Map of Philippines | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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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. 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 WWII and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Philippines attained their independence. The 21-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986 when a widespread popular rebellion forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts which prevented a return to full political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992 and his administration was marked by greater stability and progress on economic reforms. In 1992 the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998 but was succeeded by his vice-president Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO in January 2001 after Estrada's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and widespread demonstrations led to his ouster. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term in May 2004. The Philippine Government faces threats from armed communist insurgencies and from Muslim separtists 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
Land: 298,170 km²
Water: 1,830 km²
Comparative: 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
Extremes highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m

Natural resources: timber petroleum nickel cobalt silver gold salt copper

Land use
Arable land: 18.95%
Permanent crops: 16.77%
Other: 64.28% (2001)

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: 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


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Population: 86,241,697 (July 2004 est.)
Growth rate: 1.88% (2004 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: 35.8% (male 15,758,255; female 15,152,291)
15-64 years: 60.2% (male 25,847,345; female 26,096,211)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 1,473,873; female 1,913,722) (2004 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 22.1 years
Male: 21.6 years
Female: 22.6 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.88% (2004 est.)

Birth rate: 25.8 births/1000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate: 5.53 deaths/1000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.5 migrant(s)/1000 population (2004 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current 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 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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

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 (2004 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 24.24 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 27.11 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 21.22 deaths/1000 live births (2004 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 69.6 years
Male: 66.74 years
Female: 72.61 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.22 children born/woman (2004 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% (2003 est.)
People living with hivaids: 9,000 (2003 est.)
Deaths: less than 500 (2003 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: 92.6%
Male: 92.5%
Female: 92.7% (2002)

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 long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
Local short form: Pilipinas

Government type: republic

Capital: Manila

Administrative divisions:

Dependent areas

Independence: 12 June 1898 (from Spain)

National holiday
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: 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); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (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 (Manuel 'Noli' DE CASTRO) elected on separate tickets by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2010)
Election results: results of the election - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected president; percent of vote - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 40%, Fernando POE 37%, three others 23%

Legislative branch
Elections: Senate - last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2007); House of Representatives - elections last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2007)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - Lakas 30%, LP 13%, KNP 13%, independents 17%, others 27%; seats by party - Lakas 7, LP 3, KNP 3, independents 4, others 6; note - there are 23 rather than 24 sitting senators because one senator was elected Vice President; 14 senators are pro-government, 9 are in opposition; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Lakas 93, NPC 53, LP 34, LDP 11, others 20; party-listers 24; note - there are 211 rather than 212 sitting representatives because one was appointed Secretary of Tourism (2004)

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 president]; Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union of Christian Democrats) or Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA president; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO chairperson]; Liberal Party or LP [Franklin DRILON president; Jose ATIENZA JR. chairman]; National People's Coalition or NPC [Eduardo COJUANGCO chairman emeritus; Frisco SAN JUAN president]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL president]; Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Party of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA president; Juan Ponce ENRILE chairman]; Aksyon Demokratiko Party [Raul ROCO president]; Reporma [Renato DE VILLA chairman]; PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA president]; Nacionalista [Manuel VILLAR president]; People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO president}

International organization participation: APEC ARF AsDB ASEAN BIS CP 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 MIGA MINUSTAH NAM OAS (observer) ONUB OPCW UN UN Security Council (temporary) UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNMIK UNMIL UNMISET UNOCI UPU WCL WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Albert DEL ROSARIO
In the us chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 467-9,300
In the us fax: [1] (202) 328-7,614
In the us consulates general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, San Jose (Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)
In the us consulates: honorary consuls in Ft. Lauderdale and Houston
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) 523-6,300
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: The Philippines was less severely affected by the Asian financial crisis of 1998 than its neighbors aided in part by annual remittances of $6-7 billion from overseas workers. From a 0.6% decline in 1998 GDP expanded by 2.4% in 1999 and 4.4% in 2000 but slowed to 3.2% in 2001 in the context of a global economic slowdown an export slump and political and security concerns. GDP growth accelerated to 4.4% in 2002 and 4.2% in 2003 reflecting the continued resilience of the service sector gains in industrial output and improved exports. Nonetheless it will take a higher sustained growth path to make appreciable progress in poverty alleviation given the Philippines' high annual population growth rate and unequal distribution of income. The MACAPAGAL-ARROYO Administration has promised to continue economic reforms to help the Philippines match the pace of development in the newly industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes improving the infrastructure strengthening tax collection to bolster government revenues furthering deregulation and privatization of the economy enhancing the viability of the financial system and increasing trade integration with the region. Prospects for 2004 will depend on the economic performance of two major trading partners the US and Japan and on increased confidence on the part of the international investment community.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 4.5% (2003 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2003 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 14.5%
Industry: 32.3%
Services: 53.2% (2003 est.)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate: -0.1% (2003 est.)

Labor force: 34.56 million (2003)
By occupation agriculture: 45%
By occupation industry: 15%
By occupation services: 40% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate: 11.4% (2003)

Youth unemployment

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

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1.7%
Highest 10: 38.4% (2000)

Distribution of family income gini index: 48.1 (2000)

Budget
Revenues: $11.56 billion
Expenditures: $15.25 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.4 million NA (2003)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt: 77% of GDP (2003)

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.1% (2003 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: $3.349 billion (2003)

Exports: $34.56 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Commodities: electronic equipment machinery and transport equipment garments coconut products chemicals
Partners: US 20.1% Japan 15.9% Hong Kong 8.5% Netherlands 8.1% Taiwan 6.9% Malaysia 6.8% Singapore 6.7% China 5.9% (2003)

Imports: $35.97 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Commodities: raw materials machinery and equipment fuels chemicals
Partners: Japan 20.4% US 19.8% Singapore 6.8% South Korea 6.4% Taiwan 5% China 4.8% Hong Kong 4.3% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $57.96 billion (2003)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Philippine pesos per US dollar - 54.2033 (2003) 51.6036 (2002) 50.9926 (2001) 44.1922 (2000) 39.089 (1999)


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Electricity
Production: 45.21 billion kWh (2001)
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 (1 January 2002)

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 3,310,900 (2002)
Mobile cellular: 15.201 million (2002)

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: country code - 63; 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
Hosts: 38,440 (2002)
Users: 3.5 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: 253 (2003 est.)
With paved runways total: 82
With paved runways over 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 26
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 35
With paved runways under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 173
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 68
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 100 (2004 est.)

Heliports: 2 (2003 est.)

Pipelines: gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 100 km (2004)

Railways
Total: 897 km
Narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in operation) (2003)

Roadways

Waterways
Note: limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m (2004)

Merchant marine
Total: 385 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,524,259 GRT/6,437,171 DWT
By type: bulk 99, cargo 103, chemical tanker 7, combination bulk 7, container 8, liquefied gas 9, livestock carrier 10, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 45, refrigerated cargo 21, roll on/roll off 16, short-sea/passenger 26, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 19
Foreign owned: Australia 2, Canada 1, Germany 2, Greece 11, Hong Kong 15, Japan 50, Malaysia 5, Netherlands 15, Norway 6, Panama 1, United Kingdom 2, United States 4
Registered in other countries: 87 (2004 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: involved in complex dispute with China Malaysia Taiwan Vietnam and possibly Brunei over the Spratly Islands known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands the 2002 'Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea' has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding 'code of conduct' desired by several of the disputants; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Idps: 150,000 (fighting between government troops and MILF and Abu Sayyaf groups) (2004)

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; domestic methamphetamine production is a growing problem; remains on Financial Action Task Force Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for continued failure to address deficiencies in money-laundering control regime