Filipino (Tagalog) DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Philippines · Southeast Asia
The Philippines were settled in several waves, but the dominant layer in the Tagalog average comes from the Austronesian expansion. In our model, 91.6% of the ancestry is described by Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers, represented by Tanshishan on the coast of Fujian, with small traces assigned to the South Asian hunter-gatherer proxy (4.8%), the East Asian reference (2.4%) and Anatolian Neolithic farmers (1.1%). Archaeology, linguistics and genetics broadly support the view that farming groups from coastal southern China moved to Taiwan and then, from about 4,000 years ago, into the Philippines and across Island Southeast Asia and the Pacific, joining older populations already living in the islands. The closest ancient groups in our data are Neolithic people from the Liangdao islands off Fujian and Iron Age people from Hanben in Taiwan. The closest modern averages are other Filipino samples, Visayans and Ilocanos, and, a little further, Native Hawaiians, a distant echo of that Austronesian voyaging.
- Largest ancient components in our model: Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers 91.6%, South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy) 4.8%, East Asian 2.4%
- Closest modern population in our data: Filipino, distance 0.0296
- Closest ancient group in our data: Liangdao N, distance 0.0265
Where does Filipino (Tagalog) DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Filipino (Tagalog) individuals sampled in Philippines, listed in the G25 sheet as "Tagalog" and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Filipino (Tagalog) average
In a model built from deep ancestral reference populations, the largest share of the Filipino (Tagalog) average, 91.6%, goes to Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers, ahead of South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy) (4.8%) and East Asian (2.4%). The Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers component reflects the Neolithic rice and millet farmers of southern China, whose descendants spread into Southeast Asia. With well over half of the total, this single source dominates the profile.
Smaller traces of South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy), East Asian and Anatolian Neolithic farmers (under 5% each) also appear. At that level they can reflect real minor ancestry, but also simple model noise, so they should not be over-read. The model fits well (fit distance 0.022), so these proportions are a reasonable summary. This population was modelled with a global set of reference populations (ancient genomes, plus modern stand-ins where no suitable ancient genome exists), because West Eurasian sources alone cannot describe it.
Lapita – Austronesian & Pacific Report
Closest modern populations to Filipino (Tagalog)
Among the modern populations in the G25 data, the closest to the Filipino (Tagalog) average is Filipino, at a distance of 0.030 (close). Next come Filipino (Luzon) at 0.030 and Vizayan at 0.040. By the tenth closest (Dusun (Malaysia)) the distance grows to 0.062, a common pattern for a population that shares ancestry with its neighbours while keeping a profile of its own.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Filipino | 0.0296 | Close |
| 2 | Filipino (Luzon) | 0.0301 | Close |
| 3 | Vizayan | 0.0403 | Close |
| 4 | Visayan | 0.0419 | Close |
| 5 | Ilocano | 0.0471 | Close |
| 6 | Native Hawaiian | 0.0506 | Moderate |
| 7 | Atayal | 0.0583 | Moderate |
| 8 | Mentawai | 0.0610 | Moderate |
| 9 | Nias (Hilitobara) | 0.0616 | Moderate |
| 10 | Dusun (Malaysia) | 0.0618 | Moderate |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Filipino (Tagalog)
If we search ancient DNA for the best match to Filipino (Tagalog), Liangdao N (Neolithic) comes first, at 0.027, with China Liangdao1 N next. That is a close match: much of the modern profile was already present then, while later movements of people added further layers. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liangdao N | Neolithic | 0.0265 |
| 2 | China Liangdao1 N | Neolithic | 0.0303 |
| 3 | China Liangdao2 N | Neolithic | 0.0336 |
| 4 | China Tanshishan N | Neolithic | 0.0394 |
| 5 | China Xitoucun N | Neolithic | 0.0458 |
| 6 | Taiwan Pre-IA Hanben | Iron Age | 0.0563 |
| 7 | Taiwan IA Hanben | Iron Age | 0.0566 |
| 8 | Tonga 2500BP | c. 550 BC | 0.0579 |
| 9 | Taiwan N Hanben | Neolithic | 0.0589 |
| 10 | Malaysia Early Modern | Early Modern, c. 1500-1800 AD | 0.0614 |
Ancient DNA from Philippines
Our ancient DNA database holds 2 individuals excavated in present-day Philippines, dated from about 167 AD to 189 AD. The most frequent mtDNA haplogroups among them are B5 (1) and F1 (1). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Filipino (Tagalog) population.
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 2 from Philippines.
Compare yourself with Filipino (Tagalog)
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Filipino (Tagalog) average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Filipino (Tagalog) and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
A word of caution: these figures describe the average of the Filipino (Tagalog) individuals who were sampled, not every person who identifies as Filipino (Tagalog). Individuals vary around that average, and identity is about history, language and family, not about a genetic score. Read this page as a map of deep ancestry, not as a definition.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Filipino (Tagalog) average. Your own DNA has its own story: Lapita – Austronesian & Pacific Report (15€) models your genome against the ancient sources and modern communities of the region, era by era, in a personal PDF report.
A report built for people of Austronesian / Indo-Pacific ancestry: ancient regional core (the Taiwan Neolithic homeland, the Lapita culture, Guam Unai and Latte periods, the Medieval voyage to Madagascar) versus non-regional outside...
More populations from Southeast Asia
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Filipino (Tagalog)?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Filipino (Tagalog) average is about 91.6% Southern Chinese Neolithic farmers, 4.8% South Asian hunter-gatherer related (Irula proxy) and 2.4% East Asian. These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Filipino (Tagalog)?
In the G25 data, the closest modern populations to the Filipino (Tagalog) average are Filipino, Filipino (Luzon) and Vizayan. The closest ancient matches are Liangdao N, China Liangdao1 N and China Liangdao2 N.
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Filipino (Tagalog)?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Filipino (Tagalog) average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Filipino (Tagalog) ancestry?
For the Filipino (Tagalog) average, the regional report to choose is Lapita – Austronesian & Pacific Report, which our fit test rates as an excellent match. Your own DNA may differ from the average, so the free Report Finder checks every report against your file before you buy.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.