View source for Tawi-Tawi

{{More citations needed|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Tawi-Tawi
| native_name              = ''Jawi Jawi''
| settlement_type          = {{PH wikidata|settlement_type}}
| image_skyline            = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Panguan Island.jpg
| photo2a = Bud Bongao.jpg
| photo2b = PORT OF TAGANAK.png
| photo3a = Aerial view of Simunul Island.jpg
| size = 250
| spacing = 2
| color = transparent
| border = 0
}}
| image_caption            = (from top: left to right) [[Panguan Island]], [[Bongao]], Port of Taganak, and [[Simunul|Simunul Island]].
| image_flag               = {{PH wikidata|image_flag}}
| flag_size                = 120x80px
| image_seal               = Seal_of_Tawi-Tawi.png
| seal_size                = 100x80px
| image_map                = {{PH wikidata|image_map}}
| map_caption              = Location in the Philippines
| coordinates              = {{PH wikidata|coordinates}}
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|Philippines}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[Regions of the Philippines|Region]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Bangsamoro}}
| established_title        = [[Date of establishment|Founded]]
| established_date         = September 11, 1973
| seat_type                = Capital<br/>{{nobold|and largest municipality}}
| seat                     = {{PH wikidata|seat}}
| government_type          = {{PH wikidata|government_type}}
| leader_party             = 
| leader_title             = [[Governor]]
| leader_name              = [[Yshmael Sali|Yshmael I. Sali]] ([[Partido Federal ng Pilipinas|PFP]])
| leader_title1            = [[Vice Governor]]
| leader_name1             = Al-Syed A. Sali ([[Partido Federal ng Pilipinas|PFP]])
| leader_title2            = [[House of Representatives of the Philippines#Current composition|Representative]] <!--congressman or congresswoman -->
| leader_name2             = Dimszar M. Sali ([[National Unity Party (Philippines)|NUP]])
| area_footnotes           = <ref name=area>Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Department of Agriculture: [http://armm.da.gov.ph/dafbeta/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66&Itemid=60 Tawi-Tawi] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906050217/http://armm.da.gov.ph/dafbeta/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66&Itemid=60 |date=2012-09-06 }} (There seems to be major discrepancies among authoritative sources:  362,655 ha (NSCB 2007), 120,876 ha (NAMRIA), {{convert|1197|km²|0|abbr=off}} (Department of Tourism), {{convert|999|km²|0|abbr=off}} (Mapcentral))</ref>
| area_total_km2           = {{PH wikidata|area}}
| area_rank                = 74th out of 81
| elevation_max_m          = 552
| elevation_max_point      = [[Mount Sibangkat]]<ref name="schadow1">{{cite web|last1=Malicdem|first1=Ervin|title=Bud Bongao, Tawi-Tawi's Overwatch and Sacred Peak|url=http://www.s1expeditions.com/2017/06/214-bud-bongao-tawi-tawi-overwatch.html|website=Schadow1 Expeditions|access-date=15 August 2017|date=7 June 2017}}</ref>
| population_footnotes     = {{PH census|current|ARMM}}
| population_total         = {{PH wikidata|population_total}}
| population_as_of         = {{PH wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_rank          = 62nd out of 81
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_density_rank  = 18th out of 81
| population_demonym       = Tawihanon
| demographics_type1       = Divisions
| demographics1_title1     = [[Cities of the Philippines#Independent cities|Independent&nbsp;cities]]
| demographics1_info1      = 0
| demographics1_title2     = [[Cities of the Philippines|Component cities]]
| demographics1_info2      = 0
| demographics1_title3     = [[Municipalities of the Philippines|Municipalities]]
| demographics1_info3      = {{Collapsible list
| titlestyle              = font-weight:normal;text-align:left;background-color:WhiteSmoke;
| title                   = 11
 | {{PH wikidata|municipalities}}
}}
| demographics1_title4     = [[Barangay]]s
| demographics1_info4      = 203
| demographics1_title5     = [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|Districts]]
| demographics1_info5      = [[Legislative district of Tawi-Tawi]]
| timezone                 = [[Philippine Standard Time|PHT]]
| utc_offset               = +8
| postal_code_type         = [[List of ZIP codes in the Philippines|ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = {{PH wikidata|postal_code}}
| area_code_type           = {{areacodestyle}}
| area_code                = {{PH wikidata|area_code}}
| iso_code                 = {{PH wikidata|iso_code}}
| blank_name_sec1          = Spoken languages
| blank_info_sec1          = {{hlist | [[Arabic language|Arabic]] | [[Sama language|Sama]] | [[Tausug language|Tausug]] | [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] | [[Philippine English|English]] | [[Sabah Malay language|Sabah Malay]] }}
| blank_name_sec2          = Income classification
| blank_info_sec2          = 3rd class
| website                  = 
| image_map1               = {{hidden begin|title=OpenStreetMap|ta1=center}}{{Infobox mapframe|frame-width=250|zoom=8}}{{hidden end}}
}}

