131.32|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|23749/131.32|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Caba, La Union|Caba]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 23,119
| {{convert|46.31|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|23119/46.31|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Cabugao]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 38,884
| {{convert|95.56|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|38884/95.56|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Calasiao]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 100,471
| {{convert|48.36|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|100471/48.36|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Candon]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 61,432
| {{convert|103.28|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|61432/103.28|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Component city
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Caoayan]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 19,574
| {{convert|17.42|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|19574/17.42|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Carasi]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 1,607
| {{convert|82.97|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|1607/82.97|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Cervantes, Ilocos Sur|Cervantes]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 19,449
| {{convert|234.70|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|19449/234.70|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Currimao]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 12,215
| {{convert|34.08|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|12215/34.08|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:#00FF00 ;" | ^[[Dagupan]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 174,302
| {{convert|44.47|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|174302/44.47|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Independent component city
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Dasol]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 31,355
| {{convert|166.60|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|31355/166.60|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Dingras]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 40,127
| {{convert|96.00|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|40127/96.00|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Dumalneg]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 3,087
| {{convert|88.48|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|3087/88.48|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Galimuyod]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 10,244
| {{convert|34.40|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|10244/34.40|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Gregorio del Pilar, Ilocos Sur|Gregorio del Pilar]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 4,472
| {{convert|41.66|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|4472/41.66|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Infanta, Pangasinan|Infanta]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 26,242
| {{convert|254.29|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|26242/254.29|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Labrador, Pangasinan|Labrador]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 26,811
| {{convert|90.99|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|26811/90.99|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Laoac]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 34,128
| {{convert|40.50|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|34128/40.50|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Laoag]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 111,651
| {{convert|116.08|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|111651/116.08|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Component city
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Lidlidda]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 4,705
| {{convert|33.84|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|4705/33.84|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Lingayen]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 107,728
| {{convert|62.76|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|107728/62.76|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Luna, La Union|Luna]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 37,318
| {{convert|42.90|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|37318/42.90|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Mabini, Pangasinan|Mabini]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 26,454
| {{convert|291.01|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|26454/291.01|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Magsingal]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 31,308
| {{convert|84.98|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|31308/84.98|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Malasiqui]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 143,094
| {{convert|131.37|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|143094/131.37|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Manaoag]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 76,045
| {{convert|55.95|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|76045/55.95|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Mangaldan]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 113,185
| {{convert|48.47|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|113185/48.47|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Mangatarem]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 79,323
| {{convert|317.50|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|79323/317.50|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Mapandan]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 38,058
| {{convert|30.00|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|38058/30.00|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Marcos, Ilocos Norte|Marcos]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 18,010
| {{convert|72.77|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|18010/72.77|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Nagbukel]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 5,465
| {{convert|43.12|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|5465/43.12|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Naguilian, La Union|Naguilian]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 52,189
| {{convert|104.60|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|52189/104.60|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Narvacan]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 46,234
| {{convert|122.21|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|46234/122.21|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Natividad, Pangasinan|Natividad]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 25,771
| {{convert|134.36|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|25771/134.36|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte|Nueva Era]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 11,968
| {{convert|515.02|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|11968/515.02|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Pagudpud]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 25,098
| {{convert|194.90|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|25098/194.90|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Paoay]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 25,001
| {{convert|76.24|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|25001/76.24|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Pasuquin]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 29,678
| {{convert|210.54|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|29678/210.54|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Piddig]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 22,475
| {{convert|216.20|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|22475/216.20|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Pinili]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 17,626
| {{convert|89.48|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|17626/89.48|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Pozorrubio]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 74,729
| {{convert|134.60|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|74729/134.60|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Pugo, La Union|Pugo]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 19,337
| {{convert|62.84|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|19337/62.84|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Quirino, Ilocos Sur|Quirino]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 9,306
| {{convert|240.10|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|9306/240.10|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Rosales, Pangasinan|Rosales]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 66,711
| {{convert|66.39|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|66711/66.39|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Rosario, La Union|Rosario]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 60,278
| {{convert|73.98|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|60278/73.98|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Salcedo, Ilocos Sur|Salcedo]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 11,110
| {{convert|103.44|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|11110/103.44|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[San Carlos, Pangasinan|San Carlos]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 205,424
| {{convert|169.03|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|205424/169.03|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Component city
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[San Emilio]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 7,206
| {{convert|141.44|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|7206/141.44|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[San Esteban, Ilocos Sur|San Esteban]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 8,381
| {{convert|19.62|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|8381/19.62|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[San Fabian, Pangasinan|San Fabian]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 87,428
| {{convert|81.28|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|87428/81.28|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:#BFF5FF;border-right:0;" |† [[San Fernando, La Union|San Fernando]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 125,640
| {{convert|102.72|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|125640/102.72|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Component city
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[San Gabriel, La Union|San Gabriel]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 18,943
| {{convert|129.87|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|18943/129.87|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur|San Ildefonso]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 8,190
| {{convert|11.35|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|8190/11.35|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[San Jacinto, Pangasinan|San Jacinto]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 44,351
| {{convert|44.18|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|44351/44.18|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[San Juan, Ilocos Sur|San Juan]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 26,674
| {{convert|64.37|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|26674/64.37|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[San Juan, La Union|San Juan]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 40,507
| {{convert|57.12|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|40507/57.12|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[San Manuel, Pangasinan|San Manuel]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 54,271
| {{convert|129.18|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|54271/129.18|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte|San Nicolas]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 38,895
| {{convert|40.18|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|38895/40.18|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[San Nicolas, Pangasinan|San Nicolas]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 39,778
| {{convert|210.20|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|39778/210.20|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[San Quintin, Pangasinan|San Quintin]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 33,980
| {{convert|115.90|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|33980/115.90|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[San Vicente, Ilocos Sur|San Vicente]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 13,118
| {{convert|12.60|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|13118/12.60|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Santa, Ilocos Sur|Santa]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 14,992
| {{convert|109.10|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|14992/109.10|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Santa Barbara, Pangasinan|Santa Barbara]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 92,187
| {{convert|61.37|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|92187/61.37|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur|Santa Catalina]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 14,493
| {{convert|9.68|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|14493/9.68|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur|Santa Cruz]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 41,366
| {{convert|88.78|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|41366/88.78|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur|Santa Lucia]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 25,966
| {{convert|49.72|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|25966/49.72|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur|Santa Maria]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 30,006
| {{convert|63.31|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|30006/63.31|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Santa Maria, Pangasinan|Santa Maria]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 34,220
| {{convert|69.50|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|34220/69.50|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Santiago, Ilocos Sur|Santiago]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 19,471
| {{convert|46.36|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|19471/46.36|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur|Santo Domingo]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 29,041
| {{convert|55.49|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|29041/55.49|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Santo Tomas, La Union|Santo Tomas]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 40,846
| {{convert|64.00|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|40846/64.00|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Santo Tomas, Pangasinan|Santo Tomas]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 14,878
| {{convert|12.99|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|14878/12.99|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Santol, La Union|Santol]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 14,166
| {{convert|93.70|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|14166/93.70|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Sarrat]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 25,186
| {{convert|57.39|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|25186/57.39|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Sigay]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 2,552
| {{convert|81.55|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|2552/81.55|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Sinait]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 25,998
| {{convert|65.56|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|25998/65.56|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Sison, Pangasinan|Sison]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 52,320
| {{convert|81.88|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|52320/81.88|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Solsona, Ilocos Norte|Solsona]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 24,851
| {{convert|166.23|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|24851/166.23|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Sual]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 39,091
| {{convert|130.16|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|39091/130.16|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Sudipen]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 17,187
| {{convert|97.59|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|17187/97.59|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Sugpon]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 4,930
| {{convert|57.11|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|4930/57.11|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 5th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Suyo, Ilocos Sur|Suyo]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 10,766
| {{convert|124.00|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|10766/124.00|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Tagudin]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 41,538
| {{convert|151.19|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|41538/151.19|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Tayug]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 45,241
| {{convert|51.24|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|45241/51.24|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Tubao]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 31,763
| {{convert|50.75|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|31763/50.75|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[La Union]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Umingan]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 77,074
| {{convert|258.43|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|77074/258.43|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Urbiztondo]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 55,557
| {{convert|81.80|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|55557/81.80|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Urdaneta, Pangasinan|Urdaneta]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 144,577
| {{convert|100.26|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|144577/100.26|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Component city
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Vigan]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 53,935
| {{convert|25.12|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|53935/25.12|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Component city
| style="text-align:center;" | 4th
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Sur]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Villasis]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 65,047
| {{convert|75.83|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|65047/75.83|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pangasinan]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;background-color:initial;" | [[Vintar]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 33,339
| {{convert|614.35|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|33339/614.35|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | Municipality
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Ilocos Norte]]
|}

