2019 Edition

Background

The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. 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. In 1942 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. A 21-year rule by Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power" movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts that prevented a return to full political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992. His administration was marked by increased stability and by progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998. He was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 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 to a six-year term as president in May 2004. Her presidency was marred by several corruption allegations but the Philippine economy was one of the few to avoid contraction following the 2008 global financial crisis, expanding each year of her administration. Benigno AQUINO III was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2010 and was succeeded by Rodrigo DUTERTE in May 2016. The Philippine Government faces threats from several groups, some of which are on the US Government's Foreign Terrorist Organization list. Manila has waged a decades-long struggle against ethnic Moro insurgencies in the southern Philippines, which led to a peace accord with the Moro National Liberation Front and a separate agreement with a break away faction, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The decades-long Maoist-inspired New People's Army insurgency also operates through much of the country. In 2017, Philippine armed forces battled an ISIS-Philippines siege in Marawi City, driving DUTERTE to declare martial law in the region. The Philippines faces increased tension with China over disputed territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea.

Area

Land

298,170 sq km

Total

300,000 sq km

Water

1,830 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona

Climate

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

Coastline

36,289 km

Elevation

Highest Point

Mount Apo 2,954 m

Lowest Point

Philippine Sea 0 m

Mean Elevation

442 m

Environment Current Issues

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

Environment International Agreements

Party To

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed But Not Ratified

Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geographic Coordinates

13 00 N, 122 00 E

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

Irrigated Land

16,270 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

41% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

18.2% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

17.8% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

5% (2011 est.)

Forest

25.9% (2011 est.)

Other

33.1% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map References

Southeast Asia

Maritime Claims

Continental Shelf

to the 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 as wide as 285 nm

Natural Hazards

astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamisvolcanism: 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"

Natural Resources

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

Population Distribution

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

Terrain

mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Age Structure

0 14 Years

33.07% (male 17,870,983 /female 17,151,096)

15 24 Years

19.17% (male 10,360,704 /female 9,934,798)

25 54 Years

37.11% (male 19,987,460 /female 19,312,673)

55 64 Years

6.04% (male 2,932,572 /female 3,462,832)

65 Years And Over

4.61% (male 2,001,964 /female 2,878,299) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

23.4 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

21.5% (2015)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

54.1% (2017)

Current Health Expenditure

4.4% (2016)

Death Rate

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

7.2 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

13.8 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

58.2 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

51 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

90.3% of population

Improved Total

91.8% of population

Improved Urban

93.7% of population

Unimproved Rural

9.7% of population

Unimproved Total

8.2% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

6.3% of population

Education Expenditures

2.7% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic Groups

Tagalog 24.4%, Bisaya/Binisaya 11.4%, Cebuano 9.9%, Ilocano 8.8%, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo 8.4%, Bikol/Bicol 6.8%, Waray 4%, other local ethnicity 26.1%, other foreign ethnicity .1% (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

0.1% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

1,200 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

77,000 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

17.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

23.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

20.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

unspecified Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

73.3 years

Male

66.1 years

Total Population

69.6 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

96.8% (2015)

Male

95.8%

Total Population

96.3%

Major Infectious Diseases

Degree Of Risk

high (2016)

Food Or Waterborne Diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

Vectorborne Diseases

dengue fever and malaria (2016)

Water Contact Diseases

leptospirosis (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

13.699 million MANILA (capital), 1.785 million Davao, 967,000 Cebu City, 905,000 Zamboanga, 859,000 Antipolo (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

121 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

24.2 years

Male

23.3 years

Total

23.7 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

22.8 years (2017 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Philippine

Noun

Filipino(s)

Net Migration Rate

-1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

6.4% (2016)

Physicians Density

1.28 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

105,893,381 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.55% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 80.6%, Protestant 8.2% (includes Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches 2.7%, National Council of Churches in the Philippines 1.2%, other Protestant 4.3%), other Christian 3.4%, Muslim 5.6%, tribal religions .2%, other 1.9%, none .1% (2010 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

70.8% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

73.9% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

77.9% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

29.2% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

26.1% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

22.1% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

13 years (2013)

Male

12 years

Total

13 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.03 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.85 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.7 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

1.01 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.99 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

8.9% (2017 est.)