'''Tawi-Tawi''', officially the '''Province of Tawi-Tawi''' ([[Tausug language|Tausug]]: ''Wilaya' sin Tawi-Tawi''; [[Sinama language|Sinama]]: ''Jawi Jawi/Jauih Jauih''; {{langx|tl|Lalawigan ng Tawi-Tawi}}), is an island [[Provinces of the Philippines|province]] in the [[Philippines]] located in the [[Bangsamoro|Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao]] (BARMM). The capital of Tawi-Tawi is [[Bongao, Tawi-Tawi|Bongao]].<ref name=bp24>{{cite web |url=http://www.chanrobles.com/bataspambansa/bataspambansablg24.html |website=Chan Robles Law Library |title=Batas Pambansa Bilang 24 - AN ACT TRANSFERRING THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF TAWI-TAWI FROM BATO-BATO TO BONGAO, AMENDING SECTION TWO OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NUMBERED THREE HUNDRED TWO |date=4 April 1979 |access-date=12 August 2016 |author=Batasang Pambansa ng Pilipinas}}</ref>

It is the southernmost province of the country, sharing sea borders with the [[Malaysia]]n state of [[Sabah]] and the [[Indonesia]]n [[North Kalimantan]] province, both on the island of [[Borneo]] to the west. To the northeast lies the province of [[Sulu]]. Tawi-Tawi also covers some islands in the [[Sulu Sea]] to the northwest, [[Mapun, Tawi-Tawi|Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi Island]] and the [[Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi|Turtle Islands]], just {{convert|20|km}} away from Sabah.

The municipalities comprising the current Tawi-Tawi province were formerly under the jurisdiction of Sulu until 1973.

== Etymology ==
The province was named after its [[Tawitawi Island|main island]], which at 580.5&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (224.1 sq mi) accounts for a little more than half the province's 1,087.40&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (419.85 sq mi) land area. Tawi-Tawi is the [[Sama-languages|Sinama]] form of ''jawi-jawi'', [[Malay language|Malay]] for the [[banyan tree]];<ref name="taw1">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5H9FAQAAIAAJ |title=A Grammar and Dictionary of the Malay Language: With a Preliminary Dissertation, Volume 2 |last=Crawfurd |first=John |publisher=Smith, Elder & Co. |date=1852 |page=59}}</ref> the island is known for having an abundance of this tree.<ref name="taw4">{{cite book |title=Congressional edition, Volume 5113 |author=United States Congress |date=1907 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XhdHAQAAIAAJ |publisher=United States Government Printing Office}}</ref> Early Spanish accounts give the name of the island as ''Tauitaui'' and<ref name="taw3">{{cite book |date=1667 |last=Combes |first=Francisco  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qnJUAAAAcAAJ |title=Historia de las islas de Mindanao, Jolo y sus adyacentes |publisher=Herederos de Pablo de Val.}}</ref> ''Tavi-Tavi'' or ''Tavitavi''.<ref name="taw2">{{cite book |editor=Pio A. De Pazos y Vela-Hidalgo |url=https://archive.org/stream/jolorelatohisto00velagoog/jolorelatohisto00velagoog_djvu.txt |title=Jolo, Relato Historico-Militar: Desde Su Descubrimiento Por Los Espanoles en 1578 A Nuestros Dias (1879) |year=1879 |publisher=Imprenta y Estereotipia de Polo}}</ref>

== History ==

===Early history===
Evidence of human presence in Tawi-tawi was carbon-dated to be 6,810 BC to 3,190 B.C., signifying one of the earliest known evidence of human presence in Southeast Asia. The bones, jars, shells, and other artifacts and fossils were found in the ''Bolobok Rock Shelter Cave Archaeological Site'', which has been declared as an Important Cultural Treasure by the government in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ironwulf.net/2009/03/19/tawi-tawi-balobok-rock-shelter/|title=Tawi-tawi: Glimpse of pre-historic life at Balobok Rock Shelter|date=18 March 2009}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2018}}

Much of the Tawi-tawi area was the center of [[Sama people|Sama]] culture and arts for hundreds of years. Some islands are sites of centuries-old traditional burial grounds featuring traditional Sama ''[[okir|okil]]'' carvings of ancestors.<ref name="Peralta">{{cite journal |last1=Peralta |first1=Jesus T. |title=Southwestern Philippine Art |journal=Anthropological Papers (National Museum (Philippines)) |date=1980 |issue=7 |pages=32–34 |url=http://www.spafajournal.org/index.php/spafadigest/article/download/405/397}}</ref><ref name="Baradas">{{cite journal |last1=Baradas |first1=David B. |title=Some Implications of the Okir Motif in Lanao and Sulu Art |journal=Asian Studies |date=1968 |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=129–168 |s2cid=27892222 |url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a0c6/f00b5177734d5e7c759472881541b0c37b52.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129181535/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a0c6/f00b5177734d5e7c759472881541b0c37b52.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2019-01-29 }}</ref>

