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East and Southeast Asia
Page last updated: May 28, 2024
The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. Led by Emilio AGUINALDO, the Filipinos conducted an insurgency against US rule from 1899-1902, although some fighting continued in outlying islands as late as 1913. In 1935, the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. The islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence.
Twenty-one years of authoritarian rule under Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power" movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Several coup attempts hampered her presidency, and progress on political stability and economic development faltered until Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992. The US closed its last military bases on the islands the same year. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998. His vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, succeded him in 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2") demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected president in 2004. Corruption allegations marred her presidency, but the Philippine economy was one of the few to avoid contraction after the 2008 global financial crisis. Benigno AQUINO III was elected as president in 2010, followed by Rodrigo DUTERTE in 2016. During his term, DUTERTE pursued a controversial drug war that garnered international criticism for alleged human rights abuses. Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. was elected president in 2022 with the largest popular vote in a presidential election since his father's ouster.
For decades, the country has been challenged by armed ethnic separatists, communist rebels, and Islamic terrorist groups, particularly in the southern islands and remote areas of Luzon.
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
13°00' N, 122°00' E
Southeast Asia
Total: 300,000 km²
Land: 298,170 km²
Water: 1,830 km²
Slightly less than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona
Area comparison map:
Total: 0 km
36,289 km
Territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea as wide as 285 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: to the depth of exploitation
Tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 442 m
Timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Agricultural land: 41% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 18.2% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 17.8% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 5% (2018 est.)
Forest: 25.9% (2018 est.)
Other: 33.1% (2018 est.)
16,270 km² (2012)
Salt water lake(s): Laguna de Bay - 890 km²
Population concentrated where good farmlands lie; highest concentrations are northwest and south-central Luzon, the southeastern extension of Luzon, and the islands of the Visayan Sea, particularly Cebu and Negros; Manila is home to one-eighth of the entire national population
Astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
Volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Taal (311 m), which has shown recent unrest and may erupt in the near future, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Mayon (2,462 m), the country's most active volcano, erupted in 2009 forcing over 33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo, and Ragang; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Note 1: for decades, the Philippine archipelago was reported as having 7,107 islands; in 2016, the national mapping authority reported that hundreds of new islands had been discovered and increased the number of islands to 7,641 - though not all of the new islands have been verified; the country is favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait
Note 2: Philippines is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire
Note 3: the Philippines sits astride the Pacific typhoon belt and an average of 9 typhoons make landfall on the islands each year - with about 5 of these being destructive; the country is the most exposed in the world to tropical storms
Total: 118,277,063
Male: 59,227,092
Female: 59,049,971 (2024 est.)
Comparison rankings: female 13; male 12; total 13
Noun: Filipino(s)
Adjective: Philippine
Tagalog 26%, Bisaya/Binisaya 14.3%, Ilocano 8%, Cebuano 8%, Illonggo 7.9%, Bikol/Bicol 6.5%, Waray 3.8%, Kapampangan 3%, Maguindanao 1.9%, Pangasinan 1.9%, other local ethnicities 18.5%, foreign ethnicities 0.2% (2020 est.)
Tagalog 39.9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 16%, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo 7.3%, Ilocano 7.1%, Cebuano 6.5%, Bikol/Bicol 3.9%, Waray 2.6%, Kapampangan 2.4%, Maguindanao 1.4%, Pangasinan/Panggalato 1.3%, other languages/dialects 11.2%, unspecified 0.4% (2020 est.)
Major-language sample(s):
Ang World Factbook, ang mapagkukunan ng kailangang impormasyon. (Tagalog)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Note: data represent percentage of households; unspecified Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English are official languagesTaga; eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
Roman Catholic 78.8%, Muslim 6.4%, Iglesia ni Cristo 2.6%, other Christian 3.9%, other 8.2%, none/unspecified <0.1 (2020 est.)
The Philippines is an ethnically diverse country that is in the early stages of demographic transition. Its fertility rate has dropped steadily since the 1950s. The decline was more rapid after the introduction of a national population program in the 1970s in large part due to the increased use of modern contraceptive methods, but fertility has decreased more slowly in recent years. The country’s total fertility rate (TFR) – the average number of births per woman – dropped below 5 in the 1980s, below 4 in the 1990s, and below 3 in the 2010s. TFR continues to be above replacement level at 2.9 and even higher among the poor, rural residents, and the less-educated. Significant reasons for elevated TFR are the desire for more than two children, in part because children are a means of financial assistance and security for parents as they age, particularly among the poor.
