2024 Edition Primary

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; 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

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

22.1 births/1,000 population (2024 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

5.1% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

59.3% (2023 est.)

Death rate

6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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 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

1.34 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

1 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant mortality rate

female

19.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male

24.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

22 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 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.

note

note: data represent percentage of households; unspecified Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English are official languagesTaga; eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.5 years

male

67.3 years

total population

70.8 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.9% (2019)

male

95.7%

total population

96.3%

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

78 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

26.3 years

male

25.1 years

total

25.7 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.6 years (2022 est.)

note

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

Nationality

adjective

Philippine

noun

Filipino(s)

Net migration rate

-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 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

0.77 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

female

59,049,971 (2024 est.)

male

59,227,092

total

118,277,063

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

1.56% (2024 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: 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

15-64 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

6.5% (2020 est.)

male

39.3% (2020 est.)

total

22.9% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.75 children born/woman (2024 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 "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, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Tamuning (Guam)

email address and website

info@phembassy-us.orgThe 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 including the Senate president (ex officio chairman), 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%

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)

note

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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, 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 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, percentage women 29.2%House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP-Laban 22.7%, NP 13.7%, NUP 12.6%, NPC 11.7%,  Lakas-CMD 9.4%, LP 3.8%, HNP 2.5%, other 19.6%, independent 4%; seats by party - PDP-Laban 66, NP 36, NPC 35, NUP 33, Lakas-CMD 26, LP 10, HNP 6, other 35, independent 6, party-list 63; composition - men 226, women 85, percentage women 27.3%; total Congress percentage women 27.5%

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

Democratic Action (Aksyon Demokratiko) Alliance for Change (Hugpong ng Pagbabago or HNP) 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 NUPPartido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban Partido Federal ng Pilipinas or PFP Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives or PROMDI

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sugarcane, rice, coconuts, maize, bananas, vegetables, tropical fruits, plantains, pineapples, cassava (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

2% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

37.9% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$75.238 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$65.051 billion (2022 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 2021

-$5.943 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$18.261 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$11.206 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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 2019

51.796 (2019 est.)

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.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$87.798 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$98.832 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$103.601 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

integrated circuits, machine parts, gold, semiconductors, insulated wire (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

US 14%, China 14%, Hong Kong 11%, Japan 10%, Singapore 6% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

26.7% (2023 est.)

government consumption

14.2% (2023 est.)

household consumption

76.5% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-40.7% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.6% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.3% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

9.4% (2023 est.)

industry

28.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

62.4% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$437.146 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

40.7 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

32.5% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

2.7% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2021

$126.565 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$152.638 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$150.269 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

integrated circuits, refined petroleum, coal, cars, plastic products (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 32%, Indonesia 8%, South Korea 7%, Japan 7%, Singapore 6% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

3.59% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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) 2021

3.93% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.82% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

5.98% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

49.477 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

18.1% (2021 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2017

39.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$1.002 trillion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.078 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.138 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

5.71% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

7.58% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.55% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$8,800 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$9,300 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$9,700 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

9.31% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

9.41% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

8.94% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$108.755 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$96.04 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$103.742 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14.62% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

3.4% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

2.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.23% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

8.4% (2023 est.)

male

5.9% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

6.9% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

70.975 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

4.365 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

60.932 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

136.273 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

37.13 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

8.698 million metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

31.634 million metric tons (2022 est.)

production

14.483 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

361 million metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

102.834 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

27.542 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

10.174 billion kWh (2022 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

1.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

78.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

geothermal

10.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

1.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

1.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

15.558 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

2.251 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

2.251 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

98.543 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

138.5 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

453,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

10,000 bbl/day (2023 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

53% (2021 est.)

total

58.3 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line nearly 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 143 per 100 (2021)

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)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

4.885 million (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

144 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

166.454 million (2022 est.)

Airports

246 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

RP

Heliports

341 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

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

total

2,203 (2023)

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

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)

Roadways

paved

61,093 km

total

216,387 km

unpaved

155,294 km (2014)

Waterways

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

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, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperationthe Philippine Government faces internal threats from several armed separatists, terrorists, and criminal groups; as such, much of the AFP's operational focus is internal security, particularly in the south, where several separatist Islamic insurgent and terrorist groups operate and 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; the MILF's armed wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), had up to 40,000 fighters under armsthe AFP's naval forces are also involved in interdiction operations against terrorist, insurgent, and criminal groups around the southern islands, including joint maritime patrols with Indonesia and Malaysia, particularly in the Sulu Sea; 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 guided missile frigates, corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, and landing platform dock (LPD) amphibious assault shipsthe Philippines National Police (PNP) has an active role in counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism operations alongside the AFP, particularly the Special Action Force, a PNP commando unit that specializes in urban counter-terrorism operations (2024)

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air ForceDepartment of Transportation: Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)Department of the Interior: Philippine National Police Force (PNP) (2024)

note

note 1: the PCG is an armed and uniformed service that would be attached to the AFP during a conflictnote 2: the Philippine Government also arms and supports civilian militias; the AFP controls the Civilian Armed Force Geographical Units, while the Civilian Volunteer Organizations fall under PNP command

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 140,000 active-duty personnel (100,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, including about 8,000 Marine Corps; 15,000 Air Force) (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the AFP is equipped with a wide mix of imported weapons systems; in recent years, it has received equipment from more than a dozen countries, including Israel, South Korea, and the US (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

1.1% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023)

note

note: as of 2023, women made up about 8% of the active military; women have attended the Philippine Military Academy and trained as combat soldiers since 1993

Illicit drugs

Illegal drugs, including methamphetamine hydrochloride, cannabis, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MMDA, or "ecstasy") enter the Philippines from the Golden Triangle (Thailand, Laos, and Burma); drugs entering the Philippines are used locally and transported to other countries in Southeast Asia and Oceania; Chinese transnational organizations are the principal supplier of methamphetamine;  not a significant source or transit country for drugs entering the United States

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

102,000 (government troops fighting the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Abu Sayyaf Group, and the New People's Army; clan feuds; armed attacks, political violence, and communal tensions in Mindanao) (2022)

stateless persons

261 (2022); note - stateless persons are descendants of Indonesian migrants

Space agency/agencies

Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA; established 2019); Philippine Space Council (PSC; established in 2019 as an advisory body responsible for coordinating and integrating policies, programs and resources affecting space science and technology applications) (2024)

Space program overview

has a small and ambitious space program focused on acquiring satellites and related technologies, largely for the areas of climate studies, national security, and risk management; also prioritizing development of the country’s space expertise and industry; manufactures and operates satellites (mostly micro- and nano-sized), including remote sensing (RS) and scientific/experimental; has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, the European Space Agency and some of its member states, Japan, Russia, and the US (2024)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

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 1: ISIS-EA factions include Daulah Islamiya-Lanao (aka Maute Group), Daulah Islamiya-Maguindanao, Daulah Islamiya-Socsargen, ISIS-aligned elements of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), ISIS-aligned elements of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and rogue elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) note 2: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

122.29 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

51.32 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

22.45 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 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

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

Bohol Island (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

1

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 lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s)

Laguna de Bay - 890 sq km

Revenue from coal

0.07% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.18% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

479 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

67.83 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

9.88 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

8.16 billion cubic meters (2020 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.)