In 1380, the first [[mosque]] in the Philippines, the [[Sheik Karimol Makhdum Mosque]], was established by an Arab trader and missionary, [[Makhdum Karim]]. The area was heavily converted to Islam, especially when the Sultanate of Sulu in nearby Sulu province was founded. Although unlike the [[Tausug people]], many Sama retained at least part of their ancient [[anito|animist]] religions.<ref name="sather">{{cite book|author=Clifford Sather|editor1=Peter Bellwood |editor2=James J. Fox |editor3=Darrell Tryon |title =The Austronesians: Historical and Comparative Perspectives|chapter =Sea Nomads and Rainforest Hunter-Gatherers: Foraging Adaptations in the Indo-Malaysian Archipelago - The Sama-Bajau|publisher =ANU E Press|year =2006|pages=257–264|isbn = 9781920942854|url =http://press.anu.edu.au/austronesians/austronesians/mobile_devices/ch13s04.html}}</ref>

===Spanish colonial era===
As early as January 28, 1761, Sultan Muizz ud-Din entered into an agreement with [[Alexander Dalrymple]] of the [[British East India Company]] for commercial and economic concessions. The subsequent treaties with Muizz ud-Din on September 12, 1762, and with Sultan Azim ud-Din, claimant to the Sultanate and a prisoner of the British in Manila, on February 23, 1763, confirmed these British claims. However, on March 5, 1775, Datu Teteng annihilated the British troops in Balambangan. Since then, the Muslims not only fought the British soldiers but also the Spanish troops. After the brother of Sultan Aliyud-Din I captured the Spanish ship San Jose in Tawi-Tawi, the British forces withdrew from Balambangan in 1805.<ref name="Symbols">{{cite book|author=Philippine Bureau of Local Government|title =The Symbols of the State|year =1975|pages=258–259|url =https://archive.org/details/SymbolsOfTheStateRepublicOfThePhilippines}}</ref>

On January 22, 1878, [[Baron von Overbeck]], representing the [[British North Borneo Company]], signed a treaty with Sultan Jamalul Alam for the lease of the Sultan's land in Borneo at an annual rent of 5,000 Mexican dollars. The Germans also asked for commercial concessions. Due to foreign encroachments, the Spaniards constructed a naval base at Tata'an and built garrisons in Bongao and Siasi.<ref name="Symbols"/>

On March 7, 1885, Spain, Britain and Germany signed [[Madrid Protocol of 1885|a protocol in Madrid]] whereby Spain relinquished all her claims to the offshore lands in Borneo, granted freedom of trade and navigation in Sulu, and Britain and Germany recognized Spanish sovereignty over Balabac and Cagayan de Sulu. However, the British diplomatically continued to pay the annual rents for Sabah (Sultan's land in Borneo) to Harun ar-Rashid.<ref name="Symbols"/>

During the Philippine Revolution of 1896, the mutiny of the 68th Regiment at Busbus, Jolo implicated Tagalog soldiers. The Muslims, however, retained their own views on independence and freedom.<ref name="Symbols"/>

===American colonial era===
When the American forces occupied Jolo on May 19, 1899, they established garrisons at Bongao and Siasi after the Muslims wiped out the Spanish garrison in Tata'an, Tawi-Tawi. In 1900, the United States entered into the [[Treaty of Washington (1900)|Treaty of Washington]] with Spain whereby Sibutu and Cagayan de Sulu were ceded to the former for {{US$|100,000|1900|link=yes}}. The Sultanate continued to receive the rentals for Sabah until 1946 when the British North Borneo Company sold its rights to the British Crown.<ref name="Symbols"/>

===Japanese occupation===
During [[World War II]], the calm but exposed waters around the islands were used by the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] as a major fleet anchorage due to its proximity to the oilfields of Borneo. Japanese forces, however, did not develop any facilities on the islands leaving the anchorage without an airfield, which allowed American submarines to track the movements of the Japanese fleet at the exposed anchorage.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Tawi Tawi|url=http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/T/a/Tawi_Tawi.htm|access-date=2020-06-03}}</ref> After the Japanese Imperial Forces occupied Tawi-Tawi, guerilla forces were organized under Lts. Konglamtio and Alejandro Tresperes in Siasi and Tawi-Tawi. These units were under the Sulu Command led by Lt. Col. Alejandro Suarez. The Command aided the American Liberation Forces at Sanga-Sanga Island on April 2, 1945.<ref name="Symbols"/>

On October 16, 1947, the offshore lands of Borneo—Taganak, Bakkungan, Bayaua, Sibauang and Lihiman Islands—were turned over to the Philippines by the British North Borneo government. The unveiling ceremonies of the marker in Taganak Island on June 26, 1948, were attended by M.G. Combe, representing Great Britain, former President [[Diosdado Macapagal]] for the Philippines, [[Princess Tarhata Kiram]] for the Sultanate, and Governor Kalingalan Caluang for Sulu.<ref name="Symbols"/>