Male

6.6%

Total

7.5%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

1.99% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

47.1% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

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, Compostela, Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, 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 (2012)

Capital

Geographic Coordinates

14 36 N, 120 58 E

Name

Manila

Time Difference

UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

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

Constitution

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 (2017)

History

several previous; latest ratified 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Republic of the Philippines

Conventional Short Form

Philippines

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

Local Long Form

Republika ng Pilipinas

Local Short Form

Pilipinas

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Sung KIM (since 6 December 2016)

Embassy

1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila 1000

Fax

[63] (2) 301-2017

Mailing Address

PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000

Telephone

[63] (2) 301-2000

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

Chancery

1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Jose Manuel del Gallego ROMUALDEZ (since 29 November 2017)

Consulate's General

Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), San Francisco, Tamuning (Guam)

Fax

[1] (202) 328-7614

Telephone

[1] (202) 467-9300

Executive Branch

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

Chief Of State

President Rodrigo DUTERTE (since 30 June 2016); Vice President Leni ROBREDO (since 30 June 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

Election Results

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%, Antonio TRILLANES (independent) 2.1%, Gregorio HONASAN (UNA) 1.9%

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 2016 (next to be held in May 2022)

Head Of Government

President Rodrigo DUTERTE (since 30 June 2016); Vice President Leni ROBREDO (since 30 June 2016)

Flag Description

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

Government Type

presidential republic

Independence

4 July 1946 (from the US)

International Law Organization Participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew from the ICCt in March 2019

International Organization Participation

ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

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

Legal System

mixed legal system of civil, common, Islamic (sharia), and customary law

Legislative Branch

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 (297 seats; 238 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 59 representing minorities directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms)

Election Results

Senate - percent of vote by party - LP 31.3%, NPC 10.1%, UNA 7.6%, Akbayan 5.0%, other 30.9%, independent 15.1%; seats by party - LP 6, NPC 3, UNA 4, Akbayan 1, other 10; composition - men 18, women 6, percent of women 25% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - LP 41.7%, NPC 17.0%, UNA 6.6%, NUP 9.7%, NP 9.4%, independent 6.0%, others 10.1%; seats by party - LP 115, NPC 42, NUP 23, NP 24, UNA 11, other 19, independent 4, party-list 59; composition - men 210, women 87, percent of women 29.8%; note - total Congress percent of women 29.4%

Elections

Senate - elections last held on 9 May 2016 (next to be held on 13 May 2019) House of Representatives - elections last held on 9 May 2016 (next to be held on 13 May 2019)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Jose PALMA (revised by Felipe PADILLA de Leon)/Julian FELIPE

Name

"Lupang Hinirang" (Chosen Land)

National Holiday

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

National Symbol S

three stars and sun, Philippine eagle; national colors: red, white, blue, yellow

Political Parties And Leaders

Akbayon [Machris CABREROS] Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA] Lakas ng EDSA-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD [Ferdinand Martin ROMUALDEZ] Liberal Party or LP [Francis PANGILINAN] Nacionalista Party or NP [Manuel "Manny" VILLAR] Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC [Eduardo COJUNGCO, Jr.] National Unity Party or NUP [Albert GARCIA] PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL III] People's Reform Party or PRP [Narcisco SANTIAGO] Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Force of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA] United Nationalist Alliance or UNA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

rice, fish, livestock, poultry, bananas, coconut/copra, corn, sugarcane, mangoes, pineapple, cassava

Budget

Expenditures

56.02 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

49.07 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-2.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2016

