Manila Is the Capital of the Philippines

The country with Manila as its capital is the Philippines (Republic of the Philippines).

Manila at a Glance

• Location: Eastern shore of Manila Bay, on Luzon Island.
• Metro Manila (NCR): 16 cities + 1 municipality (e.g., Quezon City, Makati, Taguig, Pasig); ~14M people (2023) — one of world's densest urban areas.
• Roles: Political (Malacañang Palace, Congress, Supreme Court), economic (PSE, BPO hub, ports), cultural (Intramuros, museums, universities), transport hub (NAIA airport).
• History: Founded 1571 (Spanish); capital since 1595; WWII devastation; rebuilt.
• Challenges: Traffic congestion, flooding, inequality, seismic risk, informal settlements.

Common Confusion

• Quezon City (1948–1976 capital) — now largest city in Metro Manila.
• Manila ≠ Metro Manila — Manila City is 1 of 17 LGUs in NCR.