# Philippines  Population: 105,720,644  
  
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**Background**  
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The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. A 20-year rule by Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power" movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts that prevented a return to full political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992. His administration was marked by increased stability and by progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998. He was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2") demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2004. Her presidency was marred by several corruption allegations but the Philippine economy was one of the few to avoid contraction following the 2008 global financial crisis, expanding each year of her administration. Benigno AQUINO III was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2010. The Philippine Government faces threats from several groups, some of which are on the US Government's Foreign Terrorist Organization list. Manila has waged a decades-long struggle against ethnic Moro insurgencies in the southern Philippines, which has led to a peace accord with the Moro National Liberation Front and ongoing peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The decades-long Maoist-inspired New People's Army insurgency also operates through much of the country. The Philippines faces increased tension with China over disputed territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea.  
**Geography**  
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The Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; 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  
**Location:**|  Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam  
**Geographic coordinates:**|  13 00 N, 122 00 E  
**Area:**|  total: 300,000 sq km land: 298,170 sq km water: 1,830 sq km   
  
_**Size comparison:**_ slightly larger than Arizona  
**Land Boundaries:**|  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 up to 285 nm in breadth exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: to 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 extremes:**|  lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m   
**Natural resources:**|  timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper  
**Land use:**|  arable land: 19% permanent crops: 16.67% other: 64.33% (2005)   
**Irrigated land:**|  152,500 sq km (2003)  
**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 (elev. 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 (elev. 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   
**Current Environment Issues:**|  uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; 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  
**International Environment Agreements:**|  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants   
**People**  
**Population:**|  105,720,644 (July 2013 est.)   
**Age structure:**|  0-14 years: 34% (male 18,339,398/female 17,607,472) 15-24 years: 19.1% (male 10,259,385/female 9,896,090) 25-54 years: 36.8% (male 19,550,257/female 19,369,177) 55-64 years: 5.7% (male 2,772,003/female 3,239,659) 65 years and over: 4.4% (male 2,023,118/female 2,664,085) (2013 est.) population pyramid:   
**Median age:**|  total: 23.1 years male: 22.6 years female: 23.6 years (2012 est.)   
**Population growth rate:**|  1.873% (2012 est.)   
**Birth rate:**|  24.98 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)   
**Death rate:**|  4.98 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)   
**Net migration rate:**|  -1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 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 total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)   
**Infant mortality rate:**|  total: 18.75 deaths/1,000 live births male: 21.21 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)   
**Life expectancy at birth:**|  total population: 71.94 years male: 68.99 years female: 75.03 years (2012 est.)   
**Total fertility rate:**|  3.1 children born/woman (2013 est.)   
**HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:**|  less than 0.1% (2009 est.)   
**HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:**|  8,700 (2009 est.)   
**HIV/AIDS - deaths:**|  fewer than 200 (2009 est.)   
**Nationality:**|  noun: Filipino(s) adjective: Philippine   
**Ethnic groups:**|  Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census)  
**Religions:**|  Catholic 82.9% (Roman Catholic 80.9%, Aglipayan 2%), Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)  
**Languages:**|  Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan  
**Literacy:**|  definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.6% male: 92.5% female: 92.7% (2000 census)   
**Government**  
**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:**|  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)   
**Administrative divisions:**|  80 provinces and 39 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, Compostela, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, 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 Province, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, 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, Antipolo, 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 (2012)   
**Independence:**|  12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain); 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 US  
**Constitution:**|  2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987  
**Legal system:**|  mixed legal system of civil, common, Islamic, and customary law  
**Suffrage:**|  18 years of age; universal  
**Executive branch:**|  chief of state: President Benigno AQUINO (since 30 June 2010); Vice President Jejomar BINAY (since 30 June 2010); note - president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Benigno AQUINO (since 30 June 2010) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of Commission of Appointments (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for a single six-year term; election held on 10 May 2010 (next election to be held in May 2016) election results: Benigno AQUINO elected president; percent of vote - Benigno AQUINO 42.1%, Joseph ESTRADA 26.3%, seven others 31.6%; Jejomar