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. Led by Emilio AGUINALDO, the Filipinos conducted an insurgency against US rule from 1899-1902, although some fighting continued in outlying islands as late as 1913. 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. The islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. Twenty-one years of authoritarian rule under Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a 'people power' movement in Manila ('EDSA 1') forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Several coup attempts hampered her presidency, and progress on political stability and economic development faltered until Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992. The US closed its last military bases on the islands the same year. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998. His vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, succeded him in 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another 'people power' movement ('EDSA 2') demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected president in 2004. Corruption allegations marred her presidency, but the Philippine economy was one of the few to avoid contraction after the 2008 global financial crisis. Benigno AQUINO III was elected as president in 2010, followed by Rodrigo DUTERTE in 2016. During his term, DUTERTE pursued a controversial drug war that garnered international criticism for alleged human rights abuses. Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. was elected president in 2022 with the largest popular vote in a presidential election since his father's ouster. For decades, the country has been challenged by armed ethnic separatists, communist rebels, and Islamic terrorist groups, particularly in the southern islands and remote areas of Luzon.

Area
Total: 300,000 km²
Land: 298,170 km²
Water: 1,830 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona

Land boundaries
Total: 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 as wide as 285 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: to the 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
Highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 442 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 42.7% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 18.7% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 18.9% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)
Forest: 24.7% (2023 est.)
Other: 32.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 16,270 km² (2012)

Natural hazards: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by several cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
Volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Taal (311 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Mayon (2,462 m), the country's most active volcano, erupted in 2009 and forced over 33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo, and Ragang; see note 2 under 'Geography - note'

Geography
Note note 1: for decades, the Philippine archipelago was reported as having 7,107 islands; in 2016, the national mapping authority reported that hundreds of new islands had been discovered and increased the number of islands to 7,641, though not all of the new islands have been verified
Note note 2: the Philippines is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes
Note note 3: the Philippines sits on the Pacific typhoon belt, and an average of 9 typhoons make landfall on the islands each year, with about 5 being destructive; the country is the most exposed in the world to tropical storms

Population
Total: 118,277,063 (2024 est.)
Male: 59,227,092
Female: 59,049,971
Distribution: population concentrated in areas with good farmland; highest concentrations are northwest and south-central Luzon, the southeastern extension of Luzon, and the islands of the Visayan Sea, particularly Cebu and Negros; Manila is home to one eighth of the national population
Growth rate: 1.56% (2024 est.)

Languages: Tagalog 39.9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 16%, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo 7.3%, Ilocano 7.1%, Cebuano 6.5%, Bikol/Bicol 3.9%, Waray 2.6%, Kapampangan 2.4%, Maguindanao 1.4%, Pangasinan/Panggalato 1.3%, other languages/dialects 11.2%, unspecified 0.4% (2020 est.)
Major-language sample(s): ; Ang World Factbook, ang mapagkukunan ng kailangang impormasyon. (Tagalog); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Note: data represent percentage of households; unspecified Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English are official languagesTaga; eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Religions: Roman Catholic 78.8%, Muslim 6.4%, Iglesia ni Cristo 2.6%, other Christian 3.9%, other 8.2%, none/unspecified <0.1 (2020 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 30.2% (male 18,234,279/female 17,462,803)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 38,381,583/female 37,613,294)
65 years and over: 5.6% (2024 est.) (male 2,611,230/female 3,973,874)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 55.6 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 47 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.7 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 11.5 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 25.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 25.1 years
Female: 26.3 years

Population growth rate: 1.56% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 22.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: population concentrated in areas with good farmland; highest concentrations are northwest and south-central Luzon, the southeastern extension of Luzon, and the islands of the Visayan Sea, particularly Cebu and Negros; Manila is home to one eighth of the national population

Urbanization
Urban population: 48.3% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 14.667 million MANILA (capital), 1.949 million Davao, 1.025 million Cebu City, 931,000 Zamboanga, 960,000 Antipolo, 803,000 Cagayan de Oro City, 803,000 Dasmarinas (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 84 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 24.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 19.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 67.3 years
Female: 74.5 years

