Makati
Philippines' leading financial and commercial hub.
Makati (pronounced mə-KAH-tee), officially the City of Makati, is a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. It serves as the nation’s primary hub for finance, commerce, business, and diplomacy, hosting many foreign embassies and diplomatic missions. The city boasts the country’s largest skyline, with 432 high-rises and skyscrapers, 138 of which exceed 100 meters (328 feet) in height. As of the 2024 census, its residential population is 309,770, but its daytime population swells to between 3.2 and 4.2 million due to workers in its central business district. Covering just 18.17 square kilometers (7.02 square miles), it is one of the smallest Philippine cities by land area. Makati is bordered by Mandaluyong to the north, Taguig to the east, Pasay to the southwest, and Manila to the northwest. In 2023, its estimated GDP per capita was ₱1,778,002, the highest among Philippine cities.
The city’s name comes from the Tagalog word *kati*, meaning “low tide” or “ebb tide,” referring to the tidal movements of the nearby Pasig River. In 1571, Governor-General Miguel López de Legazpi recorded the name as “Macati” after hearing locals exclaim “Makati na! Kumakati na!” (“It’s low tide! The tide is ebbing!”). During the colonial era, it was also spelled “Macaty” or “Macali.” Alternatively, the word can mean “itchy,” attributed to the *lipang kalabaw* plant (Dendrocnide meyeniana) that once grew there. Until 1914, the settlement was called San Pedro [de] Macati, named after its patron saint, Saint Peter. Spanish captain Pedro de Brito chose this name for his encomienda, Hacienda Pedro, and in honor of Rev. Fr. Pedro de los Montes, who built the church now known as Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church. Residents colloquially shortened the name to “Sampiro,” referring to both the town and the church.
Parts of Makati were once part of the pre-Hispanic Kingdom of Namayan, whose capital was in what is now Santa Ana, Manila. During the Spanish colonial era, in 1578, parts of Makati became a *visita* of Santa Ana de Sapa. In 1589, Captain Pedro de Brito purchased land encompassing present-day Poblacion for 1,400 pesos, establishing his encomienda, Hacienda Pedro. In 1608, he and his wife Ana de Herrera donated half the land to the Jesuits on condition they build a church honoring Saint Peter, endowing 14,000 pesos for its construction. The church, later known as San Pedro Macati Church, was completed in 1620. Under Franciscan friars in the 17th century, the town was established on June 1, 1670, as San Pedro de Macati, separated from Santa Ana de Sapa. The Nuestra Señora de Gracia Church (later Our Lady of Guadalupe) welcomed an image of the Virgin Mary and devotees from Mexico; one family from Makati, the Montes De Oca family, had members who came from Mexico, including Isidoro Montes de Oca, who played a key role in the Mexican War of Independence. This parish had a large spiritual jurisdiction in the province of Tondo (later Manila), extending to Muntinlupa. In 1851, Don José Bonifacio Róxas, an ancestor of the Zóbel de Ayala family, bought the estate from the Jesuits for 52,800 pesos, naming it Hacienda San Pedro de Macati. The city’s development has since been tied to the family and their company, Ayala Corporation. In 1890, San Pedro de Macati was proclaimed a public town of Manila province, with four outer barrios: Guadalupe, Olympia, Tejeros, and Culi-Culi.
In 1901, San Pedro Macati was incorporated into the newly formed province of Rizal. On February 28, 1914, Philippine Legislature Act No. 2390 shortened its name to Makati. By 1934, the town had 14 barrios, including Poblacion, Fort McKinley, and others previously part of Pateros. During the Japanese occupation, on January 1, 1942, Makati was merged with Manila and Quezon City into the City of Greater Manila under President Manuel L. Quezon, though Fort McKinley was excluded and renamed Sakura Heiyei by Japanese forces. Makati regained its pre-war status as a municipality of Rizal when President Sergio Osmeña dissolved Greater Manila on August 1, 1945. After World War II’s destruction of Manila and the closure of Nielson Field, the town grew rapidly, and real estate values boomed. Planned communities in what are now Forbes Park, Urdaneta, San Lorenzo, and Bel-Air were established in the 1950s through the efforts of landowner Ayala.
- land_area
- 18.17 km² (7.02 sq mi)
- daytime_population
- 3.2 to 4.2 million
Lore & Background
Makati, a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, is the nation's foremost center for finance, commerce, business, and diplomacy, hosting numerous foreign embassies. Its defining characteristic is the country's largest skyline, featuring 432 high-rises and skyscrapers, with 138 exceeding 100 meters in height. Despite its prominence, Makati is one of the smallest Philippine cities by land area, covering only 18.17 square kilometers. It is bordered by Mandaluyong to the north, Taguig to the east, Pasay to the southwest, and Manila to the northwest. The city's permanent population, recorded at 309,770 in the 2024 census, swells dramatically during the day to between 3.2 and 4.2 million due to the concentration of workers in its central business district. As of 2023, Makati held the highest estimated GDP per capita among all Philippine cities. The name originates from the Tagalog word *kati*, meaning "low tide" or "ebb tide," referencing the tidal movements of the adjacent Pasig River. A misheard response in 1571 by locals to Governor-General Miguel López de Legazpi led to the recorded name "Macati." Alternatively, the word can mean "itchy," attributed to the *lipang kalabaw* plant that once grew in the area. Historically, parts of Makati were under the pre-Hispanic Kingdom of Namayan.
