Background: The Philippines were ceded by Spain to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. They attained their 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 Marcos' removal by 'people power.' 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 ongoing Muslim insurgencies in the south.

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.)

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

Population: 84,525,639 (July 2002 est.)
Growth rate: 1.99% (2002 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%

Age structure
0-14 years: 36.6% (male 15,731,451; female 15,169,264)
15-64 years: 59.7% (male 24,990,500; female 25,478,245)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 1,399,862; female 1,756,317) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.99% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 26.88 births/1000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 5.95 deaths/1000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: -1 migrant(s)/1000 population (2002 est.)

Environment
Current issues: uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps which 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

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male/female
Total population: 0.99 male/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 27.87 deaths/1000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 68.12 years
Female: 71.12 years (2002 est.)
Male: 65.26 years

Total fertility rate: 3.35 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.07% (1999 est.)
People living with hivaids: 28,000 (1999 est.)
Deaths: 1200 (1999 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 94.6%
Male: 95%
Female: 94.3% (1995 est.)

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

Independence: 4 July 1946 (from US)

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

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: Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (New Society Movement) [Imelda MARCOS]; Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Eduardo ANGARA]; Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA party president]; Liberal Party or LP [Florencio ABAD]; Nacionalista Party [Jose OLIVEROS]; National People's Coalition or NPC [Eduardo COJUANGCO]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL]; People's Reform Party or PRP [Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO]

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Albert DEL ROSARIO
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) 333-6,000
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, Ermita 1000 Manila
From the us mailing address: FPO 96,515
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

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% in 1999 and 4% in 2000. The government has promised to continue its economic reforms to help the Philippines match the pace of development in the newly industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes improving infrastructure overhauling the tax system to bolster government revenues furthering deregulation and privatization of the economy and increasing trade integration with the region. Prospects for 2002 depend heavily on the economic performance of two major trading partners the US and Japan.

Real gdp growth rate: 2.8% (2001 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2001 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 17%
Industry: 30%
Services: 53% (2000 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: 32 million (2000)
By occupation agriculture: 40%
By occupation government and social services: 19%
By occupation services: 18%
By occupation manufacturing: 10%
By occupation construction: 6%
By occupation other: 8% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate: 10% (2001)

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2%
Highest 10: 39% (1998)

Distribution of family income gini index: 46 (1997)

Budget
Revenues: $10.9 billion
Expenditures: $13.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 6% (2001 est.)

Exports: $37 billion f.o.b. (2000)
Commodities: electronic equipment machinery and transport equipment garments coconut products
Partners: US 30% Japan 15% Netherlands 8% Singapore 8% Taiwan 8% Hong Kong 5% (2000)

Imports: $30 billion f.o.b. (2000)
Commodities: raw materials and intermediate goods capital goods consumer goods fuels
Partners: Japan 19% US 16% EU 9% South Korea 8% Singapore 6% Taiwan 6% (2000)

Debt external: $50 billion (2001)

Exchange rates: Philippine pesos per US dollar - 51.201 (January 2002) 50.993 (2001) 44.192 (2000) 39.089 (1999) 40.893 (1998) 29.471 (1997)

Electricity
Production: 40.667 billion kWh (2000)
Production by source fossil fuel: 58%
Production by source hydro: 20%
Production by source other: 23% (2000)
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Consumption: 37.82 billion kWh (2000)
Exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Imports: 0 kWh (2000)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 3.1 million (2000)
Mobile cellular: 6.5 million (2000)

Telephone system
General assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland 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

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

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

Airports: 275 (2001)
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 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 99 (2002)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 71

Heliports: 2 (2002)

Pipelines: petroleum products 357 km

Railways
Total: 897 km
Narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (405 km are not in operation) (2001)

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

Merchant marine
Total: 416 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,179,029 GRT/7,670,688 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 134, cargo 112, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 7, container 5, liquefied gas 9, livestock carrier 9, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 41, refrigerated cargo 20, roll on/roll off 14, short-sea passenger 29, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 18
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, United Kingdom 7 (2002 est.)

Disputes international: Sultanate of Sulu granted Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue his sovereignty claim over Malaysia's Sabah State to which the Philippines have not fully revoked their claim; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China Malaysia Taiwan Vietnam and possibly Brunei

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