2022 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-East Asia 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

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

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

41% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 18.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 17.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 5% (2018 est.)

forest

25.9% (2018 est.)

other

33.1% (2018 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 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

32.42% (male 18,060,976/female 17,331,781)

15-24 years

19.16% (male 10,680,325/female 10,243,047)

25-54 years

37.37% (male 20,777,741/female 20,027,153)

55-64 years

6.18% (male 3,116,485/female 3,633,301)

65 years and over

4.86% (male 2,155,840/female 3,154,166) (2020 est.)

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

22.28 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

2.2%

women married by age 18

16.5% (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

19.1% (2018)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

54.1% (2017)

Current health expenditure

4.1% of GDP (2019)

Death rate

6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Demographic profile

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.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

8.3

potential support ratio

12 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

56.2

youth dependency ratio

47.8

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 95% of population

improved: total

total: 97% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.1% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 5% of population

unimproved: total

total: 3% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.9% of population

Education expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

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 0.1% (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2021 est.)

Hospital bed density

1 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant mortality rate

female

19.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)

male

24.51 deaths/1,000 live births

total

22.23 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Languages

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

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

73.86 years (2022 est.)

male

66.6 years

total population

70.14 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.9% (2019)

male

95.7%

total population

96.3%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria

water contact diseases

leptospirosis

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

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

Median age

female

24.6 years (2020 est.)

male

23.6 years

total

24.1 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.5 years (2017 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

adjective

Philippine

noun

Filipino(s)

Net migration rate

0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 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

Physicians density

0.77 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

114,597,229 (2022 est.)

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

Population growth rate

1.6% (2022 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 79.5%, Muslim 6%, Iglesia ni Cristo 2.6%, Evangelical 2.4%, National Council of Churches in the Philippines 1.1%, other 7.4%, none <0.1% (2015 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 91% of population

improved: total

total: 93.4% of population

improved: urban

urban: 96% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 6.6% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2020)

male

13 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

0.9 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.46 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

Tobacco use

female

6.5% (2020 est.)

male

39.3% (2020 est.)

total

22.9% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.78 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

48.3% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

8.5% (2020 est.)

male

6.1%

total

7%

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 "may-nila" meaning "where there is indigo" and refers to the presence of indigo-yielding plants growing in the area surrounding the original settlement

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

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 MaryKay Loss CARLSON (since 22 July 2022)

email address and website

acsinfomanila@state.govhttps://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, Los Angeles, New York, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), San Francisco, Tamuning (Guam)

email address and website

washington.pe@dfa.gov.ph; consular@phembassy-us.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 including the Senate president (ex officio chairman), appointed by the president

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

election results

Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. elected president; percent of vote - Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. (PFP) 58.7%, Leni ROBREDO (independent) 27.9%, Manny PACQUIAO (PROMDI) 6.8%; 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%

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)

head of government

President Ferdinand "BongBong" MARCOS, Jr. (since 30 June 2022); Vice President Sara DUTERTE-Carpio (since 30 June 2022)

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

note

note: in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at the top

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 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 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 (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)

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, percent of women 29%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, NPC 35, NUP 33, Lakas-CMD 26, LP 10, HNP 6,  other 35, independent 6, party-list 63; composition - men 193, women 123, percent of women 38.9%; note - total Congress percent of women 38.2%

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)

National anthem

lyrics/music

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

name

"Lupang Hinirang" (Chosen Land)

note

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

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); 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

Aksyon Demokratiko [Francisco "Isko Moreno" DOMAGOSO] Lakas ng EDSA-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD [Ramon "Bong" REVILLA Jr ]Liberal Party or LP [Leni ROBREDO]Nacionalista Party or NP [Manuel "Manny" VILLAR]National Unity Party or NUP [Ronaldo V. PUNO]Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL III]Partido Federal ng Pilipinas or PFP [Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr.]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sugar cane, rice, coconuts, maize, bananas, vegetables, tropical fruit, plantains, pineapples, cassava

Budget

expenditures

56.02 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

49.07 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

BBB (2017)

Moody's rating

Baa2 (2014)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

BBB+ (2019)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2018

-$8.877 billion (2018 est.)

Current account balance 2019

-$3.386 billion (2019 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$75.192 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$81.995 billion (2019 est.)

Economic 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

Currency

Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

44.395 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

45.503 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

52.71 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

50.81 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

48.055 (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$90.37 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2019

$94.74 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2020

$78.82 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - commodities

integrated circuits, office machinery/parts, insulated wiring, semiconductors, transformers (2019)

Exports - partners

China 16%, United States 15%, Japan 13%, Hong Kong 12%, Singapore 7%, Germany 5% (2019)

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)

$377.205 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2012

46 (2012 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015

44.4 (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

29.5% (2015 est.)

lowest 10%

3.2%

Imports

Imports 2018

$129.74 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2019

$131.01 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2020

$97.58 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

integrated circuits, refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2019)

Imports - partners

China 29%, Japan 8%, South Korea 7%, United States 6%, Singapore 6%, Indonesia 6%, Thailand 5%, Taiwan 5% (2019)

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)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

2.8% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

5.2% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.4% (2019 est.)