== Economy ==
The economy of the Ilocos Region grew by 7.1% in 2023, reaching ₱701.5 billion from ₱654.8 billion in 2022, making it the ''third fastest-growing economy'' among the country's 17 regions. Contributing 0.2 percentage points to the Philippines' 5.5% economic growth, the region accounted for 3.3% of the national [[Gross domestic product|Gross Domestic Product]] (GDP). The Services sector led the regional growth with a contribution of 4.4 percentage points, followed by Industry at 2.1 percentage points, and ''Agriculture'', ''Forestry'', and ''Fishing'' at 0.6 percentage points.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ilocos Region's economy accelerates by 7.1 percent in 2023 {{!}} Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Region I |url=https://rsso01.psa.gov.ph/content/ilocos-regions-economy-accelerates-71-percent-2023#:~:text=The%20economy%20of%20Ilocos%20Region,17%20regions%20in%20the%20country. |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=rsso01.psa.gov.ph}}</ref>

{{Multiple images
| image1            = Sual Power Plant.JPG
| caption1          = Sual Power Plant
| image2            = Laoag International Airport terminal exterior.jpg
| caption2          = Laoag International Airport
| image3            = Poro Point (San Fernando, La Union)(2018-11-25).jpg
| caption3          = San Fernando Port
| direction         = horizontal
| total_width       = 800
| image4            = Bangui Wind Farm mill centered (Bangui, Ilocos Norte; 11-17-2022).jpg
| caption4          = Bangui Wind Farm
| align             = center
| perrow            = 
| caption_align     = center
}}

In 2022, [[Pangasinan|Pangasinan's]] GDP reached ₱352.93 billion, representing 53.9% of the Ilocos Region's Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) and affirming its role as the region's economic driver. [[La Union]] followed with a contribution of ₱118.60 billion (18.1%), while [[Ilocos Norte]] and [[Ilocos Sur]] contributed ₱93.10 billion (14.2%) and ₱90.24 billion (13.8%), respectively.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Economic Performance of the Provinces of Ilocos Region {{!}} Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Region I |url=https://rsso01.psa.gov.ph/content/economic-performance-provinces-ilocos-region |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=rsso01.psa.gov.ph}}</ref>

Pangasinan ranked seventh among the 82 provinces in the Philippines in terms of GDP at ₱352.9 billion. Ilocos Norte recorded the fastest growth rate in the region in 2022 at 8.7%, followed by La Union at 7.7%, Pangasinan at 7.4%, and Ilocos Sur at 7.1%. Ilocos Norte had the highest per capita GDP in the region at ₱150.15 thousand, followed by La Union at ₱140.84 thousand and Ilocos Sur at ₱124.58 thousand, while Pangasinan recorded the lowest per capita GDP at ₱111.45 thousand.<ref name=":4" />{{stack|float=left|{{PH poverty incidence}}}}In 2023, the poverty incidence among families in the Ilocos Region was recorded at 8.4%, with a Full Year Per Capita [[Poverty threshold|Poverty Threshold]] of ₱34,454. The Coefficient of Variation for the poverty incidence in the region was 9.8%, reflecting the statistical reliability of the estimate and indicating a significant improvement compared to previous years. Among the provinces in the region, Ilocos Norte recorded the ''lowest poverty incidence'' rate among families at 0.3% and among the population at 0.5%, the lowest in the provincial category nationwide for 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ilocos Norte sustains tag as among 'least poor province' in PH |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1230652 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=www.pna.gov.ph |language=en}}</ref> This was followed by Ilocos Sur with a poverty incidence among families of 5.2%, La Union at 6.3%, and Pangasinan at 11.4%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poverty Statistics 11 out of 18 Regions Recorded Significant Decreases in Poverty Incidence in 2023 |url=https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/poverty |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=psa.gov.ph}}</ref>

=== Agriculture ===
The economy of the Ilocos Region is diverse, with distinct industries in the northern and southern areas. Pangasinan, located in the southern part of the region, is a major contributor to the economy of the Ilocos Region through ''[[aquaculture]], [[Agro-Industrial Complex|agro-industrial]] ventures,'' and the ''service sector'', which closely mirrors the economic activities of [[Central Luzon]].

