Political
Tawi-Tawi is subdivided into 11 municipalities:
- Bongao is the capital of the province and a microcosm of religious and cultural diversity.
- Languyan was created by then President Marcos for rebel leader Hadjiril Matba who decided to join the government fold in the 70s.
- Mapun (Cagayan De Tawi-Tawi or Cagayan de Sulu)
- Panglima Sugala was formerly known as Balimbing. However, after the EDSA Revolution, the word "balimbing" got a rather derogatory definition as a turncoat because of fruit's many sides.
- Sapa-Sapa
- Sibutu is home to the descendants of Malay royalty in Borneo and not necessarily associated with the Sulu royalty.
- Simunul is the site of oldest Mosque in the Philippines and home of the revered Sheikh Makdum one of the early pioneers in the spread of the Islamic religion in the country.
- Sitangkai the southernmost municipality in the country; known as "Venice of the South"
- South Ubian
- Tandubas
- Turtle Islands are declared as turtle sanctuaries and protected areas in the Philippines.
Most of the municipalities are located on the islands in the Sulu Archipelago. Two of them, Mapun, and Turtle Islands lie in the Sulu Sea. The municipalities are further subdivided into 203 barangays.