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 20-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 separatists 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: 19%
Permanent crops: 16.67%
Other: 64.33% (2005)

Irrigated land: 15,500 km² (2003)

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: 89,468,677 (July 2006 est.)
Growth rate: 1.8% (2006 est.)
Below poverty line: 40% (2001 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Filipino
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)

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

Religions: Roman Catholic 80.9% Evangelical 2.8% Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3% Aglipayan 2% other Christian 4.5% Muslim 5% other 1.8% unspecified 0.6% none 0.1% (2000 census)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 35% (male 15,961,365/female 15,340,065)
15-64 years: 61% (male 27,173,919/female 27,362,736)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,576,089/female 2,054,503) (2006 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 22.5 years
Male: 22 years
Female: 23 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.8% (2006 est.)

Birth rate: 24.89 births/1000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate: 5.41 deaths/1000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.48 migrant(s)/1000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 22.81 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 25.59 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 19.89 deaths/1000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.21 years
Male: 67.32 years
Female: 73.24 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.11 children born/woman (2006 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
Degree of risk: high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations
Animal contact disease: rabies (2005)

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
Name: Manila
Geographic coordinates: 14 35 N, 121 00 E
Time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions
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, 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: Alaminos, Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago, Baguio, Bais, Balanga, Batangas, Bayawan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabanatuan, Cadiz, Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan, Calbayog, Candon, Canlaon, Cauayan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Danao, Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Escalante, Gapan, General Santos, Gingoog, Himamaylan, Iligan, Iloilo, Isabela, Iriga, Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal, La Carlota, Laoag, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao, Lipa, Lucena, Maasin, Makati, Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marawi, Markina, Masbate, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga, Olongapo, Ormoc, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Pagadian, Palayan, Panabo, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Passi, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, Roxas, Sagay, Samal, San Carlos (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos (in Pangasinan), San Fernando (in La Union), San Fernando (in Pampanga), San Jose, San Jose del Monte, San Pablo, Santa Rosa, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay, Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tacloban, Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran, Taguig, Tagum, Talisay (in Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Oriental), Tanauan, Tangub, Tanjay, Tarlac, Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires, Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga

Dependent areas

Independence: 12 June 1898 (from Spain)

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: 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 - president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001); note - president is both chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of Commission of Appointments
Elections: president and vice president (Manuel 'Noli' DE CASTRO) elected on separate tickets by popular vote for a single six-year term; 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 (coalition) 3, independents 4, others 6; note - there are 23 rather than 24 sitting senators because one senator was elected vice president; 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 (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: Kabalikat Ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) [Ronaldo PUNO]; Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA]; Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union of Christian Democrats) or Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA]; Liberal Party or LP [Franklin DRILON/Eli QUINTO]; Nacionalista [Manuel VILLAR]; National People's Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL]; People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO]; PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA]; Pwersa Ng Masang Pilipino (Party of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA]; Reporma [Renato DE VILLA]

International organization participation: APEC APT ARF AsDB ASEAN BIS CP EAS FAO G-24 G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICCt (signatory) ICFTU ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITU MIGA MINUSTAH NAM OAS (observer) ONUB OPCW PIF (partner) UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNMIL UNMIS UNOCI UPU WCL WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Willy C. GAA
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)
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney
From the us embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000, Manila
From the us mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96,515-1000
From the us telephone: [63] (2) 528-6,300
From the us fax: [63] (2) 522-4,361

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top; representing peace and justice) and red (representing courage); a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side represents equality; the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays each representing one of the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain; each corner of the triangle contains a small yellow five-pointed star representing the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon Visayas and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897; in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at the top

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 its high level of annual remittances from overseas workers and no sustained runup in asset prices or foreign borrowing prior to the crisis. 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 about 5% between 2002 and 2005 reflecting the continued resilience of the service sector and improved exports and agricultural output. Nonetheless it will take a higher sustained growth path to make appreciable progress in the alleviation of poverty given the Philippines' high annual population growth rate and unequal distribution of income. The Philippines also faces higher oil prices higher interest rates on its dollar borrowings and higher inflation. Fiscal constraints limit Manila's ability to finance infrastructure and social spending. The Philippines' consistently large budget deficit has produced a high debt level and this situation has forced Manila to spend a large portion of the national government budget on debt service. Large unprofitable public enterprises especially in the energy sector contribute to the government's debt because of slow progress on privatization. Credit rating agencies have at times expressed concern about the Philippines' ability to service the debt though central bank reserves appear adequate and large remittance inflows appear stable. The implementation of the expanded Value Added Tax (VAT) in November 2005 boosted confidence in the government's fiscal capacity and helped to strengthen the peso which gained 5.7 percent year-on-year making it East Asia's best performing currency in 2005. Investors and credit rating institutions will continue to look for effective implementation of the new VAT and continued improvement in the government's overall fiscal capacity in the coming year.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $412.5 billion (2005 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 4.8% (2005 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $4,700 (2005 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 14.4%
Industry: 32.6%
Services: 53% (2005 est.)