The province is well known for its extensive [[milkfish]] (bangus) farming, [[salt farming]], [[Livestock-raising|livestock raising]], and fish paste ([[bagoong]]) production.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Region 1 - Profile |url=https://www.dti.gov.ph/regions/region-1/profile/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209153858/https://www.dti.gov.ph/regions/region-1/profile/ |archive-date=2021-02-09 |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Department of Trade and Industry Philippines}}</ref> [[Aquaculture in the Philippines|Aquaculture]] production in the region during the third quarter of 2023 reached 28.32 thousand metric tons, with Pangasinan accounting for 96.8% of the total, equivalent to 27.42 thousand metric tons. In addition to milkfish, [[tilapia]] is the second most-produced species in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ilocos Region's Aquaculture Production Situation in 3rd Quarter 2023 {{!}} Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Region I |url=https://rsso01.psa.gov.ph/content/ilocos-regions-aquaculture-production-situation-3rd-quarter-2023 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=rsso01.psa.gov.ph}}</ref> 
[[File:Saltfarm.jpg|thumb|224x224px|Salt Farm in Dasol, Pangasinan|left]]
Pangasinan is also notable for its significant salt production, with the town of [[Dasol]] recognized as the ''second-largest salt producer'' ''in the Philippines.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Provincial Government of Pangasinan |date=2023-05-30 |title=Dasol remains Pangasinan's top salt producer |url=https://www.pangasinan.gov.ph/dasol-remains-pangasinans-top-salt-producer/ |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=The Official Website of the Province of Pangasinan |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2021, Dasol produced 24,000 metric tons of salt from its more than 10,000 salt beds, making it a vital contributor to the local and national salt supply.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cardinoza |first=Gabriel L. |date=2024-11-26 |title=Pangasinan salt farm aims to hike production |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/11/26/regions/pangasinan-salt-farm-aims-to-hike-production/2010878 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=The Manila Times |language=en}}</ref>

{{Multiple images
| image1            = Fishermen.Philippines. (26915803150).jpg
| image2            = 391Calmay, Dagupan, Pangasinan 16.jpg
| direction         = vertical
| caption1          = Fishermen pulling ashore their nets at Currimao, Ilocos Norte
| caption2          = Fishponds situated along the Calmay River, Dagupan City
}}

In the second quarter of 2023, the region's total fisheries production reached 46,846.41 metric tons, reflecting a 5.35% increase from the same period in 2022. This accounted for 4.33% of the national fisheries production, which totaled 1,082,215.17 metric tons, and positioned the region as the ''7th largest producer in the country''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ilocos Region's Fisheries Production Increases in Second Quarter 2023 {{!}} Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Region I |url=https://rsso01.psa.gov.ph/content/ilocos-regions-fisheries-production-increases-second-quarter-2023 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=rsso01.psa.gov.ph}}</ref>

The region northern section focus primarily on [[agriculture]], which is a major driver of the region's economy. These section produce [[rice]], [[tobacco]], [[garlic]], [[Maize|corn]], [[sugarcane]], and various fruits and vegetables, making agriculture a cornerstone of their economic activities. In 2023, the Ilocos Region ''ranked fifth'' among the top rice-producing regions in the Philippines, with an average yield of 4.83 metric tons per hectare and a total production of 1.9 million metric tons from 418,000 hectares of farmland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Region I: Palay Production in the Ilocos Region Decreases in 1st Quarter 2023 |url=https://rsso01.psa.gov.ph/statistics/pps/node/1684057137#:~:text=The%20Ilocos%20Region%20ranked%205th,hectares%20in%201st%20quarter%202022. |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=rsso01.psa.gov.ph}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Philippine Statistic Authority |title=Palay Situation Report, January to December 2023 |url=https://psa.gov.ph/content/palay-situation-report-january-december-2023 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=psa.gov.ph}}</ref>

{{Multiple images
| image1            = 5068Santiago Norte Sur, Caba, La Union 59.jpg
| image2            = 5068Santiago Norte Sur, Caba, La Union 27.jpg
| caption1          = Air-curing of harvested tobacco leaves in Caba, La Union
| caption2          = Tobacco field in La Union
| direction         = vertical
| align             = left
| total_width       = 220
| caption_align     = center
}}

The region is also the ''top leading producer'' of garlic and [[Tobacco production in the Philippines|tobacco in the Philippines]]. In terms of garlic production, contributing 76.51% of the country's total output of 5,884.93 metric tons in 2022. Ilocos Norte accounted for the majority of this production at 97.20%, followed by Ilocos Sur with 2.80%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Highlights of Garlic Production Ilocos Region, 2022 {{!}} Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Region I |url=https://rsso01.psa.gov.ph/content/highlights-garlic-production-ilocos-region-2022 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=rsso01.psa.gov.ph}}</ref> While in tobacco, recording 24.62 thousand metric tons in the second quarter of 2023, which accounted for 66.4% of the country's total output. Ilocos Sur was the top producer, followed by Pangasinan, La Union, and Ilocos Norte. Among tobacco varieties, [[Virginia tobacco]] was the most produced, followed by [[native tobacco]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tobacco Major Non-Food and Industrial Crops Quarterly Bulletin, April-June 2023 |url=https://psa.gov.ph/major-non-food-industrial-crops/tobacco |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=psa.gov.ph}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=National Tobacco Administration |title=Tabacco Production: THE ILOCANO FAMILY'S LIFELINE |url=https://nta.da.gov.ph/news_articles_tobproduction.html |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=nta.da.gov.ph}}</ref>

