Philippines
Top Sights & Landmarks
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.
Location
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Area
Elevation
Detailed Geography Information
Coastline
36,289 km
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
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Laguna de Bay - 890 sq 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
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
Terrain
mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Population & Growth
Age Distribution
Demographic Longevity
Vital Dynamics
Detailed People & Society Information
Alcohol consumption per capita
4.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
16.7% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
55.6% (2022 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 48 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 39.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 8.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 11.6 (2025 est.)
Education expenditure
3.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 15.2% national budget (2025 est.)
Ethnic groups
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
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.)
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
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 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
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Religions
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.)
Climate & Issues
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Land Cover
Air & Carbon Emissions
Water Resources & Use
Detailed Environmental Information
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: Bohol Island (2023)
International environmental agreements
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.)
Capital & State Profile
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
National Identity & Symbols
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
Detailed Government Information
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
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew from the ICCt in March 2019
International organization participation
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
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)
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
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
Size & Performance
GDP Sector Breakdown
Trade Balance
Budget Balance
Export Profile
Top Export Partners
Major Export Commodities
Labor & Employment
Income Inequality
Family Income / Consumption Share
Detailed Economic Data
Agricultural products
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
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.)
GDP - composition, by end use
Industrial production growth rate
5.6% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.2% (2024 est.) 6% (2023 est.) 5.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Public debt
39.9% of GDP (2017 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
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
Grid Infrastructure
Generation Mix
Fossil Fuels Production
Intensity & Nuclear
Digital Access
Active internet users as a percentage of the total population.
Fixed Broadband
Mobile Cellular
Broadcast Media
Aviation
Railways
Ports & Harbors
Merchant Marine
Military Expenditures
Active Duty Strengths
approximately 145,000 active Armed Forces (105,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, including about 8,000 Marine Corps; 15,000 Air Force) (2025)
Service & Defense Details
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
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)
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)
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
Space Agency
Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA; established 2019) (2025)