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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes
Geography
Location
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates
13 00 N, 122 00 E
Map references
Southeast Asia
Area
total : 300,000 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km
comparison ranking: total 74
Area – comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
36,289 km
Maritime claims
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
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to the depth of exploitation
Climate
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Terrain
mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Elevation
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 442 m
Natural resources
timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Land use
agricultural land: 42.5% (2022 est.)
arable land: 18.7% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 18.8% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 5% (2022 est.)
forest: 24.3% (2022 est.)
other: 33.1% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
16,270 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Laguna de Bay – 890 sq km
Population distribution
population concentrated in areas with good farmland; highest concentrations are northwest and south-central Luzon, the southeastern extension of Luzon, and the islands of the Visayan Sea, particularly Cebu and Negros; Manila is home to one eighth of the national population
Natural hazards
astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
volcanism: 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”
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 on 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
People and Society
Population
total: 118,277,063 (2024 est.)
male: 59,227,092
female: 59,049,971
comparison rankings: total 13; female 13; male 12
Nationality
noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine
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.)
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: 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
Tagalog audio sample:
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.)
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)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 55.6 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 47 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 8.7 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 11.5 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 25.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 25.1 years
female: 26.3 years
comparison ranking: total 167
Population growth rate
1.56% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 60
Birth rate
22.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 53
Death rate
6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 146
Net migration rate
-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 109
Population distribution
population concentrated in areas with good farmland; highest concentrations are northwest and south-central Luzon, the southeastern extension of Luzon, and the islands of the Visayan Sea, particularly Cebu and Negros; Manila is home to one eighth of the national population
Urbanization
urban population: 48.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
14.667 million MANILA (capital), 1.949 million Davao, 1.025 million Cebu City, 931,000 Zamboanga, 960,000 Antipolo, 803,000 Cagayan de Oro City, 803,000 Dasmarinas (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
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
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
23.6 years (2022 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio
78 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 75
Infant mortality rate
total: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 24.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.6 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 69
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 70.8 years (2024 est.)
male: 67.3 years
female: 74.5 years
comparison ranking: total population 170
Total fertility rate
2.75 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 58
Gross reproduction rate
1.34 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
54.1% (2017)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 99.1% of population
rural: 95% of population
total: 97% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.9% of population
rural: 5% of population
total: 3% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
5.1% of GDP (2022)
9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.79 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density
1 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 96% of population
rural: 91% of population
total: 93.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4% of population
rural: 9% of population
total: 6.6% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
6.4% (2016)
comparison ranking: 167
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 4.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 3.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 84
Tobacco use
total: 19.2% (2025 est.)
male: 34.4% (2025 est.)
female: 3.7% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 75
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
19.1% (2015)
comparison ranking: 15
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
59.3% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 1.5% (2022)
women married by age 18: 9.4% (2022)
Education expenditure
3.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
16.7% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 126
Literacy
total population: 98% (2020 est.)
male: 98% (2020 est.)
female: 97% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2020)
People – note
one of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being Timor-Leste
Environment
Environment – current issues
deforestation, especially in watershed areas; illegal mining and logging; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps; coastal erosion; dynamite fishing; wildlife extinction
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
Climate
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Land use
agricultural land: 42.5% (2022 est.)
arable land: 18.7% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 18.8% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 5% (2022 est.)
forest: 24.3% (2022 est.)
other: 33.1% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 48.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 22.45 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 122.29 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 51.32 megatons (2020 est.)
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.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Laguna de Bay – 890 sq km
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 8.16 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 9.88 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 67.83 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
479 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
global geoparks and regional networks: Bohol Island (2023)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas
etymology: named in honor of King PHILLIP II of Spain by Spanish explorer Ruy LOPEZ de VILLALOBOS, who visited the islands in 1543
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Manila
geographic coordinates: 14 36 N, 120 58 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: derives from the Tagalog word may, meaning “there is,” and nila, the local name for a shrub in the indigo family
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
Legal system
mixed system of civil, common, Islamic (sharia), and customary law
Constitution
history: several previous; latest ratified 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
amendment process: proposed by Congress if supported by three fourths of the membership, by a constitutional convention called by Congress, or by public petition; passage by either of the three proposal methods requires a majority vote in a national referendum
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew from the ICCt in March 2019
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Ferdinand “BongBong” MARCOS, Jr. (since 30 June 2022)
head of government: President Ferdinand “BongBong” MARCOS, Jr. (since 30 June 2022)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments, an independent body of 25 Congressional members that includes the Senate president (ex officio chairman) and is appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by simple-majority popular vote for a single 6-year term
most recent election date: 9 May 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%
expected date of next election: 9 May 2028
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch
legislature name: Congress (Kongreso)
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch – lower chamber
chamber name: House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan)
number of seats: 317 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 3 years
most recent election date: 5/12/2025
percentage of women in chamber: 28%
expected date of next election: May 2028
Legislative branch – upper chamber
chamber name: Senate (Senado)
number of seats: 24 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: partial renewal
term in office: 6 years
most recent election date: 5/12/2025
percentage of women in chamber: 20.8%
expected date of next election: May 2028
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
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 NUP
Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas or PFP
Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives or PROMDI
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Manuel del Gallego ROMUALDEZ (since 29 November 2017)
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614
email address and website:
[email protected]
The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Washington D.C. (philippineembassy-dc.org)
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador MaryKay Loss CARLSON (since 22 July 2022)
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila 1000
mailing address: 8600 Manila Place, Washington DC 20521-8600
telephone: [63] (2) 5301-2000
FAX: [63] (2) 5301-2017
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://ph.usembassy.gov/
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
Independence
4 July 1946 (from the US)
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
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 has a yellow sun with eight primary rays; each corner of the triangle contains a small five-pointed yellow star; blue stands for peace and justice, red for courage, and the triangle for equality; the rays represent the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, and the stars represent the country’s three parts: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design dates to 1897
note: in wartime, the flag is flown upside-down with the red band at the top
National symbol(s)
three stars and sun, Philippine eagle
National color(s)
red, white, blue, yellow
National coat of arms
the coat of arms was adopted on 3 July 1946; the three gold stars represent the major island groups of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao; the rays of the sun represent the provinces of the Philippines; the American eagle and lion of Spain represent the nation’s colonial past
National anthem
name: “Lupang Hinirang” (Chosen Land)
lyrics/music: Jose PALMA (revised by Felipe PADILLA de Leon)/Julian FELIPE
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
total World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)
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)
Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.138 trillion (2023 est.)