Labor force

41.533 million (2020 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

25.4%

industry

18.3%

services

56.3% (2017 est.)

Population below poverty line

16.7% (2018 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

39% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

39.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$908.26 billion (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$963.83 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$871.56 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2017

6.94% (2017 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2018

6.34% (2018 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2019

6.04% (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$8,500 (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$8,900 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$8,000 (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$80.69 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$81.57 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

15.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2018

5.29% (2018 est.)

Unemployment rate 2019

5.11% (2019 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

8.5% (2020 est.)

male

6.1%

total

7%

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

70.82 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

7.044 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

64.418 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

142.282 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

32.855 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

7.554 million metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

28.358 million metric tons (2020 est.)

production

13.752 million metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

361 million metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

90,926,990,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports

0 kWh (2020 est.)

imports

0 kWh (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity

27.885 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

9.994 billion kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

93% (2019)

electrification - total population

96% (2019)

electrification - urban areas

100% (2019)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

1.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

77.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

11% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

1.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

1.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

19.261 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

3,632,507,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

production

3,632,507,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves

98.542 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

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.)

refined petroleum consumption

527,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

10,300 bbl/day (2021 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

7 (2020 est.)

total

7,936,574 (2020 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, 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

50% (2020 est.)

total

54,790,543 (2020 est.)

Telecommunication systems

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 nearly 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 137 per 100 (2020)

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)

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)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

4,731,196 (2020 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

137 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

149,579,406 (2020 est.)

Airports

total

247 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

33

2,438 to 3,047 m

8

914 to 1,523 m

34

over 3,047 m

4

total

89

under 914 m

10 (2021)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

56

total

158

under 914 m

99 (2021)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

RP

Heliports

2 (2021)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 62, container ship 44, general cargo 716, oil tanker 205, other 778 (2021)

total

1,805

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

835.9 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

43,080,118 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

200

number of registered air carriers

13 (2020)

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Manila (5,315,500) (2019)

major seaport(s)

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

Railways

narrow gauge

28 km (2017) 1.067-m gauge

standard gauge

49 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge

total

77 km (2017)

Roadways

paved

61,093 km (2014)

total

216,387 km (2014)

unpaved

155,294 km (2014)

Waterways

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

Maritime threats

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; an emerging threat area lies in the Celebes and Sulu Seas between the Philippines and Malaysia where 11 ships were attacked in 2021; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolen

Military - note

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 Americansthe 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; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitmentsas of 2022, the AFP's primary air and ground operational focus was on internal security duties, particularly in the south, where several separatist Islamic insurgent and terrorist groups operated and up to 60% of the armed forces were deployed; additional combat operations were being conducted against the Communist Peoples Party/New People’s Army, which was 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 armsin addition to its typical roles of patrolling and defending the country's maritime claims, the Navy conducts interdiction operations against terrorist, insurgent, and criminal groups around the southern islands; in 2017, the Philippines began conducting joint maritime patrols with Indonesia and Malaysia to counter regional terrorist activities, particularly in the Sulu Sea; the Philippine Marine Corps assists the Army in counterinsurgency operationsthe Philippines National Police (PNP) also 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 (2022)

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2021)

note

note 1: the Philippine Coast Guard is an armed and uniformed service under the Department of Transportation; it would be attached to the AFP in wartime; the Philippine National Police Force (PNP) falls under the Department of the Interiornote 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

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 130,000 active duty personnel (90,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, including about 8,000 Marine Corps; 15,000 Air Force) (2022)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the AFP is equipped with a mix of imported weapons systems, particularly second-hand equipment from the US; since 2014, top weapons suppliers include South Korea and the US (2022)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2017

1.3% of GDP (2017) (approximately $6.21 billion)

Military Expenditures 2018

1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $5.31 billion)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.1% of GDP (2019) (approximately $6.19 billion)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.1% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 (enlisted) and 21-29 (officers) years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2022)

note

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

Disputes - international

Philippines-Taiwan-China-Malaysia-Vietnam: 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-Malaysia: 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; the disagreement resurfaced in September 2020 , when Malaysia’s submission to the UN about extending its continental shelf was sharply countered by the Philippines because it included the disputed territory Philippines-Palau: maritime delimitation negotiations continue with Palau, as of March 2022

Illicit drugs

cannabis products, methamphetamine hydrochloride (locally known as "shabu"), and MDMA (ecstasy) are locally used; Chinese Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) are the main source of methamphetamine; precursor chemicals in transit from China to Burma

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

108,000 (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) (2021)

stateless persons

392 (mid-year 2021); note - stateless persons are descendants of Indonesian migrants

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

note: 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

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

122.29 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

51.32 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

18.38 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

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

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, 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

Land use

agricultural land

41% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 18.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 17.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 5% (2018 est.)

forest

25.9% (2018 est.)

other

33.1% (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria

water contact diseases

leptospirosis

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s)

Laguna de Bay - 890 sq km

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0.07% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0.18% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

479 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

67.97 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

15.85 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

8.929 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

48.3% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

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.)