BINAY elected vice president; percent of vote Jejomar BINAY 41.6%, Manuel ROXAS 39.6%, six others 18.8%   
**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 Nga Kinatawan (287 seats - 230 members in one tier representing districts and 57 sectoral party-list members in a second tier representing special minorities elected on the basis of one seat for every 2% of the total vote but with each party limited to three seats); a party represented in one tier may not hold seats in the other tier; all House members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms note: the constitution limits the House of Representatives to 250 members; the number of members allowed was increased, however, through legislation when in April 2009 the Philippine Supreme Court ruled that additional party members could sit in the House of Representatives if they received the required number of votes elections: Senate - elections last held on 10 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2013); House of Representatives - elections last held on 10 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2013) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Lakas-Kampi CMD 4, LP 4, NP 4, NPC 2, PMP 2, LDP 1, PRP 1, independents 5; note - there are 23 rather than 24 sitting senators because one senator vacated his seat and was elected mayor of Manila in 2010; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LP 119, Lakas-Kampi CMD 46, NPC 30, NP 22, others 10, independents 1, party-list 55; vacant seats - 1 district and 2 party-list   
**Judicial branch:**|  Supreme Court (15 justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70 years of age); Court of Appeals; Sandigan-bayan (special court for hearing corruption cases of government officials)  
**Political parties and leaders:**|  Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA]; Lakas ng EDSA-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD [FERDINAND MARTIN ROMUALDEZ]; Liberal Party or LP [Manuel ROXAS]; Nacionalista Party or NP [Manuel VILLAR]; Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL]; People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO]; Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Force of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA]  
**Political pressure groups and leaders:**|  Black and White Movement [Vicente ROMANO]; Kilosbayan [Jovito SALONGA]  
**International organization participation:**|  ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO  
**Diplomatic representation in the US:**|  chief of mission: Ambassador Jose L. CUISIA Jr. 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, Tamuning (Guam)   
**Diplomatic representation from the US:**|  chief of mission: Ambassador Harry K. THOMAS Jr. embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000, Manila mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000 telephone: [63] (2) 301-2000 FAX: [63] (2) 301-2017   
**Economy**  
Philippine GDP growth, which cooled from 7.6% in 2010 to 3.9% in 2011, expanded to 6.6% in 2012 - meeting the government's targeted 6%-7% growth range. The 2012 expansion partly reflected a rebound from depressed 2011 export and public sector spending levels. The economy has weathered global economic and financial downturns better than its regional peers due to minimal exposure to troubled international securities, lower dependence on exports, relatively resilient domestic consumption, large remittances from four- to five-million overseas Filipino workers, and a rapidly expanding business process outsourcing industry. The current accourt balance had recorded consecutive surpluses since 2003; international reserves are at record highs; the banking system is stable; and the stock market was Asia's second best-performer in 2012. Efforts to improve tax administration and expenditure management have helped ease tha Philippines' tight fiscal situation and reeduce high debt levels. The Philippines received several credit rating upgrades on its sovereign debt in 2012, and has had little difficulty tapping domestic and international markets to finance its deficits. Achieving a higher growth path nevertheless remains a pressing challenge. Economic growth in the Philippines averaged 4.5% during the MACAPAGAL-ARROYO administration but poverty worsened during her term. Growth has accelerated under the AQUINO government, but with limited progress thus far in bringing down unemployment and improving the quality of jobs. Underemployment is nearly 20% and more than 40% of the employed are working to boost the budgets for education, health, cash tranfers to the poor, and other social spending programs, and is relying on the private sector to help fund major infrastructure projects under its Public-Private Partnership program. Long term challenges include reforming governance and the judicial system, building infrastructure, improving regulatory predictability, and the ease of doing business, attracting higher levels of local and foreign investments. The Philippine Constitution and the other laws continue to restrict foreign ownership in important activities/sectors (such as land ownership and public utilities).  
**GDP (purchasing power parity):**|  GDP (purchasing power parity): $423.7 billion (2012 est.) $397.5 billion (2011 est.) $382.5 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars   
**GDP (official exchange rate):**|  GDP (official exchange rate): $250.3 billion (2012 est.)  
**GDP - real growth rate:**|  6.6% (2012 est.) 3.9% (2011 est.) 7.6% (2010 est.)   
**GDP - per capita (PPP):**|  GDP - per capita (PPP): $4,300 (2012 est.) $4,100 (2011 est.) $4,100 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars   
**GDP - composition by sector:**|  agriculture: 11.9% industry: 31.1% services: 57% (2012 est.)   
**Labor force:**|  40.36 million (2012 est.)   
**Labor force - by occupation:**|  agriculture: 32% industry: 15% services: 53% (2012 est.)   
**Unemployment rate:**|  7% (2012 est.) 7% (2011 est.)   
**Population below poverty line:**|  26.5% (2009 est.)  
**Household income or consumption by percentage share:**|  lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 33.6% (2009 est.)   
**Distribution of family income - Gini index:**|  44.8 (2009) 46.6 (2003)   
**Inflation rate (consumer prices):**|  Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.2% (2012 est.) 4.8% (2011 est.)   