Total fertility rate: 2.75 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 7.8% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 5.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 3.5% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 7.3% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 5.5% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 16.7% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.2% (2024 est.); 2.3% (2023 est.); 2.6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Manila
Geographic coordinates: 14 36 N, 120 58 E
Time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: derives from the Tagalog word may, meaning 'there is,' and nila, the local name for a shrub in the indigo family

Administrative divisions: 81 provinces and 38 chartered cities
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, Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, 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, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, 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: Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caloocan, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Davao, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Lucena, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Naga, Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, San Juan, Santiago, Tacloban, Taguig, Valenzuela, Zamboanga

Legal system: mixed system of civil, common, Islamic (sharia), and customary law

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew from the ICCt in March 2019

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Ferdinand 'BongBong' MARCOS, Jr. (since 30 June 2022)
Head of government: President Ferdinand 'BongBong' MARCOS, Jr. (since 30 June 2022)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments, an independent body of 25 Congressional members that includes the Senate president (ex officio chairman) and is appointed by the president
Election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by simple-majority popular vote for a single 6-year term
Most recent election date: 9 May 2022
2022: Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. elected president; percent of vote - Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. (PFP) 58.7%, Leni ROBREDO (independent) 27.9%, Manny PACQUIAO (PROMDI) 6.8%, other 6.6%; Sara DUTERTE-Carpio elected vice president; percent of vote Sara DUTERTE-Carpio (Lakas-CMD) 61.5%, Francis PANGILINAN (LP) 17.8%, Tito SOTTO 15.8%, other 4.9%
2016: Rodrigo DUTERTE elected president; percent of vote - Rodrigo DUTERTE (PDP-Laban) 39%, Manuel 'Mar' ROXAS (LP) 23.5%, Grace POE (independent) 21.4%, Jejomar BINAY (UNA) 12.7%, Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO (PRP) 3.4%; Leni ROBREDO elected vice president; percent of vote Leni ROBREDO (LP) 35.1%, Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. (independent) 34.5%, Alan CAYETANO 14.4%, Francis ESCUDERO (independent) 12%, other 4%
Expected date of next election: 9 May 2,028
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Congress (Kongreso)
Legislative structure: bicameral

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a white equilateral triangle is based on the left side; the center of the triangle has a yellow sun with eight rays, each split into smaller rays; the triangle's corners each have a small five-pointed yellow star

National anthem
Title: 'Lupang Hinirang' (Chosen Land)
Lyrics/music: collectively/Julian FELIPE
History: music adopted 1898 and lyrics adopted 1956; only sung in Tagalog

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 5.7% (2024 est.); 5.5% (2023 est.); 7.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 5.7% (2024 est.); 5.5% (2023 est.); 7.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 76.1% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 14.5% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 23.6% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.1% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 25.8% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -40.1% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 9.1% (2024 est.)
Industry: 27.7% (2024 est.)
Services: 63.2% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: semiconductors and electronics assembly, business process outsourcing, food and beverage manufacturing, construction, electric/gas/water supply, chemical products, radio/television/communications equipment and apparatus, petroleum and fuel, textile and garments, non-metallic minerals, basic metal industries, transport equipment

Industrial production growth rate: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 50.979 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 2.2% (2024 est.); 2.3% (2023 est.); 2.6% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.2% (2024 est.); 2.3% (2023 est.); 2.6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $65.069 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $93.871 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenditures (excluding grants and social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 14.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $106.99 billion (2024 est.); $103.588 billion (2023 est.); $98.832 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: integrated circuits, machine parts, gold, insulated wire, semiconductors (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $161.154 billion (2024 est.); $151.441 billion (2023 est.); $152.638 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, coal (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 29.174 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 100.824 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 10.693 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 94.8% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 98%
Access electrification - rural areas: 91.1%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 77.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 9.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 14.457 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 42.859 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 8.151 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 36.542 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 361 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 10,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 457,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 138.5 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 2.325 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 3.12 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 794.289 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 98.543 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 156.228 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 88.581 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 61.597 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 6.05 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 17.654 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 4.627 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 135 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 144 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 84% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 7.51 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 1.7% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 256 (2025)

Heliports: 416 (2025)

Railways
Total: 77 km (2017)
Standard gauge: 49 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
Narrow gauge: 28 km (2017) 1.067-m gauge

Merchant marine
Total: 2,203 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 52, container ship 43, general cargo 955, oil tanker 207, other 946