Philippines, island country of Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. It is an archipelago consisting of more than 7,000 islands and islets lying about 500 miles (800 km) off the coast of Vietnam. Manila is the capital, but nearby Quezon City is the country's most-populous city.

The Philippines is the country most famously associated with having over 7,000 islands—specifically 7,641 according to the most recent official survey by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA). The archipelago is divided into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. In 2026, the Philippines remains a global top-tier destination for island-hopping, with Palawan and Boracay being the most visited. It is important to note that while the Philippines is "the 7,000-island nation," it is not the country with the most islands. Indonesia consists of over 17,500 islands, and Nordic countries like Sweden and Norway actually top the global list with over 200,000 islands and islets each, though many of those are uninhabited rocky outcrops. However, for tropical, habitable islands with a distinct "archipelagic" culture, the Philippines’ "7,107" (the traditional count) remains its most enduring and recognizable national brand in the 2026 tourism market.