Country Information Database


Philippines Country Information

Flag of Philippines
Map of Philippines
Introduction Philippines
Geography Philippines
Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 122 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
total: 300,000 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
36,289 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Natural resources:
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 16.67%
other: 64.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
15,500 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
479 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
per capita: 343 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
Environment - international agreements:
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
People Philippines
96,061,680 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.5% (male 17,392,780/female 16,708,255)
15-64 years: 60.4% (male 28,986,232/female 29,076,329)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,682,485/female 2,215,602) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.3 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 22.8 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.991% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
26.42 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
5.15 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.2 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.8 years
male: 67.89 years
female: 73.85 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.32 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2008)
noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine
Ethnic groups:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 92.5%
female: 92.7% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
2.5% of GDP (2005)
Government Philippines
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas
Government type:
name: Manila
geographic coordinates: 14 35 N, 121 00 E
Administrative divisions:
81 provinces and 136 chartered cities
chartered cities: Alaminos, Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago, Baguio, Bais, Balanga, Batac, Batangas, Bayawan, Baybay, Bayugan, Bislig, Bogo, Borongan, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Cabanatuan, Cadiz, Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan, Calbayog, Candon, Canlaon, Carcar, Catbalogan, Cauayan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Danao, Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Escalante, El Salvador, Gapan, General Santos, Gingoog, Guihulngan, Himamaylan, Iligan, Iloilo, Isabela, Iriga, Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal, La Carlota, Lamitan, Laoag, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao, Lipa, Lucena, Maasin, Makati, Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marawi, Marikina, Masbate, Mati, Meycauayan, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga (Camarines Sur), Naga (Cebu), Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Pagadian, Palayan, Panabo, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Passi, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, Roxas, Sagay, Samal, San Carlos (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos (in Pangasinan), San Fernando (in La Union), San Fernando (in Pampanga), San Jose, San Jose del Monte, San Juan, San Pablo, Santa Rosa, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay, Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tabuk, Tacloban, Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran, Taguig, Tagum, Talisay (in Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Occidental), Tanauan, Tandag, Tangub, Tanjay, Tarlac, Tayabas, Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires, Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga (2007)
National holiday:
2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
Legal system:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected at large by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (as a result of May 2007 election it has 239 seats including 218 members representing districts and 21 sectoral party-list members representing special minorities elected on the basis of 1 seat for every 2% of the total vote but limited to 3 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - the Constitution prohibits the House of Representatives from having more than 250 members)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Lakas-Kampi 4, LP 4, NPC 3, Nacionalista 2, independents 4, others 6; note - there are 23 rather than 24 sitting senators because one senator was elected mayor of Manila; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Lakas 86, Kampi 46, NPC 29, LP 21, Party-list 21, others 36
Judicial branch:
Political parties and leaders:
Genuine Opposition or GO (coalition of oppositon parties formed to contest the 2007 elections); Kabalikat Ng Malayang Pilipino or Kampi [Ronaldo PUNO]; Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA]; Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union of Christian Democrats) or Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA]; Liberal Party or LP [Manuel ROXAS]; Nacionalista [Manuel VILLAR]; National People's Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL]; People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO]; PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA]; Pwersa Ng Masang Pilipino (Party of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA]; Reporma [Renato DE VILLA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
AKBAYAN [Etta ROSALES, Mario AGUJA, and Risa HONTIVEROS-BARAQUIEL]; ALAGAD [Rodante MARROLITA]; ALIF [Acmad TOMAWIS]; An Waray [Horencio NOEL]; Anak Mindanao [Mujiv HATAMIN]; ANAKPAWIS [Crispin BELTRAN and Rafael MARIANO]; Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) [Sunny Rose MADAMBA, Ernesto PABLO, and Edgar VALDEZ]; AVE [Eulogio MAGSAYSAY]; Bayan Muna [Satur OCAMPO, Joel VIRADOR, and Teodoro CASINO, Jr.]; BUHAY [Rene VELARDE and Hans Christian SENERES]; BUTIL [Benjamin CRUZ]; CIBAC [Emmanuel Joel VILLANUEVA]; COOP-NATCO [Guillermo CUA]; GABRIELA [Liza MAZA]; Partido Ng Manggagawa [Renato MAGTUBO]; Veterans Federation of the Philippines [Ernesto GIDAYA]
International organization participation:
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Willy C. GAA
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300
FAX: [1] (202) 467-9417
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie A. KENNEY
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000, Manila
mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000
telephone: [63] (2) 301-2000
FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361
Flag description:
Economy Philippines
Economy - overview:
The Philippine economy grew at its fastest pace in three decades with real GDP growth exceeding 7% in 2007. Higher government spending contributed to the growth, but a resilient service sector and large remittances from the millions of Filipinos who work abroad have played an increasingly important role. Economic growth has averaged 5% since President MACAPAGAL-ARROYO took office in 2001. Nevertheless, the Philippines will need still higher, sustained growth to make progress in alleviating poverty, given its high population growth and unequal distribution of income. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO averted a fiscal crisis by pushing for new revenue measures and, until recently, tightening expenditures. Declining fiscal deficits, tapering debt and debt service ratios, as well as recent efforts to increase spending on infrastructure and social services have heightened optimism over Philippine economic prospects. Although the general macroeconomic outlook has improved significantly, the Philippines continues to face important challenges and must maintain the reform momentum in order to catch up with regional competitors, improve employment opportunities, and alleviate poverty. Longer-term fiscal stability will require more sustainable revenue sources, rather than non-recurring revenues from privatization.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$300.1 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$144.1 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.3% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,200 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 13.8%
industry: 31.7%
services: 54.5% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
36.22 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 35%
industry: 15%
services: 50% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.3% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
30% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 31.2% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45.8 (2006)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
14.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
revenues: $24.63 billion
expenditures: $24.9 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
55.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Industrial production growth rate:
7.1% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
53.67 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 55.6%
hydro: 17.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 26.9% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
46.86 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
340,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
34,900 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
353,700 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
152 million bbl (31 December 2006)
Natural gas - production:
2.781 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.781 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
107.5 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
$6.351 billion (2007 est.)
$49.32 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Exports - partners:
China 30.6%, US 13%, Japan 11.5%, Hong Kong 8.1%, Singapore 7.7% (2007)
$57.56 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Imports - partners:
Japan 14.6%, US 11.9%, China 11.6%, Singapore 9.5%, Taiwan 7.4%, South Korea 5.6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Thailand 4.5%, Hong Kong 4.3% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $451.4 million in commitments (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$33.75 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$61.78 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$19.88 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$5.584 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$103.4 billion (2007)
Currency (code):
Philippine peso (PHP)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
Philippine pesos per US dollar - 46.148 (2007), 51.246 (2006), 55.086 (2005), 56.04 (2004), 54.203 (2003)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Philippines
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.633 million (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
51.795 million (2007)
Telephone system:
domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations; cellular communications now dominate the industry; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density exceeds 50 telephones per 100 persons with more than 10 mobile cellular subscribers for every fixed-line subscriber
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 381, FM 628, shortwave 4 (each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the language of the target audience) (2007)
11.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
250 (plus 1,501 CATV networks) (2007)
3.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:
Internet hosts:
271,609 (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
33 (2000)
Internet users:
5.3 million (2007)
Transportation Philippines
255 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 84
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 10 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 171
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 68
under 914 m: 99 (2007)
2 (2007)
gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 105 km (2007)
total: 897 km
narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in operation) (2006)
total: 200,037 km
paved: 19,804 km
unpaved: 180,233 km (2003)
3,219 km (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m) (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 388 ships (1000 GRT or over) 4,518,558 GRT/6,108,869 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 73, cargo 122, carrier 16, chemical tanker 17, container 5, liquefied gas 5, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 68, petroleum tanker 38, refrigerated cargo 14, roll on/roll off 13, vehicle carrier 11
foreign-owned: 158 (Bermuda 39, China 3, Greece 3, Hong Kong 1, Japan 83, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 23, Norway 2, Singapore 1, Taiwan 1, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 28 (Bahamas 1, Belize 1, Comoros 1, Cyprus 1, Hong Kong 9, Indonesia 1, Panama 10, Singapore 4) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Liman, Manila, Nasipit Harbor
Military Philippines
Military branches:
Military service age and obligation:
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 23,547,252
females age 16-49: 23,177,487 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 18,232,050
females age 16-49: 19,827,538 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,012,779
female: 977,030 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Philippines
Disputes - international:
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Illicit drugs:

This page was last updated on 2 October, 2008 Access Time: Sun, 18 Apr 2021 03:08:47 +0000