The Philippines are the source of one of the world’s largest emigrant populations, much of which consists of legal temporary workers known as Overseas Foreign Workers or OFWs. As of 2019, there were 2.2 million OFWs. They work in a wide array of fields, most frequently in services (such as caregivers and domestic work), skilled trades, and construction but also in professional fields, including nursing and engineering. OFWs most often migrate to Middle Eastern countries, but other popular destinations include Hong Kong, China, and Singapore, as well as employment on ships. Filipino seafarers make up 35-40% of the world’s seafarers, as of 2014. Women OFWs, who work primarily in domestic services and entertainment, have outnumbered men since 1992.
Migration and remittances have been a feature of Philippine culture for decades. The government has encouraged and facilitated emigration, regulating recruitment agencies and adopting legislation to protect the rights of migrant workers. Filipinos began emigrating to the US and Hawaii early in the 20th century. In 1934, US legislation limited Filipinos to 50 visas per year except during labor shortages, causing emigration to plummet. It was not until the 1960s, when the US and other destination countries – Canada, Australia, and New Zealand – loosened their immigration policies, that Filipino emigration expanded and diversified. The government implemented an overseas employment program in the 1970s, promoting Filipino labor to Gulf countries needing more workers for their oil industries. Filipino emigration increased rapidly. The government had intended for international migration to be temporary, but a lack of jobs and poor wages domestically, the ongoing demand for workers in the Gulf countries, and new labor markets in Asia continue to spur Philippine emigration.
0-14 years: 30.2% (male 18,234,279/female 17,462,803)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 38,381,583/female 37,613,294)
65 years and over: 5.6% (2024 est.) (male 2,611,230/female 3,973,874)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 56.2
Youth dependency ratio: 47.8
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.3
Potential support ratio: 12 (2021 est.)
Total: 25.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 25.1 years
Female: 26.3 years
1.56% (2024 est.)
22.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Population concentrated where good farmlands lie; highest concentrations are northwest and south-central Luzon, the southeastern extension of Luzon, and the islands of the Visayan Sea, particularly Cebu and Negros; Manila is home to one-eighth of the entire national population
Urban population: 48.3% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
14.667 million MANILA (capital), 1.949 million Davao, 1.025 million Cebu City, 931,000 Zamboanga, 960,000 Antipolo, 803,000 Cagayan de Oro City, 803,000 Dasmarinas (2023)
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
23.6 years (2022 est.)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
78 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Total: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 24.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 19.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 70.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 67.3 years
Female: 74.5 years
2.75 children born/woman (2024 est.)
1.34 (2024 est.)
54.1% (2017)
Improved: urban: 99.1% of population
Rural: 95% of population
Total: 97% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0.9% of population
Rural: 5% of population
Total: 3% of population (2020 est.)
5.1% of GDP (2020)
0.77 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
1 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Improved: urban: 96% of population
Rural: 91% of population
Total: 93.4% of population
Unimproved: urban: 4% of population
Rural: 9% of population
Total: 6.6% of population (2020 est.)
Degree of risk: high (2023)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
Water contact diseases: leptospirosis
6.4% (2016)
Total: 4.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Beer: 1.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 3.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 22.9% (2020 est.)
Male: 39.3% (2020 est.)
Female: 6.5% (2020 est.)
19.1% (2018)
59.3% (2023 est.)
Women married by age 15: 2.2%
Women married by age 18: 16.5% (2017 est.)
3.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 96.3%
Male: 95.7%
Female: 96.9% (2019)
Total: 13 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 13 years (2020)
One of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being Timor-Leste
Uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; illegal mining and logging; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds; coastal erosion; dynamite fishing; wildlife extinction
Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Agricultural land: 41% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 18.2% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 17.8% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 5% (2018 est.)
Forest: 25.9% (2018 est.)
Other: 33.1% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 48.3% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0.18% of GDP (2018 est.)
0.07% of GDP (2018 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 22.45 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 122.29 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 51.32 megatons (2020 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 14,631,923 tons (2016 est.)
Municipal solid waste recycled annually: 4,096,938 tons (2014 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28% (2014 est.)