{{Multiple image
| image1            = 9580Botigue Balligi Casampagaan, Laoac, Pangasinan 42.jpg
| image2            = 1163Langcuas Santiago Camansi Pias Cadaclan San Fernando, La Union 37.jpg
| direction         = vertical
| caption1          = A vast cornfield in Laoac, Pangasinan
| caption2          = A cornfield in San Fernando City, La Union
}}

The region also ''ranked fifth'' in [[Corn production in the Philippines|corn production]] in 2022, contributing 7.10% to the country's total output. Pangasinan accounted for 62.56% of the region's corn production, followed by Ilocos Sur (19.53%), Ilocos Norte (11.32%), and La Union (6.59%). [[Yellow corn]] dominated the region's production, comprising 91.97% of the total output, while [[maize|white corn]] accounted for 8.03%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corn Production in the Ilocos Region Decreases in 1st Quarter 2023 {{!}} Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Region I |url=https://rsso01.psa.gov.ph/content/corn-production-ilocos-region-decreases-1st-quarter-2023 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=rsso01.psa.gov.ph}}</ref>

In 2021, the region's major fruit and vegetable productions included [[Banana|bananas]] (44,411.05 metric tons) banana [[Saba banana|saba]] being the highest, [[Mango|mangoes]] (172,469.08 metric tons) [[Carabao (mango)|mango carabao]] as the top variety, [[Papaya|papayas]] (3,573.36 metric tons), [[Watermelon|watermelons]] (28,782.39 metric tons), [[calamansi]] (3,508.58 metric tons), [[Pineapple|pineapples]] (206.66 metric tons), [[Tomato|tomatoes]] (75,127.03 metric tons), [[Onion|onions]] (38,968.45 metric tons), [[Sweet potato|sweet potatoes]] (15,512.72 metric tons), and [[string beans]] (12,543.09 metric tons). In 2022, [[ampalaya]] production reached 10,831.42 metric tons, ranking third nationwide. By 2023, the region produced 95,281 metric tons of [[Eggplant|eggplants]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Highlights of Selected Fruits Production Ilocos Region 2021 {{!}} Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Region I |url=https://rsso01.psa.gov.ph/content/highlights-selected-fruits-production-ilocos-region-2021 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=rsso01.psa.gov.ph}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Highlights of Major Vegetables and Rootcrops Production in Ilocos Region 2021 {{!}} Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Region I |url=https://rsso01.psa.gov.ph/content/highlights-major-vegetables-and-rootcrops-production-ilocos-region-2021#:~:text=Highlights%20of%20Major%20Vegetables%20and%20Rootcrops%20Production%20in%20Ilocos%20Region%202021,-Home%20%3E&text=Production%20of%20eggplant%20in%20Ilocos,in%202020%20(Table%201). |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=rsso01.psa.gov.ph}}</ref>

In terms of livestock, the Ilocos Region ranked third among the [[Cattle|cattle-producing]] regions in the Philippines in 2022, contributing 9.87% to the national production of 236,648.40 metric tons liveweight. [[Livestock farming]], including [[Pig|pigs]], [[Chicken|chickens]], [[Goat|goats]], and [[Carabao|carabaos]] (water buffalos), is another key economic activity in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cattle Situation in Ilocos Region Second Quarter 2024 {{!}} Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Region I |url=https://rsso01.psa.gov.ph/content/cattle-situation-ilocos-region-second-quarter-2024#:~:text=About%2036.1%20percent%20of%20the,Sur%20and%20La%20Union,%20respectively. |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=rsso01.psa.gov.ph}}</ref>

=== Industry ===
{{Multiple image
| image1            = Burnayan Pottery making of Vigan.jpg
| image2            = 04269jfPoblacion New Market Avenue Rizal San Carlos Pangasinanfvf 23.JPG
| direction         = horizontal
| image3            = Blacksmiths.jpg
| caption1          = Burnayan or Damili pottery in Vigan, Ilocos Sur
| caption2          = Rattan basketry products in San Carlos, Pangasinan
| caption3          = Blacksmith (Pandayan) production in Santa, Ilocos Sur.
| perrow            = 
| total_width       = 700
| caption_align     = center
| align             = center
| image4            = 0713jfBinalonan Urdaneta Sunset San Manuel Pangasinan Barangays Landmarksfvf 07.JPG
| caption4          = Variety of dried fish (daing) products from Pangasinan
}}

The region is transitioning from agriculture to industrial and service-based industries. Food processing, blanket weaving, [[Basket weaving|basketry]], [[Shellcraft|shell craft]], soft broom making, [[pottery]], [[Bagoong|fish paste]], [[blacksmith]], wine and vinegar production, jewelry making, and wood and stone crafts are significant economic drivers. Antiques and jars are also sought-after products.<ref name=":5" />

The region has one international airport, [[Laoag International Airport]], and three domestic airports: [[San Fernando Airport (Philippines)|San Fernando Airport]], [[Vigan Airport]], and [[Lingayen Airport]]. Four seaports; Currimao Port (Ilocos Norte), Salomague Port (Ilocos Sur), San Fernando ([[Poro Point]]) Port (La Union), and Sual Port (Pangasinan)—support maritime trade.<ref name=":3" /> The region operates ten power plants with a total capacity of 1,682 MW, using wind, hydropower, coal, and oil. Major facilities include the Bauang Power Plant, [[Sual Power Station|Sual Coal-Fired Power Plant]], San Roque Multi-Purpose Project, and [[Bangui Wind Farm]]. Most plants are managed under the [[Build-Operate-Transfer]] (BOT) scheme.<ref name=":3" />[[File:By Jdcedit - Arellano Street, Dagupan City Central Business District.webp|thumb|201x201px|Dagupan City Central Business District]]
Urban centers, particularly [[Dagupan|Dagupan City]], drive the service and light manufacturing industries. Dagupan serves as a financial, commercial, and educational hub, supported by local businesses such as CSI Group, Magic Group, BHF Group, Guanzon Group, St. Joseph Drugs, and Siapno-Tada Optical.{{clear left}}

