Map of Philippines | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background: The Philippines were ceded by Spain to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. They attained their independence in 1946 after being occupied by the Japanese in World War II. The 21-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986 when a widespread popular rebellion forced him into exile. In 1992 the US closed down its last military bases on the islands. The Philippines has had two electoral presidential transitions since Marcos' removal by 'people power.'


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Location: Southeastern Asia, between Indonesia and China

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total area total: 300,000 km²
Land: 298,170 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 36,289 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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

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

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Elevation

Natural resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

Land use
Arable land: 26%
Permanent crops: 11%
Meadows and pastures: 4%
Forest and woodland: 40%
Other: 19%

Irrigated land: 16,200 km² (1989 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; subject to landslides, active volcanoes, destructive earthquakes, tsunamis

Geography


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Population: 69,808,930 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 1.92% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Filipino(s)

Ethnic groups: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%

Languages: Pilipino (official; based on Tagalog), English (official)

Religions: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 1.92% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 27.34 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 6.94 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.18 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; air pollution in Manila

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 50.8 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 65.39 years
Male: 62.88 years
Female: 68.02 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.35 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Total population: 90%
Male: 90%
Female: 90%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
Conventional short form:

Government type: republic

Capital: Manila

Administrative divisions: 72 provinces and 61 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu, Cebu City*, Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City* Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General Santos*, Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao, La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*, Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*, Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur

Dependent areas

Independence: 4 July 1946 (from US)

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from Spain)

Constitution: 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state and head of government:President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992; Vice President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992; election last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1998; results - Fidel Valdes RAMOS won 23.6% of votes, a narrow plurality

Legislative branch: Army, Navy (including Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force
Senate Senado: elections last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1995); results - LDP 66%, NPC 20%, Lakas-NUCD 8%, Liberal 6%; seats - (24 total) LDP 15, NPC 5, Lakas-NUCD 2, Liberal 1, Independent 1
House of Representatives Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan: elections last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1995); results - LDP 43.5%; Lakas-NUCD 25%, NPC 23.5%, Liberal 5%, KBL 3%; seats - (200 total) LDP 87, NPC 45, Lakas-NUCD 41, Liberal 15, NP 6, KBL 3, Independent 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador John D. NEGROPONTE
From the us chancery: 1617 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,036
From the us telephone: [632] 521-7,116
From the us fax: (202) 328-7,614
From the us consulates general: Cebu
From the us consulates: San Diego and San Jose (Saipan)
From the us embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000
From the us mailing address: APO AP 96,440
From the us FAX: [632] 522-4,361

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing three individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Domestic output in this primarily agricultural economy failed to grow in 1992 and rose only slightly in 1993. Drought and power supply problems hampered production, while inadequate revenues prevented government pump priming. Worker remittances helped to supplement GDP. A marked increase in capital goods imports, particularly power generating equipment, telecommunications equipment, and electronic data processors, contributed to 20% import growth in both 1992 and 1993.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 1.4% (1993 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $2,500 (1993 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: accounts for about 20% of GDP and about 45% of labor force; major crops - rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangos; animal products - pork, eggs, beef; net exporter of farm products; fish catch of 2 million metric tons annually

Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: -1% (1992 est.), accounts for 34% of GDP

Labor force: 24.12 million
By occupation agriculture: 46%
By occupation industry and commerce: 16%
By occupation services: 18.5%
By occupation government: 10%
By occupation other: 9.5% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 9.2% (1993)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues:$11.5 billion

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $11.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodities: electronics, textiles, coconut products, cooper, fish
Partners: US 39%, Japan 18%, Germany 5%, UK 5%, Hong Kong 5% (1992)

Imports: $17.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodities: raw materials 40%, capital goods 25%, petroleum products 10%
Partners: Japan 21%, US 18%, Taiwan 7%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Hong Kong 5%, South Korea 5% (1992)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $34.1 billion (September 1993)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 27.725 (January 1994), 22.120 (1993), 25.512 (1992), 27.479 (1991), 24.311 (1990), 21.737 (1989)


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Electricity
Capacity: 7,850,000 kW
Production: 28 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 420 kWh (1992)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: exchange rate conversion - $731 million, 1.4% of GNP (1992)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 270
Usable: 238
With permanentsurface runways: 74
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 9
With runways 1220-2439 m: 57

Heliports

Pipelines: petroleum products 357 km

Railways

Roadways

Waterways: 3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels

Merchant marine: 553 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,451,047 GRT/13,934,255 DWT, bulk 241, cargo 145, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 8, liquefied gas 3, livestock carrier 9, oil tanker 33, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 13, refrigerated cargo 27, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, short-sea passenger 12, vehicle carrier 35
Note: many Philippine flag ships are foreign owned and are on the register for the purpose of long-term bare-boat charter back to their original owners who are principally in Japan and Germany

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claims Malaysian state of Sabah

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; growers are producing more and better quality cannabis despite government eradication efforts; transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for the US