Salt water lake(s): Laguna de Bay - 890 km²
Municipal: 8.16 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 9.88 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 67.83 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
479 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Global geoparks and regional networks: Bohol Island (2023)
Conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
Conventional short form: Philippines
Local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
Local short form: Pilipinas
Etymology: named in honor of King PHILLIP II of Spain by Spanish explorer Ruy LOPEZ de VILLALOBOS, who visited some of the islands in 1543
Presidential republic
Name: Manila
Geographic coordinates: 14 36 N, 120 58 E
Time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: derives from the Tagalog "may-nila" meaning "where there is indigo" and refers to the presence of indigo-yielding plants growing in the area surrounding the original settlement
81 provinces and 38 chartered cities
Provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay;
Chartered cities: Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caloocan, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Davao, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Lucena, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Naga, Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, San Juan, Santiago, Tacloban, Taguig, Valenzuela, Zamboanga
4 July 1946 (from the US)
Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from the US
History: several previous; latest ratified 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
Amendments: proposed by Congress if supported by three fourths of the membership, by a constitutional convention called by Congress, or by public petition; passage by either of the three proposal methods requires a majority vote in a national referendum; note - the constitution has not been amended since its enactment in 1987
Mixed legal system of civil, common, Islamic (sharia), and customary law
Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew from the ICCt in March 2019
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Philippines
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
18 years of age; universal
Chief of state: President Ferdinand "BongBong" MARCOS, Jr. (since 30 June 2022); Vice President Sara DUTERTE-Carpio (since 30 June 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Ferdinand "BongBong" MARCOS, Jr. (since 30 June 2022); Vice President Sara DUTERTE-Carpio (since 30 June 2022)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments, an independent body of 25 Congressional members including the Senate president (ex officio chairman), appointed by the president
Elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by simple majority popular vote for a single 6-year term; election last held on 9 May 2022 (next to be held on 9 May 2028)
Election results:
2022: Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. elected president; percent of vote - Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. (PFP) 58.7%, Leni ROBREDO (independent) 27.9%, Manny PACQUIAO (PROMDI) 6.8%, other 6.6%; Sara DUTERTE-Carpio elected vice president; percent of vote Sara DUTERTE-Carpio (Lakas-CMD) 61.5%, Francis PANGILINAN (LP) 17.8%, Tito SOTTO 15.8%, other 4.9%
2016: Rodrigo DUTERTE elected president; percent of vote - Rodrigo DUTERTE (PDP-Laban) 39%, Manuel "Mar" ROXAS (LP) 23.5%, Grace POE (independent) 21.4%, Jejomar BINAY (UNA) 12.7%, Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO (PRP) 3.4%; Leni ROBREDO elected vice president; percent of vote Leni ROBREDO (LP) 35.1%, Bongbong MARCOS (independent) 34.5%, Alan CAYETANO 14.4%, Francis ESCUDERO (independent) 12%, other 4%
Description: bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of:
Senate or Senado (24 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by majority vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years)
House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (316 seats; 253 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 63 representing minorities directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms)
Elections: Senate - elections last held on 9 May 2022 (next to be held in May 2025)
House of Representatives - elections last held on 9 May 2022 (next to be held in May 2025)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NPC 5, PDP-Laban 5, NP 4, other 5, independent 5; composition - men 17, women 7, percentage women 29.2%
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP-Laban 22.7%, NP 13.7%, NUP 12.6%, NPC 11.7%, Lakas-CMD 9.4%, LP 3.8%, HNP 2.5%, other 19.6%, independent 4%; seats by party - PDP-Laban 66, NP 36, NPC 35, NUP 33, Lakas-CMD 26, LP 10, HNP 6, other 35, independent 6, party-list 63; composition - men 226, women 85, percentage women 27.3%; total Congress percentage women 27.5%
Highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 14 associate justices)
Judge selection and term of office: justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council, a constitutionally created, 6-member body that recommends Supreme Court nominees; justices serve until age 70
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; Sandiganbayan (special court for corruption cases of government officials); Court of Tax Appeals; regional, metropolitan, and municipal trial courts; sharia courts
Democratic Action (Aksyon Demokratiko) [Ernesto RAMEL, Jr]
Alliance for Change (Hugpong ng Pagbabago or HNP) [Claude BAUTISTA]
Lakas ng EDSA-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD [Sara DUTERTE-CARPIO]
Liberal Party or LP [Francis PANGILINAN]
Nacionalista Party or NP [Manuel "Manny" VILLAR]
Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC [Mark COJUANGCO]
National Unity Party or NUP [Ronaldo V. PUNO]
Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban [Rodrigo DUTERTE]
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas or PFP [Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr.]
Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives or PROMDI [Mariano "Mimo" OSMENA]
ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a white equilateral triangle is based on the hoist side; the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays; each corner of the triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star; blue stands for peace and justice, red symbolizes courage, the white equal-sided triangle represents equality; the rays recall the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, while the stars represent the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897
Note: in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at the top
Three stars and sun, Philippine eagle; national colors: red, white, blue, yellow
Coat of Arms of the Philippines:
Name: "Lupang Hinirang" (Chosen Land)
Lyrics/music: Jose PALMA (revised by Felipe PADILLA de Leon)/Julian FELIPE
Note: music adopted 1898, original Spanish lyrics adopted 1899, Filipino (Tagalog) lyrics adopted 1956; although the original lyrics were written in Spanish, later English and Filipino versions were created; today, only the Filipino version is used
Total World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales: Baroque Churches of the Philippines (c); Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (n); Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (c); Historic Vigan (c); Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park (n); Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (n)
Growing Southeast Asian economy; commercial rebound led by transportation, construction and financial services; electronics exports recovering from sector slowdown; significant remittances; interest rate rises following heightened inflation; uncertainties due to increased regional tensions with China
$991.72 billion (2022 est.)
$921.927 billion (2021 est.)
$872.09 billion (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
7.57% (2022 est.)
5.71% (2021 est.)
-9.52% (2020 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$8,600 (2022 est.)
$8,100 (2021 est.)
$7,800 (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
$404.284 billion (2022 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
5.82% (2022 est.)
3.93% (2021 est.)
2.39% (2020 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Fitch rating: BBB (2017)
Moody's rating: Baa2 (2014)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2019)
Note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Agriculture: 9.6% (2017 est.)
Industry: 30.6% (2017 est.)
Services: 59.8% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 130; industry 74; agriculture 93
Household consumption: 73.5% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 11.3% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 25.1% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 31% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -40.9% (2017 est.)
Sugarcane, rice, coconuts, maize, bananas, vegetables, tropical fruits, plantains, pineapples, cassava (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Semiconductors and electronics assembly, business process outsourcing, food and beverage manufacturing, construction, electric/gas/water supply, chemical products, radio/television/communications equipment and apparatus, petroleum and fuel, textile and garments, non-metallic minerals, basic metal industries, transport equipment
6.54% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
47.872 million (2022 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
2.38% (2022 est.)
3.4% (2021 est.)
2.52% (2020 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Total: 7.3% (2021 est.)
Male: 6.3%
Female: 9%
18.1% (2021 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line
40.7 (2021 est.)
Note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
On food: 38.6% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 2.1% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
Lowest 10%: 2.7%
Highest 10%: 32.5% (2021 est.)
Note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
2.24% of GDP (2022 est.)
9.31% of GDP (2021 est.)
9.64% of GDP (2020 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $71.173 billion (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $90.953 billion (2020 est.)
-2.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
39.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
39% of GDP (2016 est.)
43.43% of GDP (2014 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP
14.62% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
-$18.116 billion (2022 est.)
-$5.943 billion (2021 est.)
$11.578 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$98.853 billion (2022 est.)
$87.798 billion (2021 est.)
$80.034 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
US 14%, China 14%, Hong Kong 11%, Japan 10%, Singapore 6% (2022)
Note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Integrated circuits, machine parts, gold, semiconductors, insulated wire (2022)
Note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
$152.656 billion (2022 est.)
$126.565 billion (2021 est.)
$99.943 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
China 32%, Indonesia 8%, South Korea 7%, Japan 7%, Singapore 6% (2022)
Note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Integrated circuits, refined petroleum, coal, cars, plastic products (2022)
Note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
$96.04 billion (2022 est.)
$108.755 billion (2021 est.)
$109.99 billion (2020 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
$81.995 billion (2019 est.)
$75.192 billion (2018 est.)
Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
54.478 (2022 est.)
49.255 (2021 est.)
49.624 (2020 est.)
51.796 (2019 est.)
52.661 (2018 est.)