== Demographics ==
The 2020 Census of Population and Housing for the Ilocos Region recorded a total household population of 5,292,297, with [[Ilocos Norte]] having 609,588 (11%), [[Ilocos Sur]] with 706,009 (13%), [[La Union]] with 822,352 (16%), and [[Pangasinan]] with 3,163,190 (60%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population Counts and Urban Population of Ilocos Region (Results of 2020 Census of Population and Housing) {{!}} Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Region I |url=https://rsso01.psa.gov.ph/content/population-counts-and-urban-population-ilocos-region-results-2020-census-population-and |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=rsso01.psa.gov.ph}}</ref>
{{Philippine Census
| align= right
| title= Population census of {{PH wikidata|name}}
| 1903 = {{PH census population|1903}}
| 1918 = {{PH census population|1918}}
| 1939 = {{PH census population|1939}}
| 1948 = {{PH census population|1948}}
| 1960 = {{PH census population|1960}}
| 1970 = {{PH census population|1970}}
| 1975 = {{PH census population|1975}}
| 1980 = {{PH census population|1980}}
| 1990 = {{PH census population|1990}}
| 1995 = {{PH census population|1995}}
| 2000 = {{PH census population|2000}}
| 2007 = {{PH census population|2007}}
| 2010 = {{PH census population|2010}}
| 2015 = {{PH census population|2015}}
| 2020 = {{PH census population|2020}}
| 2024 = {{PH census population|2024}}
| 2030 = 
| footnote= Source: Philippine Statistics Authority<ref name=NSO>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov.ph/sites/default/files/attachments/hsd/pressrelease/Population%20and%20Annual%20Growth%20Rates%20for%20The%20Philippines%20and%20Its%20Regions%2C%20Provinces%2C%20and%20Highly%20Urbanized%20Cities%20Based%20on%201990%2C%202000%2C%20and%202010%20Censuses.pdf|title=Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities|work=2010 Census and Housing Population|publisher=Philippine Statistics Authority|access-date=August 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928012059/http://www.census.gov.ph/sites/default/files/attachments/hsd/pressrelease/Population%20and%20Annual%20Growth%20Rates%20for%20The%20Philippines%20and%20Its%20Regions%2C%20Provinces%2C%20and%20Highly%20Urbanized%20Cities%20Based%20on%201990%2C%202000%2C%20and%202010%20Censuses.pdf|archive-date=September 28, 2013}}</ref>
}}
The population was composed of 2.68 million males (50.7%) and 2.61 million females (49.3%). The age group 0–14 years, categorized as young dependents, consisted of 1.49 million individuals (28.2%) with a [[sex ratio]] of 108 males per 100 females. The [[working-age]] population (15–64 years) was 3.41 million (64.5%), with a sex ratio of 105 males per 100 females. The [[senior citizen]] population (65 years and older) numbered 388,000 (7.3%), with a sex ratio of 69 males per 100 females.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Household Population Age and Sex in Ilocos Region (2020 CPH) {{!}} Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Region I |url=https://rsso01.psa.gov.ph/content/household-population-age-and-sex-ilocos-region-2020-cph#:~:text=Based%20on%20the%20results%20of,(49.3%20percent)%20were%20female. |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=rsso01.psa.gov.ph}}</ref>

Children under five years old totaled 480,000 (9.1%), maintaining a sex ratio of 108 males per 100 females since 2015. The school-age population, aged 5–24 years, was 1.98 million (37.4%), showing a slight increase from 2015. The population of senior citizens (60 years and over) was 578,000 (10.9%), an increase from 493,000 in 2015. The overall sex ratio in the region was 103 males per 100 females. Women of reproductive age, 15–49 years old, totaled 1.33 million, comprising 50.7% of the female population. The population distribution highlights a male majority in younger age groups and a predominance of females among senior citizens due to longer female life expectancy.<ref name=":0" />

===Ethnicity===
{{main|Ilocano people|Pangasinan people|Igorot people}}

{{Pie chart|
| thumb = left
| legend = true
| direction = column-reverse
| autoscale = false
| caption = Ethnicities in Ilocos Region <ref>{{cite web | url=https://psa.gov.ph/content/ethnicity-philippines-2020-census-population-and-housing|title= Ethnicity in the Philippines (2020 Census of Population and Housing)}}</ref>
| footer = 
| radius = 100
| value1 = 58.16
| label1 = [[Ilocano people|Ilocano]]
| color1 = Green
| value2 = 29.63
| label2 = [[Pangasinan people|Pangasinan]]
| color2 = Yellow
| value3 = 4.13
| label3 = [[Tagalog people|Tagalog]]
| color3 = Blue
| value4 = 1.62
| label4 = [[Kankanaey people|Kankanaey]]
| color4 = Red
| value5 = 1.38
| label5 = Bago
| color5 = Purple
| value6 = 0.65
| label6 = [[Itneg people|Itneg (Tinguian)]]
| color6 = Brown
| value7 = 4.43
| label7 = Others
| color7 = Orange
}}The Ilocos Region is home to a diverse range of ethnic groups. According to the 2020 census, the ethnic composition of the region is predominantly made up of [[Ilocano people|Ilocanos]] (58.3%), followed by [[Pangasinan people|Pangasinans]] (29.7%), [[Tagalog people|Tagalogs]] ( 4.1%), and various [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous groups]].<ref name=":7" />
[[File:Mercaders Ilocanos (Ilocano Merchants).jpg|thumb|250x250px|Ilocano merchants c. 1800s]]
The [[Ilocano people|Ilocano]] ethnolinguistic group is the largest in the region, comprising 58.3% of the population, with a total of 3,083,391 individuals. The distribution of the Ilocano population is as follows: Ilocos Norte has 570,849 Ilocanos, Ilocos Sur has 580,484, La Union has 673,312, and Pangasinan has 1,258,746.

The [[Pangasinan people|Pangasinan]] accounts for 29.7% of the region's population, with a total population of 1,570,600. The Pangasinan population is distributed across the region as follows: Ilocos Norte has 1,156, Ilocos Sur has 1,769, La Union has 10,319, and Pangasinan has 1,557,356.

The [[Tagalog people|Tagalog]] makes up 4.1% of the population, with a total of 219,011 Tagalog speakers. The distribution is as follows: Ilocos Norte has 9,415, Ilocos Sur has 8,721, La Union has 23,518, and Pangasinan has 177,357.