=== Philippine Independence ===
====Foundation====
Previously part of the province of [[Sulu]], Tawi-Tawi was converted into a province on September 11, 1973, pursuant to ''Presidential Decree No. 302''<ref name="LawPhilNet-PD302">{{cite web|title=Presidential Decree No. 302; Creating the Province of Tawi-Tawi|url=http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1973/pd_302_1973.html|website=The LawPhil Project|access-date=7 May 2020|date=27 September 1973}}</ref> and erstwhile Commodore [[Romulo Espaldon]] was appointed as its first governor until the first provincial elections were held.<ref name="OG-LOI116">{{cite web|title=Letter of Instruction No. 116; Designation of ROMULO ESPALDON as Governor of Tawi-Tawi|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1973/08/18/letter-of-instruction-no-116-s-1973|website=Official Gazette|access-date=7 May 2020|date=18 August 1973}}</ref>

Prior to issuing the decree, President Marcos had asked Espaldon, “Why are the young boys of Tawi-Tawi easily wooed by the Moro National Liberation Front?” Espaldon replied, “The Sama boys, like their elders and leaders, are tired and weary of their union with the Province of Sulu. They want to have their own leaders and manage their own affairs. If His Excellency wants to solve the problem, I recommend that he create them into a separate province and allow them to exercise their own local prerogatives.” Hence, Espaldon earned the moniker "Father of Tawi-Tawi."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Tahang|first=Nash|date=March 2005|title=Espaldon: The Unifying Leader|url=https://archive.org/details/tawi-tawi-mirror-march-2005/page/9/mode/2up|journal=Tawi-Tawi Mirror Magazine|volume=1|issue=2|pages=9–10}}</ref>

During the first 730 days of Tawi-Tawi as a province, Espaldon spearheaded over 100 civilian infrastructure projects, including the construction of the provincial capitol, provincial hospital, public market, 50 mosques, school houses, radio station, airstrips, piers, houses, bridges, roads and water system.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/tawi-tawi-after-730-days|title=Tawi Tawi After 730 Days: A Report To The People|date=1975-09-11}}</ref>

The seat of the provincial government was initially designated as Bato-Bato in the municipality of [[Panglima Sugala|Balimbing (now Panglima Sugala)]],<ref name="LawPhilNet-PD302" /> but was moved to [[Bongao, Tawi-Tawi|Bongao]] on April 4, 1979, by virtue of ''Batas Pambansa Blg. 24''.<ref name="bp24" />

===Contemporary===
Tawi-Tawi is currently being groomed as the location of a special economic zone and transhipment point, a future center of commerce as the Tawi-Tawi freeport is being built in the area.<ref>[https://mb.com.ph/2019/03/19/tawi-tawi-eyed-as-world-class-economic-zone/ Tawi-Tawi eyed as world-class economic zone] By Patrick Garcia (Manila Bulletin)</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Bud Bongao.jpg|thumb|[[Bud Bongao]], a {{convert|250|ha|km2|adj=on}} mountain-forest and sacred mountain of Tawi-Tawi]]
The province lies at the southwestern tip of the country, situated between the [[Sulu Sea]] in the north and the [[Celebes Sea]] in the south. The province is part of the [[Sulu Archipelago]], and consists of [[Tawitawi Island]] and 106 surrounding islands and islets with a combined land area of {{convert|1087.4|km2|sqmi|1|abbr=off}}.<ref name=area/> Tawitawi Island itself has an area of {{convert|580.5|km2|sqmi|1|abbr=off}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Islands of Philippines |url=http://islands.unep.ch/IHE.htm#882 |work=Island Directory |publisher=United Nations Environment Programme |access-date=29 August 2014 |archive-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428003606/http://islands.unep.ch/IHE.htm#882 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The last island of the province at the edge of the Philippine-Malaysia border is [[Panguan Island]].

The province has two seasons: dry and wet. The climate is generally moderate. The wettest months are from August to November. The other months of the year are generally dry with occasional rain showers.<ref name=EB>{{cite web|title=Tawi Tawi|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/584534/Tawi-Tawi|website=www.britannica.com|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.|access-date=29 August 2014}}</ref>

===Biogeography===
The [[Tawi-Tawi Island|main island of Tawi-Tawi]] supports many endemic species and subspecies of vertebrates, invertebrates and plants unique to this island, plus some that are only shared with Sulu Province. These include the [[Tawitawi brown dove]], the [[Sulu hornbill]] and the [[Sulu bleeding-heart]], although this latter species may already be extinct.

The rapid expansion of human settlements into forested areas together with clearance for agriculture in the last few decades has dramatically reduced the available habitat for most of the endemic species, many of which are now considered '[[Critically Endangered]]' by the [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]].

