2020 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.  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.

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

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 note 2: the Philippines is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes note 3: the Philippines sits on the Pacific typhoon belt, and an average of 9 typhoons make landfall on the islands each year, with about 5 being destructive; the country is the most exposed in the world to tropical storms

Irrigated land

16,270 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

42.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 18.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 18.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)

forest

24.7% (2023 est.)

other

32.7% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s)

Laguna de Bay - 890 sq km

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 several cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Taal (311 m) 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 and forced 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 in areas with good farmland; 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 national population

Terrain

mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Age structure

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

1.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

3.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

4.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

16.02 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

1.5% (2022)

women married by age 18

9.4% (2022)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.7% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

55.6% (2022 est.)

Death rate

5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

8.7 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

11.5 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

55.6 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

47 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 92.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 94.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 7.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 5.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

15.2% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.94 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

5.1% of GDP (2022)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

1 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

19.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male

24.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

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.

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.5 years

male

67.3 years

total population

70.8 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

97% (2022 est.)

male

98.4% (2020 est.)

total population

98.5% (2020 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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)

Maternal mortality ratio

84 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

26.3 years

male

25.1 years

total

27.1 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.6 years (2022 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Philippine

noun

Filipino(s)

Net migration rate

-2.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.4% (2016)

People - note

one of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being Timor-Leste

Physician density

0.79 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Population

female

59,049,971

male

59,227,092

total

118,277,063 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

0.74% (2025 est.)

Religions

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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 92.7% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 94.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 96.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 7.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 5.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 3.5% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2021 est.)

male

12 years (2021 est.)

total

12 years (2021 est.)

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

3.7% (2025 est.)

male

34.4% (2025 est.)

total

19.2% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.94 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

48.3% of total population (2023)

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, 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

Capital

etymology

derives from the Tagalog word may, meaning "there is," and nila, the local name for a shrub in the indigo family 

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

amendment process

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

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 the islands in 1543

local long form

Republika ng Pilipinas

local short form

Pilipinas

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador MaryKay Loss CARLSON (since 22 July 2022)

email address and website

acsinfomanila@state.gov https://ph.usembassy.gov/

embassy

1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila 1000

FAX

[63] (2) 5301-2017

mailing address

8600 Manila Place, Washington DC 20521-8600

telephone

[63] (2) 5301-2000

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, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Tamuning (Guam)

email address and website

info@phembassy-us.org The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Washington D.C. (philippineembassy-dc.org)

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 that includes the Senate president (ex officio chairman) and is appointed by the president

chief of state

President Ferdinand "BongBong" MARCOS, Jr. (since 30 June 2022)

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%, Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. (independent) 34.5%, Alan CAYETANO 14.4%, Francis ESCUDERO (independent) 12%, other 4%

election/appointment process

president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by simple-majority popular vote for a single 6-year term

expected date of next election

9 May 2028

head of government

President Ferdinand "BongBong" MARCOS, Jr. (since 30 June 2022)

most recent election date

9 May 2022

Flag

description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a white equilateral triangle is based on the left side; the center of the triangle has a yellow sun with eight rays, each split into smaller rays; the triangle's corners each have a small five-pointed yellow star meaning: blue stands for peace and justice, red for courage, and the triangle for equality; the rays represent the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, and the stars represent the country's three parts: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao history: the design 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, 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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

Congress (Kongreso)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan)

electoral system

mixed system

expected date of next election

May 2028

most recent election date

5/12/2025

number of seats

317 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Lakas-CMD party (103), National Unity Party (NUP) (32), Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) 31, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) (27), Nacionalista Party (NP) (22), Liberal Party (LP) (6), others (28), independents (11)

percentage of women in chamber

28.3%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

3 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Senate (Senado)

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

May 2028

most recent election date

5/12/2025

number of seats

24 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) (2); Nacionalista Party (NP) (3); Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) (2); Lakas- CMD party (1); Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP) (1); Liberal Party (1); Independents (2)

percentage of women in chamber

20.8%

scope of elections

partial renewal

term in office

6 years

National anthem(s)

history

music adopted 1898 and lyrics adopted 1956; only sung in Tagalog

lyrics/music

collectively/Julian FELIPE

title

"Lupang Hinirang" (Chosen Land)

National coat of arms

the coat of arms was adopted on 3 July 1946; the three gold stars represent the major island groups of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao; the rays of the sun represent the provinces of the Philippines; the American eagle and lion of Spain represent the nation's colonial past

National color(s)

red, white, blue, yellow

National heritage

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)

total World Heritage Sites

6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 June (1898)

National symbol(s)

three stars and sun, Philippine eagle

Political parties

Democratic Action (Aksyon Demokratiko)  Alliance for Change (Hugpong ng Pagbabago or HNP)  Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP) Lakas ng EDSA-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD Liberal Party or LP Nacionalista Party or NP Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC National Unity Party or NUP Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban Partido Federal ng Pilipinas or PFP 

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sugarcane, rice, coconuts, maize, bananas, vegetables, tropical fruits, plantains, pineapples, cassava (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

37.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$93.871 billion (2022 est.)

revenues

$65.069 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$18.261 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$12.387 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$17.514 billion (2024 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$63.241 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

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

Exchange rates

Currency

Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

49.624 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

49.255 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

54.478 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

55.63 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

57.291 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$98.832 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$103.588 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$106.99 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

integrated circuits, machine parts, gold, insulated wire, semiconductors (2023)

Exports - partners

China 19%, USA 13%, Hong Kong 12%, Japan 11%, Germany 5% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

25.8% (2024 est.)

government consumption

14.5% (2024 est.)

household consumption

76.1% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-40.1% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.6% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0.1% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

9.1% (2024 est.)

industry

27.7% (2024 est.)

services

63.2% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$461.618 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

39.3 (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

31.6% (2023 est.)

lowest 10%

2.9% (2023 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$152.638 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$151.441 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$161.154 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

integrated circuits, refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, coal (2023)

Imports - partners

China 25%, Indonesia 8%, Japan 8%, S. Korea 6%, USA 6% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

5.6% (2024 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)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.8% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.2% (2024 est.)

