Philippines

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 7.51 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

multiple national private TV and radio networks; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; more than 400 TV stations; about 1,500 cable TV providers with more than 2 million subscribers; over 1,400 radio stations; was scheduled to move to digital by the end of 2023 (2019)

Internet country code

.ph

Internet users

percent of population: 84% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 4.627 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 135 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 144 (2022 est.)

Agricultural products

sugarcane, rice, coconuts, maize, bananas, vegetables, tropical fruits, plantains, pineapples, cassava (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 37.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

revenues: $65.069 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $93.871 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues and expenditures (excluding grants and social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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

Debt - external

$63.241 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US 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

Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar - 57.291 (2024 est.) 55.63 (2023 est.) 54.478 (2022 est.) 49.255 (2021 est.) 49.624 (2020 est.)

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

Exports - commodities

integrated circuits, machine parts, gold, insulated wire, semiconductors (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

$461.618 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 76.1% (2024 est.) government consumption: 14.5% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.6% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 25.8% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -40.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 9.1% (2024 est.) industry: 27.7% (2024 est.) services: 63.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

39.3 (2023 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% (2023 est.) highest 10%: 31.6% (2023 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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

Imports - commodities

integrated circuits, refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, coal (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

Industrial production growth rate

5.6% (2024 est.) 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)

3.2% (2024 est.) 6% (2023 est.) 5.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

50.979 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

15.5% (2023 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

39.9% of GDP (2017 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.202 trillion (2024 est.) $1.137 trillion (2023 est.) $1.078 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

5.7% (2024 est.) 5.5% (2023 est.) 7.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$10,400 (2024 est.) $9,900 (2023 est.) $9,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

8.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 8.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 9.4% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$106.195 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

Taxes and other revenues

14.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

2.2% (2024 est.) 2.3% (2023 est.) 2.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

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.)

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.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 94.8% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 98% electrification - rural areas: 91.1%

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.)

Energy consumption per capita

17.654 million Btu/person (2023 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.)

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.)

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.)

Climate

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

Environmental issues

deforestation, especially in watershed areas; illegal mining and logging; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps; coastal erosion; dynamite fishing; wildlife extinction

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: Bohol Island (2023)

International environmental agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land: 42.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 18.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 18.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.) forest: 24.7% (2023 est.) other: 32.7% (2023 est.)

Methane emissions

energy: 230.7 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 1,662.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 452.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 39.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

25.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

479 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 9.498 billion cubic meters (2022) industrial: 13.602 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 67.937 billion cubic meters (2022)

Urbanization

urban population: 48.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 14.632 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 49.9% (2022 est.)

Area

total : 300,000 sq km land: 298,170 sq km water: 1,830 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona

Climate

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

Coastline

36,289 km

Elevation

highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m mean elevation: 442 m

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 122 00 E

Geography - note

note 1: for decades, the Philippine archipelago was reported as having 7,107 islands; in 2016, the national mapping authority reported that hundreds of new islands had been discovered and increased the number of islands to 7,641, though not all of the new islands have been verified note 2: the Philippines is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes note 3: the Philippines sits on the Pacific typhoon belt, and an average of 9 typhoons make landfall on the islands each year, with about 5 being destructive; the country is the most exposed in the world to tropical storms

Irrigated land

16,270 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 42.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 18.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 18.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.) forest: 24.7% (2023 est.) other: 32.7% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s): Laguna de Bay - 890 sq km

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

astride typhoon belt, usually affected by several cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Taal (311 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Mayon (2,462 m), the country's most active volcano, erupted in 2009 and forced over 33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo, and Ragang; see note 2 under "Geography - note"

Natural resources

timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

Population distribution

population concentrated in areas with good farmland; highest concentrations are northwest and south-central Luzon, the southeastern extension of Luzon, and the islands of the Visayan Sea, particularly Cebu and Negros; Manila is home to one eighth of the national population

Terrain

mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

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

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

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

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

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

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

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: info@phembassy-us.org 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)