===Administrative divisions===
[[File:Ph fil tawi-tawi.png|thumb|Political map of Tawi-Tawi|alt=Political Map of Tawi-Tawi]]
Tawi-Tawi comprises 11 [[Philippine municipality|municipalities]], all encompassed by [[Legislative district of Tawi-Tawi|two legislative districts]] and further subdivided into 203 [[barangay]]s.{{PSGC detail|nscb}}

* [[Bongao, Tawi-Tawi|Bongao]] — the capital of the province
* [[Languyan, Tawi-Tawi|Languyan]] — created by President [[Ferdinand Marcos|Marcos]] for rebel leader [[Hadjiril Matba]] who joined the government in the 1970s
* [[Mapun, Tawi-Tawi|Mapun]] — Tawi-Tawi's northernmost municipality, formerly ''Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi'' or ''Cagayan de Sulu''
* [[Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi|Panglima Sugala]] — formerly known as ''Balimbing''. However, in the [[EDSA Revolution of 1986|EDSA Revolution]], the word "[[Carambola|balimbing]]" acquired a derogatory meaning associated with [[turncoat]]ism due to the fruit's many sides. It is the former capital of the province.
* [[Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi|Sapa-Sapa]]
* [[Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi|Sibutu]] — home to the descendants of Malay royalty in [[Borneo]] and not necessarily associated with the Sulu royalty and home to [[Saluag Island]] (Sikulan), the southernmost island in the country
* [[Simunul, Tawi-Tawi|Simunul]] — site of oldest [[mosque]] in the Philippines and home of [[Sheikh Makdum]], one of the early pioneers spreading [[Islam]] in the country
* [[Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi|Sitangkai]] — southernmost municipality in the country.
* [[South Ubian, Tawi-Tawi|South Ubian]]
* [[Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi|Tandubas]]
* [[Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi|Turtle Islands]] — a [[turtle]] [[Animal sanctuary|sanctuary]] and [[protected area]]

Most of the municipalities are located on the islands in the [[Sulu Archipelago]]. Two of them, [[Mapun, Tawi-Tawi|Mapun]] (which is closer to [[Palawan]]) and [[Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi|Turtle Islands]], lie within the [[Sulu Sea]].