In addition to the major ethnic groups, the Ilocos Region is home to several [[Igorot people|Cordilleran]] (Igorot) indigenous peoples. These include the [[Itneg people|Itneg]] (Tingguian), with a population of 34,262, the highest concentration of which is in Ilocos Sur, the [[Kankanaey people|Kankanaey]] people, numbering 85,864, have the largest population in La Union, while the Bago people, with 73,371 members, are primarily found in Ilocos Sur. Other indigenous groups in the region include the [[Ibaloi people|Ibaloi]] in La Union, [[Isnag people|Isnag]] in Ilocos Norte, [[Balangao people|Balangao]], [[Ifugao people|Ifugao]], [[Kalinga people|Kalinga]] in Ilocos Sur, and [[Sambal people|Sambal]] in west Pangasinan.<ref name=":7" />

Other minority groups not native in the region include [[Maguindanao people|Maguindanaons]], [[Maranao people|Maranaos]], [[Tausūg people|Tausugs]], [[Kapampangan people|Kapampangans]], [[Cebuano people|Cebuanos]], [[Hiligaynon people|Hiligaynons]] and foreigners and their Filipino-born descendants such as [[Chinese Filipino|Chinese]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chen Laiping met the Fil-Chinese community in Vigan and visites University of Northern Philippines |url=http://laoag.china-consulate.gov.cn/eng/lgxx/200803/t20080313_5053220.htm |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=laoag.china-consulate.gov.cn |archive-date=2022-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516114542/http://laoag.china-consulate.gov.cn/eng/lgxx/200803/t20080313_5053220.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Indian Filipino|Indians]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-04 |title=Indian businesses explore opportunities in Ilocos Norte |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/04/04/business/top-business/indian-businesses-explore-opportunities-in-ilocos-norte/1885662 |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=The Manila Times |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008034036/https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/04/04/business/top-business/indian-businesses-explore-opportunities-in-ilocos-norte/1885662 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Rosario Mendoza Cortes, Pangasinan, 1801–1900: The Beginnings of Modernization</ref>

===Language===
{{main|Ilocano language|Pangasinan language}}{{Multiple image
| image1            = Ilokano language map.png
| image2            = Pangasinan language maximum extent.png
| footer            = Iloco and Pangasinan language map
| total_width       = 300
| align             = left
| footer_align      = center
}}
[[Ilocano language|Ilocano]] is the main language of the majority in the region, with La Union recognizing it as an official language since 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elias |first=Jun |title=Iloko La Union's official language |url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2012/09/19/850488/iloko-la-unions-official-language |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref> It is also spoken in neighboring regions of [[Cagayan Valley|Cagayan Valley (Region II)]], [[Cordillera Administrative Region]] and parts of [[Central Luzon|Central Luzon (Region III)]] as the lingua franca among Ilocano and non-Ilocano residents. Ilocano is also recognized as a minority language in [[Mindoro]], [[Palawan]], and [[Mindanao]] (particularly in some areas in [[Soccsksargen]]), where Ilocanos had have been significant residents since the early 20th century. It is the third most widely spoken language in the Philippines, estimating 11 million speakers as of 2022. The language has many speakers overseas, including the American states of [[California]] and [[Hawaii]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Webster |date=2022-04-30 |title=Language of the Month April 2022: Ilocano |url=https://languagemuseum.org/language-of-the-month-april-2022-ilocano/ |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=The National Museum of Language |language=en-US}}</ref>

Another major regional Philippine language spoken in the region is [[Pangasinan language|Pangasinan]] (a native language in the eponymous Pangasinan province among the ethnic group of the same name). It is the official and the indigenous language of Pangasinan and is the most spoken language in the region's highly urbanized area, Central Pangasinan. Spoken natively in urban centers such as [[Dagupan]], [[Lingayen]], [[San Carlos, Pangasinan|San Carlos]], among others. Native speakers can also be found in nearby Tarlac, La Union and Benguet.  Significant provincial languages such as [[Bolinao language|Bolinao]] and [[Sambal language]]s in western Pangasinan, and [[Cordilleran languages]] (near the borders of the [[Cordillera Administrative Region]]) are spoken in the region. [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] is spoken by residents in towns along the border with Nueva Ecija, and its standard dialect [[Filipino language|Filipino]] and English are also spoken and understood in the region, utilized in business, education and media.

Languages not native in the region are also spoken there such as [[Maranao language|Maranao]], [[Maguindanao language|Maguindanaon]], [[Tausug language|Tausug]], [[Kapampangan language|Kapampangan]] (which Bolinao & Sambal languages are related to), [[Cebuano language|Cebuano]] and [[Hiligaynon language|Hiligaynon]] to varying degrees by their respective ethnic communities within the region.

===Religion===
The Ilocos Region's household population in 2020 was predominantly [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]], comprising 82.0% (4,338,887 persons) of the total population. The second-largest religious affiliation was [[Iglesia ni Cristo]], which accounted for 3.44% (181,885 persons), followed by [[Aglipay church|Aglipay]] with 1.97% (104,366 persons). The [[Philippine Independent Church|Iglesia Filipina Independiente]] represented 1.65% (87,635 persons) of the population.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Religious Affiliation in llocos Region {{!}} Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Region I |url=https://rsso01.psa.gov.ph/content/religious-affiliation-llocos-region |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=rsso01.psa.gov.ph}}</ref>

{{Multiple images
| image1            = Sta. Maria Church, Ilocos Sur.jpg
| caption1          = Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur
| image2            = 5643MacArthur Highway Aringay, La Union 61.jpg
| caption2          = Iglesia Ni Cristo, Lokal ng Aringay, La Union
| image3            = 9846Cabulalaan, Laoac, Pangasinan 37.jpg
| caption3          = Laoac Masjid, Pangasinan
| direction         = horizontal
| align             = center
| total_width       = 800
| image4            = Ma-Cho Taoist Temple (side view) (San Fernando, La Union)(2018-11-25).jpg
| caption4          = Ma-Cho Taoist Temple, San Fernando City
| caption_align     = center
}}

