Map of Philippines | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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Background: The Philippines were ceded by Spain to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. They attained independence in 1946 after Japanese occupation 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 its last military bases on the islands. The Philippines has had two electoral presidential transitions since the removal of MARCOS. In January 2001 the Supreme Court declared Joseph ESTRADA unable to rule in view of mass resignations from his government and administered the oath of office to Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO as his constitutional successor. The government continues to struggle with Muslim insurgencies in the south.


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

Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N 122 00 E

Map reference: Southeast Asia

Area
Total: 300,000 km²
Water: 1,830 km²
Land: 298,170 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Arizona

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 36,289 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
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

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
Extremes highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m

Natural resources: timber petroleum nickel cobalt silver gold salt copper

Land use
Arable land: 18.45%
Permanent crops: 14.76%
Other: 66.79% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 15,500 km² (1998 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; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis

Geography
Note: 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


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Population: 84,619,974 (July 2003 est.)
Growth rate: 1.92% (2003 est.)
Below poverty line: 40% (2001 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Filipino
Adjective: Philippine

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

Languages: two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight major dialects - Tagalog Cebuano Ilocan Hiligaynon or Ilonggo Bicol Waray Pampango and Pangasinense

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

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 36.2% (male 15,625,480; female 15,028,498)
15-64 years: 59.9% (male 25,206,467; female 25,485,482)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 1,427,238; female 1,846,809) (2003 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 21.8 years
Male: 21.3 years
Female: 22.4 years (2002)

Population growth rate: 1.92% (2003 est.)

Birth rate: 26.3 births/1000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate: 5.6 deaths/1000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.5 migrant(s)/1000 population (2003 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male/female
Total population: 1 male/female (2003 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 24.98 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 21.91 deaths/1000 live births (2003 est.)
Male: 27.9 deaths/1000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 69.29 years
Male: 66.44 years
Female: 72.28 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.29 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
People living with hivaids: 9,400 (2001 est.)
Deaths: 720 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 95.9%
Male: 96%
Female: 95.8% (2003 est.)

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: Philippines
Local short form: Pilipinas
Local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas

Government type: republic

Capital: Manila

Administrative divisions: 73 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 del Norte 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 Tawi-Tawi Toledo* Trece Martires* Zambales Zamboanga* Zamboanga del Norte Zamboanga del Sur

Dependent areas

Independence: 12 June 1898 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day (from Spain) 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 is the date of independence from Spain 4 July 1946 is the date of independence from the US

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: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Teofisto GUINGONA (since 20 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Teofisto GUINGONA (since 20 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments
Elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 16 May 2004)
Election results: results of the last presidential election - Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA elected president; percent of vote - approximately 40%; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president; percent of vote - 55%; note - on 20 January 2001, Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was sworn in as the constitutional successor to President Joseph ESTRADA after the Supreme Court declared that ESTRADA was unable to rule in view of the mass resignations from his government; according to the Constitution, only in cases of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the president, can the vice president serve for the unexpired term

Legislative branch
Elections: Senate - last held 14 May 2001 (next to be held 16 May 2004); House of Representatives - elections last held 14 May 2001 (next to be held 16 May 2004)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Lakas 13, PDP-Laban/LDP 11; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Lakas 86, NPC 51, LDP 21, LP 20, independents 10, other 26

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70 years of age)

Political parties and leaders: Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA president Agapito AQUINO secretary general]; Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union of Christian Democrats) or Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA president]; Liberal Party or LP [Florencio ABAD president; Franklin DRILON chairman]; National People's Coalition or NPC [Eduardo COJUANGCO chairman emeritus; Frisco SAN JUAN president; Faustino DY chairman]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL chairman; Jejomar BINAY president]; PMP [Horacio MORALES president]; Aksyon Demokratiko Party [Raul ROCO president]; Reporma [Renato DE VILLA chairman]; PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA president]