$1.078 trillion (2022 est.)
$1.002 trillion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 31
Real GDP growth rate
5.55% (2023 est.)
7.58% (2022 est.)
5.71% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 35
Real GDP per capita
$9,900 (2023 est.)
$9,500 (2022 est.)
$8,900 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 148
GDP (official exchange rate)
$437.146 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.2% (2024 est.)
6% (2023 est.)
5.8% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 103
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 9.4% (2023 est.)
industry: 28.2% (2023 est.)
services: 62.4% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 73; industry 73; agriculture 81
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 76.5% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 14.2% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 23.6% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.3% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 26.7% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -40.7% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
sugarcane, rice, coconuts, maize, bananas, vegetables, tropical fruits, plantains, pineapples, cassava (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
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
Industrial production growth rate
3.59% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 89
Labor force
50.979 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 14
Unemployment rate
2.2% (2024 est.)
2.2% (2023 est.)
2.6% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 24
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 6.6% (2024 est.)
male: 5.6% (2024 est.)
female: 8.3% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 160
Population below poverty line
18.1% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
40.7 (2021 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 38
Average household expenditures
on food: 37.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.7% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 32.5% (2021 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
8.94% of GDP (2023 est.)
9.41% of GDP (2022 est.)
9.31% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $65.051 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $75.238 billion (2022 est.)
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
Public debt
39.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 131
Taxes and other revenues
14.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 143
Current account balance
-$17.514 billion (2024 est.)
-$12.387 billion (2023 est.)
-$18.261 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 198
Exports
$106.99 billion (2024 est.)
$103.588 billion (2023 est.)
$98.832 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 47
Exports – partners
China 19%, USA 13%, Hong Kong 12%, Japan 11%, Germany 5% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
integrated circuits, machine parts, gold, insulated wire, semiconductors (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$161.154 billion (2024 est.)
$151.441 billion (2023 est.)
$152.638 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 37
Imports – partners
China 25%, Indonesia 8%, Japan 8%, S. Korea 6%, USA 6% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
integrated circuits, refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, coal (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$95.251 billion (2024 est.)
$103.742 billion (2023 est.)
$96.04 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 26
Debt – external
$63.241 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 14
Exchange rates
Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
57.291 (2024 est.)
55.63 (2023 est.)
54.478 (2022 est.)
49.255 (2021 est.)
49.624 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 94.8% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 98%
electrification – rural areas: 91.1%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 29.174 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 100.824 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 10.693 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 183; consumption 35; installed generating capacity 38
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 77.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
geothermal: 9.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
production: 14.457 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 42.859 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 8.151 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 36.542 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 361 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 10,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 457,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 138.5 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 2.325 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 3.12 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 794.289 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 98.543 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
156.228 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 88.581 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 61.597 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 6.05 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 35
Energy consumption per capita
17.654 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 134
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 4.627 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 30
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 135 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 144 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 13
Broadcast media
multiple national private TV and radio networks; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; more than 400 TV stations; about 1,500 cable TV providers with more than 2 million subscribers; over 1,400 radio stations; was scheduled to move to digital by the end of 2023 (2019)
Internet country code
.ph
Internet users
percent of population: 84% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 7.51 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 31
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
RP
Airports
256 (2025)
comparison ranking: 27
Heliports
416 (2025)
comparison ranking: 9
Railways
total: 77 km (2017)
standard gauge: 49 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 28 km (2017) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine
total: 2,203 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 52, container ship 43, general cargo 955, oil tanker 207, other 946
comparison ranking: total 11
Ports
total ports: 70 (2024)
large: 2
medium: 4
small: 8
very small: 56
ports with oil terminals: 22
key ports: Batangas City, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Manila, San Fernando Harbor, Subic Bay
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force
Department of Transportation: Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); Department of the Interior: Philippine National Police Force (PNP) (2025)
note 1: the PCG is an armed and uniformed service that would be attached to the AFP during a conflict
note 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 expenditures
1.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 145,000 active Armed Forces (105,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, including about 8,000 Marine Corps; 15,000 Air Force) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the AFP is equipped with a 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 service age and obligation
some small variations in age based on the branch, but generally 18-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
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
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 Americans
the 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 cooperation
the 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 arms
the 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 ships
the 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)
Space
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: 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
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
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 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
Transnational Issues
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
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
