Provincial Profile
Capital: Basco
Population: 16,604 (per 2010 Census)
Population Density: 73/sq.km.
Growth Rate: 1.31%
Physical Features: Batanes is composed of three inhabited islands namely, Batan, Sabtang and Itbayat. The islands are generally hilly and mountainous except the main island which has some stretches of narrow coastal plains. It has a land area of 23,000 hectares or 230 square kilometers and 450,000 hectares of territorial waters to its name.
Administrative: Batanes is the smallest province of Region 2. It has six municipalities namely: Basco, Itbayat, Ivana, Mahatao, Sabtang and Uyugan.
People and Culture: Batanes is home to the Ivatans. Of Malay stock, the Ivatans are nationally acclaimed as the ”True Insulares” having kept the purity of their gene pool, from as far back as 16th century, and preserved their rich history and cultural heritage.
Climate: Tropical with temperatures ranging from 23oC to 32oC, March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy. November to February is cool. Tropical monsoons and typhoons are common from June to November.
Predominant Language/Dialects: Ivatan/Filipino/English
Literacy Rate: 95%
Religion: Catholic
Employment Rate: 97%
Banking: Land Bank (Basco), PNB (Basco)