Population without electricity: 3 million (2020)
Electrification - total population: 97.4% (2021)
Electrification - urban areas: 98.6% (2021)
Electrification - rural areas: 96.4% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 27.885 million kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 90,926,990,000 kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 9.994 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Comparison rankings: imports 209; exports 209; installed generating capacity 38; transmission/distribution losses 182; consumption 35
Fossil fuels: 77.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Wind: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Geothermal: 11% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Biomass and waste: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Production: 13.752 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 32.855 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 7.554 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 28.358 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 361 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Total petroleum production: 10,300 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 527,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 12,400 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 232,500 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 138.5 million barrels (2021 est.)
215,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)
26,710 bbl/day (2015 est.)
211,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Production: 3,632,507,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
Consumption: 3,632,507,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 98.542 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
142.282 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 70.82 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 64.418 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 7.044 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
19.261 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Total subscriptions: 4.885 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 166.454 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 144 (2022 est.)
General assessment: the Covid-19 pandemic had a relatively minor impact on the Philippine’s telecom sector in 2020; subscriber numbers fell in some areas, but this was offset by strong growth in mobile data and broadband usage since a significant proportion of the population transitioned to working or studying from home; major investment programs covering LTE, 5G, and fiber broadband networks suffered slight delays due to holdups in supply chains, but activity has since ramped up in an attempt to complete the roll outs as per the original schedule; the major telecom operators had mixed financial results for the past year; overall, the number of mobile subscribers is expected to grow to 153 million by the end of 2021, with the penetration rate approaching 144%; the government remains keen, and committed, to seeing strong competition, growth, and service excellence in the telecom sector, so there is likely to be continued support (financially as well as through legislation such as enabling mobile tower sharing and number portability) to ensure that the sector remains viable for emerging players; the mobile sector will remain the Philippines’ primary market for telecommunications well into the future; the unique terrain and resulting challenges associated with accessing remote parts of the archipelago means that in many areas fixed networks are neither cost-effective nor logistically viable; the bulk of telecoms investment over the coming years will continue to be in 5G and 5G-enabled LTE networks; coverage of LTE and 5G networks extends to over 95% of the population, and for the vast majority of people mobile will likely remain their only platform for telecom services (2021)
Domestic: fixed-line nearly 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 143 per 100 (2021)
International: country code - 63; landing points for the NDTN, TGN-IA, AAG, PLCN, EAC-02C, DFON, SJC, APCN-2, SeaMeWe, Boracay-Palawan Submarine Cable System, Palawa-Illoilo Cable System, NDTN, SEA-US, SSSFOIP, ASE and JUPITAR submarine cables that together provide connectivity to the US, Southeast Asia, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia (2019)
Multiple national private TV and radio networks; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; more than 400 TV stations; about 1,500 cable TV providers with more than 2 million subscribers, and some 1,400 radio stations; the Philippines adopted Japan’s Integrated Service Digital Broadcast – Terrestrial standard for digital terrestrial television in November 2013 and is scheduled to complete the switch from analog to digital broadcasting by the end of 2023 (2019)
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Total: 58.3 million (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 53% (2021 est.)
Total: 7,936,574 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 13 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 200
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 43,080,118 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 835.9 million (2018) mt-km
RP
246 (2024)
341 (2024)
530 km gas, 138 km oil (non-operational), 185 km refined products (2017)
Total: 77 km (2017)
Standard gauge: 49 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
Narrow gauge: 28 km (2017) 1.067-m gauge
Total: 216,387 km
Paved: 61,093 km
Unpaved: 155,294 km (2014)
3,219 km (2011) (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m)
Total: 2,203 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 52, container ship 43, general cargo 955, oil tanker 207, other 946
Total ports: 70 (2024)
Large: 2
Medium: 4
Small: 8
Very small: 56
Ports with oil terminals: 22
Key ports: Batangas City, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Manila, San Fernando Harbor, Subic Bay
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force
Department of Transportation: Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
Department of the Interior: Philippine National Police Force (PNP) (2024)
Note 1: the PCG is an armed and uniformed service that would be attached to the AFP during a conflict
Note 2: the Philippine Government also arms and supports civilian militias; the AFP controls Civilian Armed Force Geographical Units, while the Civilian Volunteer Organizations fall under PNP command
1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2019 est.)
