Samar is the third-largest island in the Philippines, situated within the Eastern Visayas region of the Visayas islands. As of the 2024 census, the island has a population of 1,924,651 residents.
Since 1965, the island has been divided into three distinct provinces: Western Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar. The respective capitals for these provinces are Catarman, Catbalogan, and Borongan. To commemorate the establishment of these provinces, June 19 is observed as an annual holiday.
The primary language and ethnicity of the island is Waray, and the predominant religion among the population is Roman Catholic.