International organization participation: APEC ARF AsDB ASEAN CP ESCAP FAO G-24 G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICCt (signatory) ICFTU ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM ISO ITU NAM OAS (observer) OPCW UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNMISET UNU UPU WCL WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Albert DEL ROSARIO
In the us consulates: San Diego
In the us consulates general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, San Jose (Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)
In the us fax: [1] (202) 328-7,614
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 467-9,300
In the us chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,036
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Francis J. RICCIARDONE
From the us embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila
From the us mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96,515-1000
From the us telephone: [63] (2) 523-1001
From the us fax: [63] (2) 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: In 1998 the Philippine economy - a mixture of agriculture light industry and supporting services - deteriorated as a result of spillover from the Asian financial crisis and poor weather conditions. Growth fell to 0.6% in 1998 from 5% in 1997 but recovered to about 3.3% in 1999 4.5% in 2000 and 4.5% in 2001. In 2002 the Philippines recorded GDP growth of 4.4% but also incurred a record budget deficit. As a result the Philippines is burdened with a public sector debt equal to more than 100% of GDP. Growth eased to 3.8% in 2003. The government has promised economic reforms including going forward with privatization reforming the tax system and promoting additional trade integration within its region. Considerable drive is required to update the educational system and the road network.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 4.4% (2002 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2002 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 15%
Industry: 31%
Services: 54% (2001 est.)

Agriculture products: rice coconuts corn sugarcane bananas pineapples mangoes; pork eggs beef; fish

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

Industrial production growth rate: 4% (2000 est.)

Labor force: 33.7 million (2002)
By occupation agriculture: 45%
By occupation industry: 15%
By occupation services: 40% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate: 10.2% (2002)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 40% (2001 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1.5%
Highest 10: 39.3% (1998)

Distribution of family income gini index: 46.2 (1997)

Budget
Revenues: $10.9 billion
Expenditures: $15 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.1% (2002 est.)

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: $35.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Commodities: electronic equipment machinery and transport equipment garments coconut products chemicals
Partners: US 26.2% Japan 14.9% China 7.4% Taiwan 5.8% Singapore 5.7% Hong Kong 5.3% Malaysia 5.3% Netherlands 5% Germany 4.6% South Korea 4.3% (2002)

Imports: $33.5 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Commodities: raw materials machinery and equipment fuels chemicals
Partners: Japan 21.6% US 18.6% Singapore 7.8% South Korea 7.5% China 5.2% Hong Kong 4.5% Taiwan 4.1% (2002)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $60.3 billion (2002)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Philippine pesos per US dollar - 51.67 (2002) 50.99 (2001) 44.19 (2000) 39.09 (1999) 40.89 (1998)


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Electricity
Production: 45.21 billion kWh (2001)
Production by source fossil fuel: 55.6%
Production by source hydro: 17.5%
Production by source other: 26.9% (2001)
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Consumption: 42.04 billion kWh (2001)
Exports: 0 kWh (2001)
Imports: 0 kWh (2001)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 10 million m³ (2001 est.)
Consumption: 10 million m³ (2001 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2001 est.)
Imports: 0 m³ (2001 est.)
Proven reserves: 104.6 billion m³ (37,257)

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 6.98 million (2001)
Mobile cellular: 11.35 million (2001)

Telephone system
General assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and inter-island service adequate
Domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations
International: 9 international gateways; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan

Broadcast media

Internet
Country code: .ph
Service providers isps: 33 (2000)
Users: 4.5 million (2002)

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $995 million (FY98)
Percent of gdp: 1.5% (FY98)

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: 257 (2002)
With paved runways total: 82
With paved runways over 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 5
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 34
With paved runways under 914 m: 13 (2002)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 26
With unpaved runways total: 175
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 71
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 99 (2002)

Heliports: 2 (2002)

Pipelines: gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 100 km (2003)

Railways
Total: 897 km
Narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (405 km are not in operation) (2002)

Roadways

Waterways
Note: limited to vessels with a draft of less than 1.5 m

Merchant marine
Total: 393 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,664,718 GRT/6,699,666 DWT
Note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 2, Canada 1, Germany 3, Greece 8, Hong Kong 13, Japan 47, Malaysia 19, Netherlands 14, Norway 8, Panama 3, Singapore 12, South Korea 1, Taiwan 2, UK 7 (2002 est.)
Ships by type: bulk 111, cargo 105, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 8, container 8, liquefied gas 8, livestock carrier 9, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 42, refrigerated cargo 21, roll on/roll off 16, short-sea passenger 27, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 18

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: involved in complex dispute over Spratly Islands with China Malaysia Taiwan Vietnam and possibly Brunei; claimants in November 2002 signed the 'Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea' a mechanism to ease tension but which fell short of a legally binding 'code of conduct'; Sultanate of Sulu granted Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue its sovereignty claim over Malaysia's Sabah State but Malaysia rejects claim

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: exports locally-produced marijuana and hashish to East Asia the US and other Western markets; serves as a transit point for heroin and crystal methamphetamine