Approximately 140,000 active-duty personnel (100,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, including about 8,000 Marine Corps; 15,000 Air Force) (2023)
The AFP is equipped with a wide mix of imported weapons systems; in recent years, it has received equipment from more than a dozen countries led by Israel, South Korea, and the US (2023)
18-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023)
Note: as of 2020, women made up about 6% of the active military; women were allowed to enter the Philippine Military Academy and train as combat soldiers in 1993
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were formally organized during the American colonial period as the Philippine Army; they were established by the National Defense Act of 1935 and were comprised of both Filipinos and Americans
The US and Philippines agreed to a mutual defense treaty in 1951; in 2014, the two governments signed an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that established new parameters for military cooperation; under the EDCA, the Philippine Government may grant US troops access to Philippine military bases on a rotational basis “for security cooperation exercises, joint and combined military training activities, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities”; the Philippines has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation
The Philippine Government faces a number of internal threats from several armed separatists, terrorists, and criminal groups; as such, much of the AFP's operational focus is internal security, particularly in the south, where several separatist Islamic insurgent and terrorist groups operate and up to 60% of the armed forces are deployed; additional combat operations are conducted against the Communist People’s Party/New People’s Army, which is active mostly on Luzon, the Visayas, and areas of Mindanao; prior to a peace deal in 2014, the AFP fought a decades-long conflict against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a separatist organization based mostly on the island of Mindanao; the MILF's armed wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), had up to 40,000 fighters under arms
The AFP’s air and ground forces are experienced with and largely configured for counterinsurgency and counterterrorist operations; a majority of the Air Force’s combat aircraft are ground attack capable and organized in mixed fixed-wing and helicopter squadrons or combat groups formed for mobile operations against insurgents and terrorists; ten of the Army’s 11 divisions are light infantry, and the AFP has a joint-service special operations command comprised of rangers, scouts, special forces, counterterrorism, quick reaction, marine, naval, and air units
In addition to its typical roles of patrolling the country's territorial waters, the Navy conducts interdiction operations against terrorist, insurgent, and criminal groups around the southern islands, including joint maritime patrols with Indonesia and Malaysia, particularly in the Sulu Sea; the Navy has commands for offshore, littoral, and amphibious operations; most of its surface fleet consists of coastal patrol vessels and fast attack craft, although in response to maritime and territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea over the past decade the Navy has acquired some larger warships, including frigates, a corvette, offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), and landing platform dock (LPD) amphibious assault ships, and has plans to acquire additional corvettes and OPVs in the next few years; the Marine Corps consists of four infantry brigades and also conducts counterinsurgency operations
The Philippines National Police (PNP) has an active role in counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism operations alongside the AFP, particularly the Special Action Force, a PNP commando unit that specializes in urban counter-terrorism operations (2023)
Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA; established 2019); Philippine Space Council (PSC; established in 2019 as an advisory body responsible for coordinating and integrating policies, programs and resources affecting space science and technology applications) (2024)
Has a small and ambitious space program focused on acquiring satellites and related technologies, largely for the areas of climate studies, national security, and risk management; also prioritizing development of the country’s space expertise and industry; manufactures and operates satellites (mostly micro- and nano-sized), including remote sensing (RS) and scientific/experimental; has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, the European Space Agency and some of its member states, Japan, Russia, and the US (2024)
Note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S
Terrorist group(s): Abu Sayyaf Group; Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – East Asia (ISIS-EA) in the Philippines
Note 1: ISIS-EA factions include Daulah Islamiya-Lanao (aka Maute Group), Daulah Islamiya-Maguindanao, Daulah Islamiya-Socsargen, ISIS-aligned elements of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), ISIS-aligned elements of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and rogue elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
Note 2: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
IDPs: 102,000 (government troops fighting the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Abu Sayyaf Group, and the New People's Army; clan feuds; armed attacks, political violence, and communal tensions in Mindanao) (2022)
Stateless persons: 261 (2022); note - stateless persons are descendants of Indonesian migrants
Illegal drugs, including methamphetamine hydrochloride, cannabis, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MMDA, or "ecstasy") enter the Philippines from the Golden Triangle (Thailand, Laos, and Burma); drugs entering the Philippines are used locally and transported to other countries in Southeast Asia and Oceania; Chinese transnational organizations are the principal supplier of methamphetamine; not a significant source or transit country for drugs entering the United States