Agriculture products

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

Industrial production growth rate: 2.2% (2005 est.)

Labor force: 36.73 million (2005 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 36%
By occupation industry: 16%
By occupation services: 48% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate: 8.7% (2005 est.)

Youth unemployment

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

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.3%
Highest 10: 31.9% (2003)

Distribution of family income gini index: 46.6 (2003)

Budget
Revenues: $12.38 billion

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 7.6% (2005 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: $2.354 billion (2005 est.)

Exports: $41.25 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Commodities: electronic equipment machinery and transport equipment garments optical instruments coconut products fruits and nuts copper products chemicals
Partners: US 18% Japan 17.5% China 9.9% Netherlands 9.8% Hong Kong 8.1% Singapore 6.6% Malaysia 6% Taiwan 4.6% (2005)

Imports: $42.66 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Commodities: raw materials machinery and equipment fuels vehicles and vehicle parts plastic chemicals grains
Partners: US 19.2% Japan 17% Singapore 7.9% Taiwan 7.5% China 6.3% South Korea 4.8% Saudi Arabia 4.6% Hong Kong 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $18.5 billion (2005 est.)

Debt external: $65.71 billion (2005 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Philippine pesos per US dollar - 55.086 (2005) 56.04 (2004) 54.203 (2003) 51.604 (2002) 50.993 (2001)


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Electricity
Production: 47.82 billion kWh (2003)
Consumption: 44.48 billion kWh (2003)
Exports: 0 kWh (2003)
Imports: 0 kWh (2003)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 2.3 billion m³ (2003 est.)
Consumption: 2.3 billion m³ (2003 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2004 est.)
Imports: 0 m³ (2004 est.)
Proven reserves: 106.8 billion m³ (1 January 2004)

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 3,437,500 (2004)
Mobile cellular: 32.81 million (2005)

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: 111,262 (2006)
Users: 7.82 million (2005)

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: 0.9% (2005 est.)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 256 (2006)
With paved runways total: 83
With paved runways over 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 7
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 26
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 36
With paved runways under 914 m: 10 (2006)
With unpaved runways total: 173
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 69
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 99 (2006)

Heliports: 2 (2006)

Pipelines: gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 105 km (2006)

Railways
Total: 897 km
Narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in operation) (2005)

Roadways
Total: 200,037 km
Paved: 19,804 km
Unpaved: 180,233 km (2003)

Waterways: 3,219 km (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m) (2005)

Merchant marine
Total: 403 ships (1000 GRT or over) 4,661,285 GRT/6,426,183 DWT
By type: bulk carrier 82, cargo 115, chemical tanker 13, container 6, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 17, passenger 9, passenger/cargo 73, petroleum tanker 42, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 13, vehicle carrier 13
Foreign owned: 66 (Greece 5, Hong Kong 3, Japan 26, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 19, Norway 3, UAE 1, US 8)
Registered in other countries: 41 (Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Cambodia 1, Cayman Islands 1, Comoros 1, Cyprus 1, Hong Kong 16, Indonesia 1, Panama 13, Singapore 5) (2006)

Ports and terminals: Cagayan de Oro Cebu Davao Iligan Iloilo Manila Surigao


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Disputes international: Philippines claims sovereignty over certain of the Spratly Islands known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands also claimed by China Malaysia Taiwan and Vietnam; the 2002 'Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea' has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding 'code of conduct' desired by several of the disputants; in March 2005 the national oil companies of China the Philippines and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; 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 on his behalf

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Idps: 150,000 (fighting between government troops and MILF and Abu Sayyaf groups) (2005)

Illicit drugs: domestic methamphetamine production has been a growing problem in recent years; longstanding marijuana producer