{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
{{Color box|white|†|border=darkgray}} {{font|Provincial capital|size=90%}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="table-layout:fixed;text-align:right;background-color:white;font-size:95%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:auto;"
! scope="col" style="border-width:thin 0 0 thin;" class="unsortable" rowspan="2" |
! scope="col" style="border-width:thin 0 0 0;text-align:left;padding-right:1.5em;" class="unsortable" colspan="2" | Municipality{{thinsp}}{{ref label|Coord|i|none}}
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:0;text-align:center;" class="unsortable" colspan="3" | Population
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:0;text-align:center;" class="unsortable" | {{PSGC rubric}}
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:0;text-align:center;" class="unsortable" colspan="2" | Area{{PSGC detail|nscb}}
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:0;text-align:center;" class="unsortable" colspan="2" | Density{{thinsp}}{{small|(2020)}}
! scope="col" style="border-bottom:0;text-align:center;" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Barangay|Total number of barangays}}
|-
! style="border-width:0 thin thin 0;" colspan="2" |
! style="border-width:0 0 thin thin;text-align:center;" colspan="2" | {{small|(2020)}}{{PH census|2020|ARMM}}
! style="border-width:0 thin thin 0;text-align:center;" | {{small|(2015)}}{{PH census|2015|ARMM}}
! style="border-top:0;" |
! style="border-width:0 0 thin thin;text-align:center;" | km<sup>2</sup>
! style="border-width:0 thin thin 0;text-align:center;" class="unsortable" | {{nowrap|sq{{thinsp}}mi}}
! style="border-width:0 0 thin thin;text-align:center;" | /km<sup>2</sup>
! style="border-width:0 thin thin 0;text-align:center;" class="unsortable" | {{nowrap|/sq{{thinsp}}mi}}
! style="border-top:0;" |
|-
! scope="row" style="border-width:medium 0 medium medium;background-color:initial;" | {{coord|5.0299|N|119.7716|E|name=Bongao|region:PH-TAW_type:city|format=hidden}}
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;border-width:medium 0 medium;" |[[Bongao, Tawi-Tawi|Bongao]]
| style="border-width:medium medium medium 0;padding-right:0.7em;" | †
| {{percent and number|116,118|440,276|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 100,527
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|116,118|2015.3315|100,527}}
| {{convert|365.95|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|116,118/365.95|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 35
|-
! scope="row" style="border-right:0;background-color:initial;" | {{coord|5.2672|N|120.0775|E|name=Languyan|region:PH-TAW_type:city|format=hidden}}
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;border-left:0;" colspan="2" | [[Languyan, Tawi-Tawi|Languyan]]
| {{percent and number|37,096|440,276|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 33,494
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|37,096|2015.3315|33,494}}
| {{convert|581.20|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|37,096/581.20|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 20
|-
! scope="row" style="border-right:0;background-color:initial;" | {{coord|6.9765|N|118.5136|E|name=Mapun (Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi)|region:PH-TAW_type:city|format=hidden}}
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;border-left:0;" colspan="2" | [[Mapun, Tawi-Tawi|Mapun]]
| {{percent and number|30,038|440,276|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 26,597
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|30,038|2015.3315|26,597}}
| {{convert|181.29|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|30,038/181.29|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 15
|- 
! scope="row" style="border-right:0;background-color:initial;" | {{coord|5.0721|N|119.8840|E|name=Panglima Sugala (Balimbing)|region:PH-TAW_type:city|format=hidden}}
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;border-left:0;" colspan="2"  | [[Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi|Panglima&nbsp;Sugala]]{{thinsp}}{{ref label|AltName|ii|none}}
| {{percent and number|48,055|440,276|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 44,184
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|48,055|2015.3315|44,184}}
| {{convert|416.66|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|48,055/416.66|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 17
|-
! scope="row" style="border-right:0;background-color:initial;" | {{coord|5.0896|N|120.2721|E|name=Sapa-Sapa|region:PH-TAW_type:city|format=hidden}}
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;border-left:0;" colspan="2" | [[Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi|Sapa-Sapa]]
| {{percent and number|33,580|440,276|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 30,917
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|33,580|2015.3315|30,917}}
| {{convert|235.61|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|33,580/235.61|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 23
|-
! scope="row" style="border-right:0;background-color:initial;" | {{coord|4.8452|N|119.4553|E|name=Sibutu|region:PH-TAW_type:city|format=hidden}}
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;border-left:0;" colspan="2" | [[Sibutu]]
| {{percent and number|34,243|440,276|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 30,387
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|34,243|2015.3315|30,387}}
| — <!-- Area in km2 -->
| — <!-- Area in sq mi -->
| — <!-- Density in km2 -->
| — <!-- Density in sq mi -->
| style="text-align:center;" | 16
|-
! scope="row" style="border-right:0;background-color:initial;" | {{coord|4.9175|N|119.7894|E|name=Simunul|region:PH-TAW_type:city|format=hidden}}
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;border-left:0;" colspan="2" | [[Simunul, Tawi-Tawi|Simunul]]
| {{percent and number|34,245|440,276|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 31,223
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|34,245|2015.3315|31,223}}
| {{convert|167.25|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|34,245/167.25|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 15
|-
! scope="row" style="border-right:0;background-color:initial;" | {{coord|4.6618|N|119.3949|E|name=Sitangkai|region:PH-TAW_type:city|format=hidden}}
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;border-left:0;" colspan="2" | [[Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi|Sitangkai]]
| {{percent and number|37,319|440,276|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 33,334
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|37,319|2015.3315|33,334}}
| {{convert|792.00|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|37,319/792.00|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 9
|-
! scope="row" style="border-right:0;background-color:initial;" | {{coord|5.1913|N|120.4877|E|name=South Ubian|region:PH-TAW_type:city|format=hidden}}
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;border-left:0;" colspan="2" | [[South Ubian, Tawi-Tawi|South&nbsp;Ubian]]
| {{percent and number|29,583|440,276|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 25,935
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|29,583|2015.3315|25,935}}
| {{convert|272.04|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|29,583/272.04|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 31
|-
! scope="row" style="border-right:0;background-color:initial;" | {{coord|5.1355|N|120.3470|E|name=Tandubas|region:PH-TAW_type:city|format=hidden}}
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;border-left:0;" colspan="2" | [[Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi|Tandubas]]
| {{percent and number|34,316|440,276|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 29,390
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|34,316|2015.3315|29,390}}
| {{convert|552.05|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|34,316/552.05|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 20
|-
! scope="row" style="border-right:0;background-color:initial;" | {{coord|6.0741|N|118.3131|E|name=Turtle Islands (Taganak)|region:PH-TAW_type:city|format=hidden}}
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;border-left:0;" colspan="2" | [[Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi|Turtle&nbsp;Islands]]
| {{percent and number|5,683|440,276|disp=table|1|pad=yes}}
| 4,727
| {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|5,683|2015.3315|4,727}}
| {{convert|62.50|km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|5,683/62.50|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=values|disp=table}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 2
|-class="sortbottom"
! scope="row" style="border-right:0;" |
! colspan="3" style="border-left:0;text-align:left;font-size:medium;font-variant:small-caps;letter-spacing:0.05em;" | Total
! style="text-align:right;" | 440,276
! style="text-align:right;" | 390,715
! style="text-align:right;" | {{PAGR|color=true|2020.5835|440,276|2015.3315|390,715}}
! style="text-align:right;" | —{{ref label|TotalArea&Density|iii|none}}
! style="text-align:right;" | —{{ref label|TotalArea&Density|iii|none}}
! style="text-align:right;" | —{{ref label|TotalArea&Density|iii|none}}
! style="text-align:right;" | —{{ref label|TotalArea&Density|iii|none}}
! style="text-align:center;" | 203
|- class="sortbottom" style="background-color:#F2F2F2;line-height:1.3em;border-top:double grey;"
|- class="sortbottom" style="background-color:#F2F2F2;line-height:1.3em;font-size:110%;"
| colspan="13" style="border-top:0;text-align:left;padding:0 4em;width:35em;" |
{{Ordered list
| list_style_type = lower-roman
| item_style      = font-size:88%;
| {{note label|Coord||none}}The ''globe''&nbsp;[[File:WMA button2b.png|frameless|upright=0.1]] icon marks the [[town&nbsp;center]].
| {{note label|AltName||none}}the Philippine Statistical Authority still labels the municipality as the capital,{{PSGC detail|nscb}} despite BP 24 having designated Bongao as such.<ref name=bp24 />
| {{note label|TotalArea&Density||none}}Total population area and density (sum of all component municipalities: '''{{convert|3,626.55|km2|ha|disp=or|abbr=on}}''')<ref name="nscblist">{{cite web|title=PSGC Interactive; List of Provinces|url=http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/listprov.asp|website=[[Philippine Statistics Authority]]|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref> is inconclusive as it conflicts with the figures given by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao website ('''{{convert|108,740|ha|km2|order=flip|abbr=on|disp=or|2}}''').<ref name="ARMMDAGovPH-TawiTawi">{{cite web|title=DA-Tawi-Tawi|url=http://armm.da.gov.ph/dafbeta/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66&Itemid=60|website=Department of Agriculture and Fisheries - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao|access-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906050217/http://armm.da.gov.ph/dafbeta/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66&Itemid=60|archive-date=6 September 2012|quote=Total Land Area; 108, 740 has.}}</ref><br/>Dashes (—) in cells indicate unavailable information.
}}
|}
{{col-break|gap=0.75em}}
{{col-end}}