Reader's Guide
Makati's significance stems from its status as the nation's unrivaled hub for finance, commerce, business, and diplomacy, hosting numerous foreign embassies. Its skyline, the largest in the country, features 432 high-rises and skyscrapers. Despite being one of the smallest Philippine cities by land area, its daytime population swells to between 3.2 and 4.2 million due to the concentration of workers in its central business district. As of 2023, it held the highest GDP per capita among all Philippine cities. Historically, the area was part of the pre-Hispanic Kingdom of Namayan. During the Spanish era, Captain Pedro de Brito purchased land that became Hacienda Pedro, later donated to the Jesuits who built a church honoring Saint Peter. The town was established in 1670 as San Pedro de Macati. In 1851, Don José Bonifacio Róxas, an ancestor of the Zóbel de Ayala family, bought the estate, linking Makati's development to that family and Ayala Corporation. The name was shortened to Makati in 1914. During World War II, it was merged into the City of Greater Manila. Its legacy includes both economic preeminence and a role in the country's democratic struggles.
Did You Know?
- Makati was originally named San Pedro de Macati after Saint Peter, chosen by Spanish captain Pedro de Brito for his encomienda Hacienda Pedro.
- The city's daytime population swells to between 3.2 and 4.2 million due to workers in its central business district.
The Economic Engine of a Compact City
Makati occupies just 18.17 square kilometers of land, making it one of the smallest cities in the Philippines by area, yet it punches far above its physical footprint. This extraordinary density of economic activity has made Makati the Philippines' preeminent hub for finance, commerce, and diplomacy, hosting numerous foreign embassies and diplomatic missions within its borders. Bordered by Mandaluyong to the north, Taguig to the east, Pasay to the southwest, and Manila to the northwest, Makati functions as the commercial nerve center of the National Capital Region.
A Name Born from the Tides
The very name "Makati" carries a story of miscommunication and the rhythms of the Pasig River. Kumakati na!"—a Tagalog cry meaning the tide was ebbing. Legazpi, hearing only the first word, recorded the place as "Macati," a Hispanized spelling that persisted through the colonial period in variants like "Macaty" and "Macali." The root word kati, meaning "low tide" or "ebb tide," thus became permanently stitched into the city's identity. An alternate etymology links the name to the Tagalog word for "itchy," referencing the stinging lipang kalabaw plant that once flourished in the area. For much of its early history, the settlement carried the longer designation San Pedro de Macati, a Spanish-styled name honoring Saint Peter. Residents colloquially shortened this to "Sampiro," a nickname that referred to both the town and its parish church.
Colonial Foundations and the Jesuit Legacy
Long before Spanish contact, parts of present-day Makati fell under the pre-Hispanic Kingdom of Namayan, whose capital lay in what is now the Santa Ana district of Manila.
From War's Ruin to Financial Capital
The devastation of World War II and the subsequent closure of Nielson Field paradoxically set the stage for Makati's modern transformation. In the post-war period, real estate values surged, and the city entered a phase of rapid, planned growth. Simultaneously, the military reservation known as Fort McKinley—renamed Fort Bonifacio—served as the anchor for seven additional residential communities developed by military families stationed in the base area. New office buildings rose on the land that would become the Makati Central Business District. By the late 1960s, the city had completed its metamorphosis into the financial and commercial capital of the Philippines, a role it has held ever since, with the Ayala Corporation remaining a defining force in its development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Makati?
Makati is a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines that serves as the country's primary hub for finance, commerce, and business activity.
How big is Makati and how many people are there?
The city spans roughly 18.17 square kilometers of land, yet it draws a daytime population estimated at 3.2 to 4.2 million people who commute in for work and commerce.
What is Makati's role in the Philippine economy?
It functions as the nation's leading center for financial services, corporate headquarters, and international trade, effectively acting as the economic engine of the country.
Why is Makati significant for diplomacy?
The city hosts a large concentration of foreign embassies and diplomatic missions, earning it recognition as the diplomatic heart of the Philippines.
What sets Makati apart from other Philippine cities?
Its dense high-rise business districts, enormous transient daytime workforce, and status as the top destination for both domestic and international corporate activity distinguish it from other urban areas in the country.
More in Cities Starting With M 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record