Labor force

50.979 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

15.5% (2023 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017

39.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.078 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.137 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$1.202 trillion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

7.6% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

5.7% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$9,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$9,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$10,400 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

9.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

8.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

8.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$96.04 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$103.742 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$106.195 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

2.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.3% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

2.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

8.3% (2024 est.)

male

5.6% (2024 est.)

total

6.6% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

42.859 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

8.151 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

36.542 million metric tons (2023 est.)

production

14.457 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

361 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

100.824 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

29.174 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

10.693 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

91.1%

electrification - total population

94.8% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

98%

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

77.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

geothermal

9.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

17.654 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

3.12 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

794.289 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

2.325 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

98.543 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

138.5 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

457,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

10,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

7 (2023 est.)

total

7.51 million (2023 est.)

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; over 1,400 radio stations; was scheduled to move to digital by the end of 2023 (2019)

Internet country code

.ph

Internet users

percent of population

84% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

4.627 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

144 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

135 million (2023 est.)

Airports

256 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

RP

Heliports

416 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 52, container ship 43, general cargo 955, oil tanker 207, other 946

total

2,203 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Batangas City, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Manila, San Fernando Harbor, Subic Bay

large

2

medium

4

ports with oil terminals

22

small

8

total ports

70 (2024)

very small

56

Railways

narrow gauge

28 km (2017) 1.067-m gauge

standard gauge

49 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge

total

77 km (2017)

Military - note

the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are responsible for territorial defense and assisting with internal security; much of the AFP's operational focus is on internal security alongside the Philippines National Police, particularly in the south, where several separatist insurgent, terrorist, and criminal groups operate and a considerable portion of the AFP is typically deployed; additional combat operations are conducted against the Communist People’s Party/New People’s Army, which is active mostly on Luzon, as well as 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, which had up to 40,000 fighters under arms maritime security is also a priority; the AFP's naval forces conduct naval interdiction missions in support of security operations on the southern islands, including joint maritime patrols with Indonesia and Malaysia; rising tensions with China over disputed waters and land features in the South China Sea since 2012 have spurred the AFP to place more emphasis on blue-water naval capabilities, including acquiring larger warships such as guided missile frigates, corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, and landing platform dock (LPD) amphibious assault ships the Philippine military was formally organized during the American colonial period as the Philippine Army; they were established by the National Defense Act of 1935 and comprised of both Filipinos and Americans; the US and Philippines agreed to a mutual defense treaty in 1951; based on agreements signed in 2014 and 2023, the Philippine Government allows the rotational presence of US military forces, aircraft, and ships at up to nine bases in the Philippines; also in 2023, the US agreed to assist in modernizing Philippine defense capabilities, deepen interoperability, enhance bilateral planning and information-sharing, and combat transnational and nonconventional threats (2025)

Military and security forces

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) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 145,000 active Armed Forces (105,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, including about 8,000 Marine Corps; 15,000 Air Force) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the AFP is equipped with a mix of imported weapons systems from more than a dozen countries, including Brazil, Israel, South Korea, and the US (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

some variations in age based on the branch of service, but generally 18-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

1,158,643 (2024 est.)

refugees

2,342 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

30 (2024 est.)

Key space-program milestones

1994 - formed a consortium of companies to acquire and operate satellites 1996 - acquired first communications satellite (Agila-1) from Indonesia after it was already in orbit 2014 - initiated a scientific remote sensing (RS) microsatellite development program in collaboration with Japan, resulting in first RS microsatellite (Diwata-1) being deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) in 2016 2018 - first domestically designed and built scientific/technology-demonstrator cube satellite (Maya-1) deployed from ISS; second RS microsatellite (Diwata-2) developed with assistance from and launched by Japan 2023 - signed agreement with the ESA and EU to expand cooperation on Earth observation/RS data sharing 2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration

Space agency/agencies

Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA; established 2019) (2025)

Space program overview

has a small space program focused on acquiring satellites and related technologies, largely for climate studies, national security, and risk management; also prioritizing development of space expertise and industry; manufactures and operates satellites (mostly micro- and nano-sized), including remote sensing and scientific/experimental; has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, the ESA (and some of its member states), India, Japan, Russia, and the US (2025)

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

88.581 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

6.05 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

61.597 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

156.228 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

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; coastal erosion; dynamite fishing; wildlife extinction

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

Bohol Island (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

1

International environmental agreements

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

Methane emissions

agriculture

1,662.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

230.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

39.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

452.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

25.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

479 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

67.937 billion cubic meters (2022)

industrial

13.602 billion cubic meters (2022)

municipal

9.498 billion cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

14.632 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

49.9% (2022 est.)