==Demographics==
{{Philippine Census
| align= left
| 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{{PH census|2015|ARMM}}{{PH census|2010|ARMM}}{{PH census|2010}}
}}

The population of Tawi-Tawi in the 2020 census was 440,276 people,{{PH wikidata|population_reference}} with a density of {{convert|{{sigfig|440,276/1,087.40|2}}|PD/km2|disp=or}}.

===Inhabitants===
{{Expert needed|Philippines|talk=Expert attention needed|date=June 2014}}

Most of the people in Tawi-Tawi belong to the [[Sama people|Sama]] cultural group.<ref name=EB/> Within this group are subgroups and named based on the location of the speaker. Sama Sibutu are those from the Sibutu-Sitangkai Island Group, Sama Simunul are those from Simunul-Manuk Mangkaw Island Group, and so on.

The Jama Mapun are largely found in the [[Mapun, Tawi-Tawi|Cagayan Mapun]] and [[Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi|Turtle Island Group]]. Many of the people from the Turtle Islands and Cagayan Mapun maintain daily commerce with Sabah, since it is only 14 kilometers away.

The [[Bajau people|Badjao]] (also called "Sama Dilaut") are widely dispersed across the province, though their population is diminishing due to diseases and migration to other areas in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The Tausog or [[Tausūg people|Tau Sug]], Orang Suluk or Aa Suk are a [[Moro people|Moro]] ethnic group constituting a significant minority in Tawi-Tawi.<ref>{{cite book
| editor1-first = Renato
| editor1-last  = Rosaldo
| title         = Citizenship in Island Southeast Asia: {{font|size=95%|text = Nation and Belonging in the Hinterlands}}
| isbn          = 9780520227484
| url           = https://books.google.com/books?id=pphihb0oGJIC&q=tausug+tawi-tawi&pg=PA29
| access-date    = 15 March 2013
| publisher     = [[University of California Press]]
| year          = 2003
}}</ref>

=== Language ===
The [[Tausug language]] is the lingua franca of Tawi-Tawi, as in the case of the rest of the provinces in the Sulu Archipelago. Another prevailing local language, [[Sama language|Sama]], is spoken in varied tones and accents with the major ones being Sinama Sibutu (spoken mainly in the Sibutu-Sitangkai Region), Sinama Simunul (concentrated in [[Simunul]]-Manuk-Mangkaw Islands), Sinama Kapoan (spoken in the South Ubian-Tandubas and Sapa-Sapa Regions) and Sinama Banguingui (concentrated in Buan Island and spoken by [[Banguingui people]]).

[[Chavacano]], [[Cebuano language|Cebuano]], and [[Yakan language|Yakan]] are also spoken, as are the official languages of [[Filipino language|Filipino]] and [[Philippine English|English]]. Many locals and barter traders can also speak [[Sabah Malay]]. 
Many can also speak Cebuano because of the mass influx of [[Visayans|Visayan]] settlers to Mindanao, since Tausug is a related [[Bisayan languages|Visayan language]].

