The Philippines, long celebrated as an archipelago of 7,107 islands, has officially updated its count to 7,641 islands. This adjustment was announced by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) after advanced technology, including Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR), identified previously undiscovered landmasses.

For years, these islands remained hidden due to technological limitations and the dynamic nature of the Philippine archipelago, influenced by geological and natural processes. The breakthrough demonstrates the power of modern mapping tools in redefining geographical knowledge.

NAMRIA emphasized that the majority of the newly identified islands are small and uninhabited, adding to the nation’s rich biodiversity and ecological treasures. The revised count further solidifies the Philippines’ status as one of the world’s most extensive archipelagos, offering exciting opportunities for scientific exploration and potential tourism development.