[[Protestantism|Protestant]] and other [[Christian groups]], such as [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[United Methodist Church]], and [[Assemblies of God]], collectively accounted for smaller percentages, each at 0.8% or lower. By province, Pangasinan had the highest proportion of Roman Catholics, representing 62.6% of the region's Catholic population (2,715,621 persons). La Union followed with 16.0% (695,867 persons), Ilocos Sur with 13.2% (574,136 persons), and Ilocos Norte with 8.2% (353,263 persons). For Iglesia ni Cristo, Pangasinan had the largest membership with 111,149 persons, followed by Ilocos Norte with 30,678 persons, and La Union with 23,374 persons.<ref name=":1" />

For [[Islam]], the Ilocos Region recorded individuals identifying with this religion in 2020. Over half were in Pangasinan, numbering 7,037 (56%), followed by 2,021 (16.2%) in La Union, 1,932 (15.5%) in Ilocos Sur, and 1,489 (11.9%) in Ilocos Norte. On the other hand, there were 653 individuals in the Ilocos Region in 2020 who identified as [[Buddhism|Buddhists]]. Of this number, 360 (55.1%) lived in Pangasinan, 25% in La Union, 10.4% in Ilocos Norte, and 9.5% in Ilocos Sur.<ref name=":1" />

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== Culture and the Arts ==
The Ilocos Region boasts a diverse cultural heritage that reflects the rich traditions of the [[Ilocano people|Ilocano]], [[Pangasinan people|Pangasinense]], and [[Igorot people|Cordilleran]] peoples. Shaped by centuries of influences from colonial powers, neighboring regions, and native [[Austronesian peoples|Austronesian]] roots, the region has managed to preserve its distinct cultural identity while skillfully integrating foreign elements with indigenous practices.
[[File:Abel Weaver.jpg|left|thumb|222x222px|[[Inabel|Abel]] (''Inabel'') weaver showcasing the art of traditional Ilocano weaving]]
In the northern part of the region, the Ilocanos are renowned for their resourcefulness and hardworking nature, shaped by the challenges of living in an area with limited farmland.<ref name="DoreenFernandezTIKIM">{{Cite book |last=Fernandez |first=Doreen |title=Tikim: essays on Philippine food and culture |date=2020 |isbn=978-90-04-41479-2 |location=Leiden; Boston |oclc=1114270889 }}</ref>{{rp|page=55}} Their culture emphasizes family values, frugality, and dedication to hard work. The epic story of ''[[Biag ni Lam-ang]]'' exemplifies the thriving literary tradition of the Ilocanos. Ilocano cuisine, featuring dishes like ''[[pinakbet]]'' and ''[[dinengdeng]]'', reflects their practical use of local ingredients and preference for bold, earthy flavors. Traditional arts such as ''damili'' (red clay pottery) and ''[[inabel]]'' weaving highlight their creativity and resilience. Intricately patterned handwoven textiles, crafted on wooden looms, preserve a centuries-old art form. Music and dances like [[Pamulinawen (folk song)|''pamulinawen'']] and ''balse'' are central to festivals and celebrations, adding to the richness of Ilocano traditions.
[[File:Sayaw Sa Bangko (Bench Dance).jpg|thumb|211x211px|''Sayaw ed Tapew na Bangko'' (Bench Dance), a traditional Pangasinan folk dance, originates from Lingayen]]
To the south, Pangasinan is known for its coastal culture and agricultural heritage. The Pangasinense people maintain traditions tied to fishing and salt-making, the latter giving the province its name, which means "place of salt." Their cuisine, featuring delights such as ''[[tupig]]'' (grilled rice cakes) and ''[[Milkfish|bangus]]'' (milkfish) dishes, reflects a harmonious connection between land and sea. Pangasinan also has a thriving literary tradition with forms like ''tongtong'', ''uliran'', ''diparan'', and ''pabitla.'' Pangasinan folk dances like ''[[Binasuan]]'' and ''Sayaw ed Tapew na Bangko'' (Sayaw sa Bangko) reflect the Pangasinense rich cultural heritage, showcasing grace, artistry, and the community's festive traditions. The province's ''komedya'' performances, a theatrical art form introduced during [[Spanish Colonization in the Philippines|Spanish colonization]], merge Catholic themes with local folklore and remain a cultural highlight.

In the east, the Cordillera highlands bring a distinct mountain culture to the region. Home to the [[Igorot people|Igorots]], this area is known for its iconic [[Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras|terraced rice]] fields and agricultural rituals that reflect a deep spiritual connection to nature. Cordilleran artistry shines through wood carving, bamboo crafts, metalwork, and traditional rice wine ''[[tapuy]]'' or ''[[Tapuy|tapuey]]'', which reflects mastery of fermentation techniques often created for ceremonial purposes. Traditional music features instruments such as the ''[[Gong|gangsa]]'' (gongs) and ''[[kalaleng]]'' (nose flute), while dances like the ''[[Cañao|kanyaw]]'' or ''tayaw'' and ''tadek'' express gratitude and reverence for ancestral spirits.
[[File:Bangus Festival of Dagupan City.jpg|left|thumb|227x227px|Bangus Festival - ''Gilon-Gilon ed Baley'' street cance competition]]

Festivals in the region, such as Pangasinan's ''Bangus Festival'' and ''Pista'y Dayat'' (Sea Festival) and Ilocos Sur's ''Kannawidan Festival'', showcase a vibrant blend of customs, cuisine, and traditional dances. Colonial architecture, exemplified by UNESCO-recognized [[Vigan|Vigan City]], highlights the Spanish influence on the region. The ''binatbatan'' dance, performed during Vigan's festivals, celebrates the Ilocanos' indigenous weaving traditions. Similarly, Pangasinan's faith-based festivals blend Catholicism with native beliefs, reflecting the province's unique cultural identity.[[File:Tampuhan by Juan Luna.jpg|thumb|[[Tampuhan (painting)|Tampuhan]] by Juan Luna|212x212px]]The region has given birth to numerous artists who have won national acclaim. Among the most notable are writer and activist [[Isabelo de los Reyes]] of Vigan, who helped publish the earliest currently extant text of ''[[Biag ni Lam-Ang]]''; [[Badoc]]-born [[Philippine Revolution]]-era activist and leader [[Juan Luna]]; and [[Binalonan]]-born [[Carlos Bulosan]], whose novel ''[[America is in the Heart]]'' is regarded as "the premier text of the Filipino-American experience."<ref name="Washington">[http://www.washington.edu/uwpress/search/books/BULAME.html "America Is in the Heart: A Personal History" by Carlos Bulosan (Introduction by Carey McWilliams)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823023951/http://www.washington.edu/uwpress/search/books/BULAME.html |date=2010-08-23 }}, University of Washington Press, washington.edu</ref>