===Religion===
Almost all (99%) of the population of Tawi-Tawi is [[Muslim]], with a minority of [[Christianity in the Philippines|Christian]]s (0.7%).

A majority of Tawi-Tawi's Muslim population practice [[Sunni Islam]] of the [[Shafi'i]] tradition, as taught by Arab, Persian, Indian Muslim, Chinese Muslim and Malaccan missionaries from the 14th century onwards. The oldest mosque in the Philippines, and in Southeast Asia, the [[Sheik Karimol Makdum Mosque]], can be found in [[Simunul, Tawi-Tawi]].

Relatively newer Islamic sects, mostly brought by returning veterans of the Afghan wars and missionaries from Pakistan's stricter [[Sufi]] traditions, referred to as the [[Tablighi Jamaat|Tableegh]], have been active in propagating what they believe to be a "purer" Islamic way of life and worship. A very small number who have since married into [[Persian people|Iranian]] or [[Iraqi people|Iraqi]] families have converted to [[Shiite Islam]].

Majority of Tawi-Tawi Christians are [[Roman Catholicism in the Philippines|Roman Catholic]], they are under the jurisdiction of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zamboanga]] through its suffragan [[Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo]]/Diocese of Jolo. Non-Catholic Christians include [[Evangelicals]], [[Jesus Miracle Crusade]], [[Anglicanism|Episcopalian]], and [[Iglesia ni Cristo]] (INC), [[Mormons]], [[Seventh-day Adventists]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], and a number of other [[Protestantism in the Philippines|Protestant]] denominations. Only the most recent Chinese immigrants adhere to [[Buddhism]] or [[Taoism]], while most of the older Chinese families have acculturated and have either converted to Islam while retaining most of their Chinese beliefs.

==Economy==
{{stack|float=left|{{PH poverty incidence}}}}

Agriculture, fishing, and agar-agar (seaweeds) farming are the leading source of livelihood of the people of Tawi-Tawi, with quite a number engaged in the barter trade business. Copra is the top agricultural product, followed by root crops, fruits, and vegetables.

{{clear left}}

==Transportation==
[[Sanga-Sanga Airport]], the main airport of the province, is located in the municipality of [[Bongao]].

Recently, [[Philippine Airlines]] and Bangsamoro Government launches the inaugural flight of the first ever regional air connectivity on June 9, 2022, from Cotabato City, the regions seat and capital. Meanwhile, [[Cebu Pacific]] began operating a daily flight from [[Zamboanga City]] to Tawi-Tawi Province on October 14, 2011, utilizing its 150-seater Airbus A319 aircraft. [[Philippine Airlines]] (operated by PAL Express) also started operating flights to and from Zamboanga City on December 15, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Arayata |first1=Ma. Cristina |title=PAL to introduce Zamboanga-Tawi-Tawi route Dec. 15 |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1083382 |website=Philippine News Agency |access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref>

A sea connection to other parts of the Philippine archipelago as well as an international route to [[Semporna]], [[Malaysia]] is available from Bongao.

==See also==
* [[Andulinang Island]]
* [[Mardanas Island]]
* [[Panguan Island]]
* [[Panampangan Island]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{GeoGroup}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{OSM relation|1513298}}
* {{cite web |url=https://oneocean.org/download/db_files/MPA2004_final%20rep%20tawi%20jun05fin.pdf |title=Baseline Assessment of Existing or Potential MPA's in FISH Project Focal Areas: Tawi-tawi |author=Wilfredo L. Campos |publisher=UP in the Visayas Foundation Inc. |date=June 2005}} ([https://oneocean.org/download/db_files/MPA2006_TAWI-TAWI%20FNL%20REPORT.pdf Alternative format])
* {{cite book |title=Telling Our Story: A compilation of success stories from FISH Project-assisted communities |year=2010 |publisher=USAID |url=https://oneocean.org/download/db_files/201010-2005-10FISHProjectTellingOurStory.pdf}}
* [https://oneocean.org/download/db_files/fatwa.pdf Provincial Fatwa on Marine Environmental Protection and Conservation], May 16, 2006

{{Geographic location
| Centre    = Tawi-Tawi
| North     = ''[[Sulu Sea]]''
| Northeast = [[Sulu (province)|Sulu]]
| East      = ''[[Celebes Sea]]''
| South     = ''[[Celebes Sea]]''
| West      = [[Sabah]] ([[Malaysia]])
}}

{{Tawi-Tawi|state=expanded}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Articles related to Tawi-Tawi
|list1 =
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}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Tawi-Tawi| ]]
[[Category:Provinces of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Island provinces of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Sulu Archipelago]]
[[Category:Provinces of Bangsamoro]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1973]]
[[Category:1973 establishments in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Establishments by Philippine presidential decree]]