**Investment (gross fixed):**|  Investment (gross fixed): 19.6% of GDP (2012 est.)   
**Budget:**|  revenues: $35.96 billion expenditures: $41.53 billion (2012 est.)   
**Public debt:**|  51% of GDP (2012 est.) 50.9% of GDP (2011 est.) note: data cover debt issued by the national government, and excludes debt instruments issued by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by social security institutions, government-owned and controlled corporations, the Central Bank, and local government units   
**Agriculture - products:**|  sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish  
**Industries:**|  electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, petroleum refining, fishing  
**Industrial production growth rate:**|  1.1% (2011 est.)   
**Electricity - production:**|  67.74 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42   
**Electricity - consumption:**|  64.52 billion kWh (2010 est.)   
**Electricity - exports:**|  0 kWh (2010 est.)   
**Electricity - imports:**|  0 kWh (2010 est.)   
**Natural gas - production:**|  3.91 billion cu m (2012 est.)   
**Natural gas - consumption:**|  2.86 billion cu m (2010)   
**Natural gas - exports:**|  0 cu m (2010)   
**Natural gas - imports:**|  0 cu m (2010)   
**Natural gas - proved reserves:**|  98.54 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)   
**Current account balance:**|  $9.65 billion (2012 est.) $6.988 billion (2011 est.)   
**Exports:**|  $50.96 billion (2012 est.) $47.49 billion (2011 est.)   
**Exports - commodities:**|  semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits  
**Exports - partners:**|  Japan 19%, US 14.2%, China 11.8%, Hong Kong 9.4%, Singapore 9.2%, South Korea 5.5% (2012)  
**Imports:**|  $65 billion (2012 est.) $63.01 billion (2011 est.)   
**Imports - commodities:**|  electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals, plastic  
**Imports - partners:**|  US 11.5%, China 10.8%, Japan 10.4%, Taiwan 7.8%, South Korea 7.3%, Singapore 7.1%, Thailand 5.6%, Indonesia 4.4%, Malaysia 3.9% (2012)  
**Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:**|  $83.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $75.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.)   
**Debt - external:**|  $61.72 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $60.44 billion (31 December 2011 est.)   
**Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:**|  $29.53 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $28.23 billion (31 December 2011 est.)   
**Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:**|  $8 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $7.11 billion (31 December 2011 est.)   
**Market value of publicly traded shares:**|  $266.3 billion (31 December 2012) $198.4 billion (31 December 2011) $202.2 billion (31 December 2010)   
**Exchange rates:**|  Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar - 42.23 (2012 est.) 43.313 (2011 est.) 45.11 (2010 est.) 47.68 (2009) 44.439 (2008)   
**Fiscal year:**|  calendar year  
**Communications**  
**Telephones in use:**|  3.556 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 46   
**Cellular Phones in use:**|  94.19 million (2011)   
**Telephone system:**|  general assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate domestic: telecommunications infrastructure includes the following platforms: fixed-line, mobile cellular, cable TV, over-the-air TV, radio and Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), fiber-optic cable, and satellite; mobile-cellular communications now dominate the industry international: country code - 63; a series of submarine cables together provide connectivity to Asia, US, the Middle East, and Europe; multiple international gateways (2011)   
**Radio broadcast stations:**  
**Television broadcast stations:**  
**Internet country code:**|  .ph  
**Internet hosts:**|  425,812 (2012)   
**Internet users:**|  8.278 million (2009)   
**Transportation**  
**Airports:**|  247 (2012) country comparison to the world: 25   
**Airports (paved runways):**|  total: 83 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 9 (2012)   
**Airports (unpaved runways):**|  total: 164 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 60 under 914 m: 101 (2012)   
**Heliports:**|  2 (2012)  
**Pipelines:**|  gas 7 km; oil 107 km; refined products 181 km (2010)  
**Railways:**|  total: 995 km narrow gauge: 995 km 1.067-m gauge (484 km are in operation) (2010)   
**Roadways:**|  total: 213,151 km paved: 54,481 km unpaved: 158,670 km (2009)   
**Waterways:**|  3,219 km (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m) (2011)   
**Merchant marine:**|  total: 446 by type: bulk carrier 76, cargo 152, carrier 12, chemical tanker 27, container 17, liquefied gas 5, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 65, petroleum tanker 44, refrigerated cargo 20, roll on/roll off 11, vehicle carrier 10 foreign-owned: 159 (Bermuda 47, China 4, Denmark 2, Germany 2, Greece 5, Japan 77, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 17, Singapore 1, South Korea 1, Taiwan 1, UAE 1) registered in other countries: 7 (Cyprus 1, Panama 5, unknown 1) (2010)   
**Ports and terminals:**|  Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Liman, Manila  
**Military**  
**Military branches:**|  Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2011)  
**Military service age and obligation:**|  18-23 years of age (officers 20-24) for voluntary military service; applicants must be single male or female Philippine citizens with either 72 college credit hours (enlisted) or a baccalaureate degree (officers) (2012)  
**Manpower available for military service:**|  males age 16-49: 25,614,135 females age 16-49: 25,035,061 (2010 est.)   
**Manpower fit for military service:**|  males age 16-49: 20,142,940 females age 16-49: 21,427,792 (2010 est.)