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

Flag

description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a white equilateral triangle is based on the left side; the center of the triangle has a yellow sun with eight rays, each split into smaller rays; the triangle's corners each have a small five-pointed yellow star meaning: blue stands for peace and justice, red for courage, and the triangle for equality; the rays represent the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, and the stars represent the country's three parts: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao history: the design dates to 1897 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 system of civil, common, Islamic (sharia), and customary law

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 parties elected and seats per party: Lakas-CMD party (103), National Unity Party (NUP) (32), Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) 31, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) (27), Nacionalista Party (NP) (22), Liberal Party (LP) (6), others (28), independents (11) percentage of women in chamber: 28.3% 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 parties elected and seats per party: Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) (2); Nacionalista Party (NP) (3); Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) (2); Lakas- CMD party (1); Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP) (1); Liberal Party (1); Independents (2) percentage of women in chamber: 20.8% expected date of next election: May 2028

National anthem(s)

title: "Lupang Hinirang" (Chosen Land) lyrics/music: collectively/Julian FELIPE history: music adopted 1898 and lyrics adopted 1956; only sung in Tagalog

National coat of arms

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

National color(s)

red, white, blue, yellow

National heritage

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)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 June (1898) note: 12 June 1898 was the date of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was the date of independence from the US

National symbol(s)

three stars and sun, Philippine eagle

Political parties

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Military - note

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

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force Department of Transportation: Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); Department of the Interior: Philippine National Police Force (PNP) (2025) 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 and security service personnel strengths

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

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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

Military expenditures

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 service age and obligation

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

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

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.)

Birth rate

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

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 1.5% (2022) women married by age 18: 9.4% (2022)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.7% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

55.6% (2022 est.)

Death rate

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

Dependency ratios

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.)

Drinking water source

urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 92.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 94.9% of population (2022 est.) urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 7.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 5.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

3.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 15.2% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

Tagalog 26%, Bisaya/Binisaya 14.3%, Ilocano 8%, Cebuano 8%, Illonggo 7.9%, Bikol/Bicol 6.5%, Waray 3.8%, Kapampangan 3%, Maguindanao 1.9%, Pangasinan 1.9%, other local ethnicities 18.5%, foreign ethnicities 0.2% (2020 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.94 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

5.1% of GDP (2022) 9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

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

Infant mortality rate

total: 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 24.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.6 deaths/1,000 live births

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.8 years (2024 est.) male: 67.3 years female: 74.5 years

Literacy

total population: 98.5% (2020 est.) male: 98.4% (2020 est.) female: 97% (2022 est.)

Major urban areas - population

14.667 million MANILA (capital), 1.949 million Davao, 1.025 million Cebu City, 931,000 Zamboanga, 960,000 Antipolo, 803,000 Cagayan de Oro City, 803,000 Dasmarinas (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

total: 27.1 years (2025 est.) male: 25.1 years female: 26.3 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.6 years (2022 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

noun: Filipino(s) adjective: Philippine

Net migration rate

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.4% (2016)

People - note

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

Physician density

0.79 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Population

total: 118,277,063 (2024 est.) male: 59,227,092 female: 59,049,971

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

Population growth rate

0.74% (2025 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 78.8%, Muslim 6.4%, Iglesia ni Cristo 2.6%, other Christian 3.9%, other 8.2%, none/unspecified 0.1 (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 96.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 92.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 94.5% of population (2022 est.) urban: 3.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 7.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 5.5% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years (2021 est.) male: 12 years (2021 est.) female: 13 years (2021 est.)

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.)

Tobacco use

total: 19.2% (2025 est.) male: 34.4% (2025 est.) female: 3.7% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.94 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 48.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Key space-program milestones

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

Space agency/agencies

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

Space program overview

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

Terrorist group(s)

Abu Sayyaf Group; Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham East Asia (ISIS-EA) in the Philippines 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 2,342 (2024 est.) IDPs: 1,158,643 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 30 (2024 est.)

Airports

256 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

RP

Heliports

416 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 2,203 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 52, container ship 43, general cargo 955, oil tanker 207, other 946

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

Railways

total: 77 km (2017) standard gauge: 49 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 28 km (2017) 1.067-m gauge