The region is also home to several [[National Artist of the Philippines|National Artists of the Philippines]], including [[Victorio C. Edades|Victorio Cándido Edades]], National Artist for Visual Arts (Painting, conferred in 1976); [[Lucrecia Roces Kasilag|Lucrecia Kasilag]], National Artist for Music (conferred in 1989); [[Severino Montano]], National Artist for Theater (conferred in 2001); [[F. Sionil José|Francisco Sionil José]], National Artist for Literature (conferred in 2001); and [[Salvador Bernal (artist)|Salvador Bernal]], National Artist for Theater and Design (conferred in 2003).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about_cultarts/cultprofile/natarts/theater/montano.php |title=About Culture and Arts |website=www.ncca.gov.ph |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928051754/http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about_cultarts/cultprofile/natarts/theater/montano.php |archive-date=28 September 2007 }}</ref>

The region is home to several [[National Living Treasures Award (Philippines)|National Living Treasures]] (''Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan''), including [[Magdalena Gamayo]], a master weaver renowned for her expertise in the Ilocano weaving tradition of [[Inabel|''pinagabel'']], and [[Adelita Bagcal]], who specializes in ''dallot'' and other Ilocano oral traditions, both from Ilocos Norte.

In contemporary arts, the Galila Arts Festival, inaugurated in 2023, features Pangasinense artists and highlights tourist spots in the fourth district of Pangasinan. Aside from fostering arts in the province, the festival also aims to attract tourists.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1196594 |title=Arts, culture, tourism converge for Pangasinan's Galila Arts Fest |website=Philippine News Agency |access-date=2023-11-02 |archive-date=2024-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302072717/https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1196594 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Notable people ==
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* [[Elpidio Quirino]], sixth President of the Philippines
* [[Ferdinand Marcos]], tenth President of the Philippines
* [[Fidel V. Ramos]], twelfth President of the Philippines, from Pangasinan 
* [[Bongbong Marcos]], seventeenth President of the Philippines
* [[Mariano Marcos]], Former [[Congressman]] of the 2nd district of [[Ilocos Norte]] and Commonly known as father of [[Ferdinand Marcos]], who was President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986, and the grandfather of current senator [[Imee Marcos]] and the current 17th Philippine president [[Bongbong Marcos]].
* [[Isabelo de los Reyes]], patriot, politician, writer, journalist, and labor activist from Vigan, Ilocos Sur; founder of the Aglipayan Church
* [[Gregorio Aglipay]], co-founder of the Aglipayan Church, he is from Batac, Ilocos Norte
* [[Manuel Arguilla]], writer, patriot, and martyr during the Japanese occupation from Bauang, La Union
* [[Salvador Bernal (artist)|Salvador Bernal]], his output included over 300 productions in art, film and music, and earned him the award of National Artist for Theater and Design in 2003, from Dagupan
* [[Gloria Diaz]], Philippines- first Miss Universe from Aringay, La Union
* [[Victorio Edades]], Father of Modern Philippine Painting. A National Artist awardee for Visual Arts (Painting) He hailed from [[Dagupan]]
* [[Josefa Llanes Escoda]], founder of [[Girl Scouts of the Philippines]], from Dingras, Ilocos Norte.
* [[Lucrecia Roces Kasilag]] – [[National Artist of the Philippines]] for Music, from San Fernando, La Union
* [[Juan Luna]], famous Filipino painter of the [[Spoliarium]] from Badoc, Ilocos Norte
* [[Antonio Luna]], army general who fought in the Philippine–American War, He is from Badoc, Ilocos Norte.
* [[Antonio Mabutas]] – [[Agoo]]-born first bishop of Diocese of Laoag and the second Archbishop of the [[Archdiocese of Davao]], historically noted as the first Roman Catholic Archbishop to write a pastoral letter to criticize human rights violations under the [[Marcos dictatorship]].<ref name="Davaob"/><ref name="MindaNews"/>
* [[Bienvenido Nebres]] – [[Bacnotan]]-raised academic, [[National Scientist of the Philippines]] for Mathematics, former [[Provincial Superior]] of the [[Society of Jesus]] in the Philippines
*[[Armando Palabay|Armando "Mandrake" Ducusin Palabay]] - Filipino student leader and activist from [[San Fernando, La Union|San Fernando]] [[La Union]], honored at the Philippines' [[Bantayog ng mga Bayani]] as a martyr of the resistance against the [[Marcos dictatorship]].<ref name="BantayogProfileMandrake"/><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydHxxkOBCk4  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/ydHxxkOBCk4| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Armando Palabay |type=YouTube Video |publisher= Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* [[Orlando Quevedo]], cardinal and third Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cotabato. First cardinal from Mindanao. Born and spent his early childhood in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, he had been a resident in [[Koronadal City|Marbel, South Cotabato]] until he graduated high school.
* [[Artemio Ricarte]], Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War
* [[Diego Silang]], male revolutionary leader during the Spanish Occupation
* [[Gabriela Silang]], female revolutionary leader during the Spanish Occupation
* [[Teofilo Yldefonso]], The first Filipino and Southeast Asian to win an Olympic medal and the first Filipino olympian to win multiple medals. He is from Piddig, Ilocos Norte.
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== See also ==
* [[Amburayan]]
* [[Ilocos (province)|Ilocos]]
* [[Solid North]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline}}
* {{OSM relation}}

{{Geographic location
| Centre = Ilocos Region
| North = ''[[Luzon Strait]]''
| West = ''[[South China Sea]]''
| East = [[Cordillera Administrative Region]]
| South = [[Central Luzon]]
| Northeast = [[Cagayan Valley]]
| Southeast = [[Cagayan Valley]]
}}

{{Ilocos Region}}
{{Regions of the Philippines}}
{{Administrative divisions of the Philippines}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ilocos Region}}
[[Category:Ilocos Region| ]]
[[Category:Regions of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Luzon]]