3.56%

31 December 2017

3.56%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

5.64%

31 December 2017

5.63%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$1.199 billion

2017

-$2.518 billion

Debt External

31 December 2016

$74.76 billion

31 December 2017

$76.18 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2012

46

2015

44.4

Economy Overview

The economy has been relatively resilient to global economic shocks due to less exposure to troubled international securities, lower dependence on exports, relatively resilient domestic consumption, large remittances from about 10 million overseas Filipino workers and migrants, and a rapidly expanding services industry. During 2017, the current account balance fell into the negative range, the first time since the 2008 global financial crisis, in part due to an ambitious new infrastructure spending program announced this year. However, international reserves remain at comfortable levels and the banking system is stable.Efforts to improve tax administration and expenditures management have helped ease the Philippines' debt burden and tight fiscal situation. The Philippines received investment-grade credit ratings on its sovereign debt under the former AQUINO administration and has had little difficulty financing its budget deficits. However, weak absorptive capacity and implementation bottlenecks have prevented the government from maximizing its expenditure plans. Although it has improved, the low tax-to-GDP ratio remains a constraint to supporting increasingly higher spending levels and sustaining high and inclusive growth over the longer term.Economic growth has accelerated, averaging over 6% per year from 2011 to 2017, compared with 4.5% under the MACAPAGAL-ARROYO government; and competitiveness rankings have improved. Although 2017 saw a new record year for net foreign direct investment inflows, FDI to the Philippines has continued to lag regional peers, in part because the Philippine constitution and other laws limit foreign investment and restrict foreign ownership in important activities/sectors - such as land ownership and public utilities.Although the economy grew at a rapid pace under the AQUINO government, challenges to achieving more inclusive growth remain. Wealth is concentrated in the hands of the rich. The unemployment rate declined from 7.3% to 5.7% between 2010 and 2017; while there has been some improvement, underemployment remains high at around 17% to 18% of the employed population. At least 40% of the employed work in the informal sector. Poverty afflicts more than a fifth of the total population but is as high as 75% in some areas of the southern Philippines. More than 60% of the poor reside in rural areas, where the incidence of poverty (about 30%) is more severe - a challenge to raising rural farm and non-farm incomes. Continued efforts are needed to improve governance, the judicial system, the regulatory environment, the infrastructure, and the overall ease of doing business.2016 saw the election of President Rodrigo DUTERTE, who has pledged to make inclusive growth and poverty reduction his top priority. DUTERTE believes that illegal drug use, crime and corruption are key barriers to economic development. The administration wants to reduce the poverty rate to 17% and graduate the economy to upper-middle income status by the end of President DUTERTE’s term in 2022. Key themes under the government’s Ten-Point Socioeconomic Agenda include continuity of macroeconomic policy, tax reform, higher investments in infrastructure and human capital development, and improving competitiveness and the overall ease of doing business. The administration sees infrastructure shortcomings as a key barrier to sustained economic growth and has pledged to spend $165 billion on infrastructure by 2022. Although the final outcome has yet to be seen, the current administration is shepherding legislation for a comprehensive tax reform program to raise revenues for its ambitious infrastructure spending plan and to promote a more equitable and efficient tax system. However, the need to finance rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the southern region of Mindanao following the 2017 Marawi City siege may compete with other spending on infrastructure.

Exchange Rates

2013

44.395

2014

45.503

2015

47.493

2016

47.493

2017

50.4

Currency

Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$57.41 billion

2017

$48.2 billion

Exports Commodities

semiconductors and electronic products, machinery and transport equipment, wood manufactures, chemicals, processed food and beverages, garments, coconut oil, copper concentrates, seafood, bananas/fruits

Exports Partners

Japan 16.4%, US 14.6%, Hong Kong 13.7%, China 11%, Singapore 6.1%, Thailand 4.3%, Germany 4.1%, South Korea 4% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

31% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

11.3% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

73.5% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-40.9% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

25.1% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

0.1% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

9.6% (2017 est.)

Industry

30.6% (2017 est.)

Services

59.8% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$313.6 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$7,600

2016

$8,000

2017

$8,400

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$769.3 billion

2016

$822.2 billion

2017

$877.2 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

6.1%

2016

6.9%

2017

6.7%

Gross National Saving

2015

23.7% of GDP

2016

24% of GDP

2017

24.3% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

29.5% (2015 est.)

Lowest 10

3.2%

Imports

2016

$78.28 billion

2017

$89.39 billion

Imports Commodities

electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals, plastic

Imports Partners

China 18.1%, Japan 11.4%, South Korea 8.8%, US 7.4%, Thailand 7.1%, Indonesia 6.7%, Singapore 5.9% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

7.2% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

1.3%

2017

2.9%

Labor Force

42.78 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

25.4%

Industry

18.3%

Services

56.3% (2017 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2015

$286.1 billion

31 December 2017

$290.4 billion

Population Below Poverty Line

21.6% (2017 est.)

Public Debt

2016

39% of GDP

2017

39.9% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$80.69 billion

31 December 2017

$81.57 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$61.62 billion

31 December 2017

$71.13 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2016

$43.89 billion

31 December 2017

$47.82 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016

$64.51 billion

31 December 2017

$78.79 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$184.6 billion

31 December 2017

$209.8 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$61.62 billion

31 December 2017

$71.13 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

15.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

5.5%

2017

5.7%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

117.2 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

16,450 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

211,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

13,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

138.5 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

80% (2017)

Electrification Total Population

88% (2017)

Electrification Urban Areas

98% (2017)

Population Without Electricity

12 million (2017)

Electricity Consumption

78.3 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2017 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

67% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

17% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

22.13 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

86.59 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

3.143 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

3.058 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

98.54 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

424,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

26,710 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

211,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

215,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

3 (2017 est.)

