Ilocano people
The Ilocanos (Ilocano: Tattao nga Iloko/Ilokano), Ilokanos, or Iloko people are the third largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group. They mostly reside within the Ilocos Region, in the northwestern seaboard of Luzon, Philippines. The native language of the Ilocano people is the Ilocano (or Ilokano) language.
Ilocano women from Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur, c. 1900 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 8,746,169 (2020) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Philippines (Ilocos Region, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, some parts of Soccsksargen) United States (Hawaii, California) Worldwide | |
| Languages | |
| Ilocano, Tagalog, English | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Roman Catholicism, Aglipayan minority, Iglesia ni Cristo, Protestantism, Members Church of God International, Jehovah's Witnesses, Islam, Buddhism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Ibanag, Ivatan, Pangasinan, Kapampangan, Austronesian peoples |
Historically, Ilocanos have an elaborate network of beliefs and social practices.
The Ilocano diaspora spans nearly all parts of the Philippines, as well as places in the Western world, particularly Hawaii and California. Emigration was caused by dense population pressures in a region with limited agricultural potential. The Ilocos Region is one of the most densely populated regions in the Philippines. Agricultural production is not sufficient to meet local needs, thus, much of the population historically went into the labor market and interregional trade. Tobacco is the leading cash crop of the Ilocano people. The textile industry in the area has a long tradition, while fishing is second only to agricultural production.