2000 Edition

Background

The Philippines were ceded by Spain to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. They attained their independence in 1946 after being occupied by the Japanese in World War II. The 21-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986 when a widespread popular rebellion forced him into exile. In 1992, the US closed down its last military bases on the islands. A quarter-century-old guerrilla war with Muslim separatists on the island of Mindanao, which had claimed 120,000 lives, ended with a treaty in 1996.

Area

land

298,170 sq km

total

300,000 sq km

water

1,830 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Arizona

Climate

tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)

Coastline

36,289 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Apo 2,954 m

lowest point

Philippine Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps which are important fish breeding grounds

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 122 00 E

Irrigated land

15,800 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

19%

forests and woodland

46%

other

19% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

12%

permanent pastures

4%

Location

Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

continental shelf

to depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

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 up to 285 nm in breadth

Natural hazards

astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis

Natural resources

timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

Terrain

mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Age structure

0-14 years: 37% (male 15,344,555; female 14,807,320) 15-64 years: 59% (male 23,777,245; female 24,285,565) 65 years and over: 4% (male 1,312,646; female 1,632,313) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

27.85 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

6.13 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%

Infant mortality rate

29.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Pilipino (official, based on Tagalog), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

70.46 years (2000 est.)

male

64.65 years

total population

67.48 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.3% (1995 est.)

male

95%

total population

94.6%

Nationality

adjective

Philippine

noun

Filipino(s)

Net migration rate

-1.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

81,159,644 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.07% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.48 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

73 provinces and 61 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu, Cebu City*, Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City* Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General Santos*, Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao, La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*, Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*, Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur

Capital

Manila

Constitution

2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of the Philippines

conventional short form

Philippines

local long form

Republika ng Pilipinas

local short form

Pilipinas

Data code

RP

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD

embassy

1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000

mailing address

FPO 96515

telephone

(2) 523-1001

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Ernesto MACEDA

telephone

(202) 467-9300

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments

chief of state

President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA elected president; percent of vote - approximately 40%; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president; percent of vote - NA%

elections

president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 11 May 2004)

head of government

President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

FAX

(202) 328-7614

(2) 522-4361

consulate(s)

San Diego and San Jose (Saipan)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tamuning (Guam)

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing three individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star

Government type

republic

Independence

4 July 1946 (from US)

International organization participation

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council

Legal system

based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (221 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - an additional 50 members may be appointed by the president)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LAMP 12, Lakas 5, PRP 2, LP 1, other 3; note - the Senate now has only 23 members with one seat vacated when Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO became vice president; the seat can only be filled by election and is likely to remain open until the next regular election in 2001; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LAMP 135, Lakas 37, LP 13, Aksyon Demokratiko 1, other 35

elections

Senate - last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 11 May 2001); House of Representatives - elections last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 11 May 2001)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from Spain)

Political parties and leaders

Aksyon Demokratiko or Democratic Action ; Laban Ng Masang Pilipino or LAMP (Struggle of the Filipino Masses) [Joseph ESTRADA, titular head, Eduardo "Danding" COJUANGO, chairman, Edgardo ANGARA, party president]; Lakas [Raul MANGLAPUS, chairman, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, secretary general, Jose DE VENECIA, party president]; Liberal Party or LP [Raul DAZA, president, Jovito SALONGA, chairman, Florencio ABAD, secretary general]; People's Reform Party or PRP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish

Budget

expenditures

$12.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

revenues

$14.5 billion

Currency

1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos

Debt - external

$51.9 billion (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $1.1 billion (1998)

Economy - overview

In 1998 the Philippine economy - a mixture of agriculture, light industry, and supporting services - deteriorated as a result of spillover from the Asian financial crisis and poor weather conditions. Growth fell to about -0.5% in 1998 from 5% in 1997, but recovered to 2.9% in 1999. The government has promised to continue its economic reforms to help the Philippines match the pace of development in the newly industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes improving infrastructure, overhauling the tax system to bolster government revenues, and moving toward further deregulation and privatization of the economy.

Electricity - consumption

36.849 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

39.623 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

70.12%

hydro

10.75%

nuclear

0%

other

19.13% (1998)

Exchange rates

Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 40.427 (January 2000), 39.089 (1999), 40.893 (1998), 29.471 (1997), 26.216 (1996), 25.714 (1995)

Exports

$34.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

electronic equipment, machinery and transport equipment, garments, coconut products

Exports - partners

US 34%, EU 20%, Japan 14%, Netherlands 8%, Singapore 6%, UK 6%, Hong Kong 4% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $282 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

20%

industry

32%

services

48% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,600 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.9% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 33.5% (1994)

Imports

$30.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, consumer goods, fuels

Imports - partners

US 22%, Japan 20%, South Korea 8%, Singapore 6%, Taiwan 5%, Hong Kong 4% (1998 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

1.7% (1999 est.)

Industries

textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.8% (1999)

Labor force

32 million (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 39.8%, government and social services 19.4%, services 17.7%, manufacturing 9.8%, construction 5.8%, other 7.5% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

32% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate

9.6% (October 1998)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

93 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 366, FM 290, shortwave 3 (1999)

Radios

11.5 million (1997)

Telephone system

good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate

domestic

domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations

international

9 international gateways; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan

Telephones - main lines in use

1.9 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.959 million (1998)

Television broadcast stations

31 (1997)

Televisions

3.7 million (1997)

Airports

266 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

76 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

190 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 66 under 914 m: 121 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

39,590 km

total

199,950 km

unpaved

160,360 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine

note

a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 19 ships, Hong Kong 5, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Netherlands 1, Singapore 1, and UK 1 (1998 est.)

ships by type

bulk 159, cargo 122, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 9, container 7, liquified gas 13, livestock carrier 9, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 47, refrigerated cargo 20, roll-on/roll-off 19, short-sea passenger 32, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 20 (1999 est.)

total

480 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,973,024 GRT/9,025,087 DWT

Pipelines

petroleum products 357 km

Ports and harbors

Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras Island, Iligan, Iloilo, Jolo, Legaspi, Manila, Masao, Puerto Princesa, San Fernando, Subic Bay, Zamboanga

Railways

narrow gauge

492 km 1.067-m gauge (1996)

total

492 km (an additional 405 km are not in operation)

Waterways

3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$995 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.5% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 20,731,979 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 14,607,014 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

835,817 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claim to Malaysia's Sabah State has not been fully revoked

Illicit drugs

exports locally produced marijuana and hashish to East Asia, the US, and other Western markets; serves as a transit point for heroin and crystal methamphetamine

PITCAIRN ISLANDS