Total

3,399,291

Broadcast Media

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)

Internet Country Code

.ph

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

55.5% (July 2016 est.)

Total

56,956,436

Telephone System

Domestic

telecommunications infrastructure includes the following platforms: fixed line, mobile cellular, cable TV, over-the-air TV, radio and Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), fiber-optic cable, and satellite for redundant international connectivity; fixed-line 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular 111 per 100 (2018)

General Assessment

good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate; National Broadband Plan to improve connectivity in rural areas underway; 4G available now in some areas with 5G pilots planned to commence in 2019-2020 (2018)

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)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

4 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

4,163,282

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

111 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

115,824,982

Airports

247 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

33 (2017)

2 438 To 3 047 M

8 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

34 (2017)

Over 3 047 M

4 (2017)

Total

89 (2017)

Under 914 M

10 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

3 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

56 (2013)

Total

158 (2013)

Under 914 M

99 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

RP (2016)

Heliports

2 (2013)

Merchant Marine

By Type

bulk carrier 58, container ship 43, general cargo 654, oil tanker 191, other 669 (2018)

Total

1,615

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

484,190,968 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

32,230,986 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

158 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

11 (2015)

Pipelines

530 km gas, 138 km oil (non-operational), 185 km refined products (2017)

Ports And Terminals

Container Port's Teus

Manila (4,782,240) (2017)

Major Seaport S

Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Liman, Manila

Railways

Narrow Gauge

28 km 1.067-m gauge (2017)

Standard Gauge

49 km 1.435-m gauge (2017)

Total

77 km (2017)

Roadways

Paved

61,093 km (2014)

Total

216,387 km (2014)

Unpaved

155,294 km (2014)

Waterways

3,219 km (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m) (2011)

Maritime Threats

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; during 2018, 10 attacks were reported in and around the Philippines including six ships that were boarded, one fired upon, and three crewman kidnapped for ransom; an emerging threat area lies in the Celebes and Sulu Seas between the Philippines and Malaysia where it is believed the pirates involved are associated with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorist organization; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift; the Maritime Administration (MARAD) of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2019-011-Sulu and Celebes Seas-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Terrorism) which states in part "In 2018, there were at least 12 reported boardings, attempted boardings, attacks, hijackings, and kidnappings in the Sulu and Celebes Seas. Recent kidnapping incidents in this area were reportedly linked to the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), a violent Islamic separatist group operating in the southern Philippines..." and advises ships to adhere to counter-piracy practices to minimize risk

Military And Security Forces

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

1.09% of GDP

2015

1.14% of GDP

2016

1.43% of GDP

2017

1.2% of GDP

2018

1.13% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

18-23 years of age (officers 21-29) for voluntary military service; no conscription (2019)

Disputes International

Philippines claims sovereignty over Scarborough Reef (also claimed by China together with Taiwan) and over certain of the Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf; maritime delimitation negotiations continue with Palau

Illicit Drugs

domestic methamphetamine production has been a growing problem in recent years despite government crackdowns; major consumer of amphetamines; longstanding marijuana producer mainly in rural areas where Manila's control is limited

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

Idps

301,000 (government troops fighting the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Abu Sayyaf Group, and the New People's Army; clan feuds; natural disasters) (2018)

Stateless Persons

1,068 (2018); note - stateless persons are descendants of Indonesian migrants

Terrorist Groups Foreign Based

aim(s): enhance its networks in the Philippines and, ultimately, overthrow the Philippine Government and establish a pan-Islamic state across Southeast Asia area(s) of operation: maintains an operational and recruitment presence, especially in the south (2018)

Terrorist Groups Home Based

Abu Sayyaf Group Asg

aim(s): establish an Islamic State in the Philippines' Mindanao Island and the Sulu Archipelago, and ultimately, an Islamic caliphate across Southeast Asia area(s) of operation: southern Philippines in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago region (2018)

Communist Party Of The Philippines New People's Army Cpp Npa

aim(s): destabilize the Philippines' economy to inspire the populace to revolt against the government and, ultimately, overthrow the Philippine Government area(s) of operation: operates throughout most of the country, primarily in rural regions, with its strongest presence in the Sierra Madre Mountains, rural Luzon, Visayas, and parts of northern and eastern Mindanao; maintains cells in Manila, Davao City, and other metropolitan areas (2018)

Islamic State Of Iraq And Ash Sham Isis Network In Philippines

aim(s): replace the Philippine Government with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia area(s) of operation: Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago region (2018)