Philippines

republicIndependence 4 July 1946 (from US)

Philippines as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 125 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalManila
LocationSoutheastern Asia, between Indonesia and China
1994

Every edition of Philippines

Populationas each edition published it
69.81 million July 1994 est. · 66.12m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.92% 1994 est. · 1.97% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 21.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 65.13 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
3.35 children per woman 1994 est. · 4.3 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
50.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 48 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,500 1993 est. · $860 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
1.4% 1993 est. · 0.6% in 1993

Geography

Southeastern Asia, between Indonesia and China

24 fields
Coastline
36,289km
land boundaries: 0 kmMaritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Irrigated land
16,200sq km
(1989 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, between Indonesia and China

Map references

Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

300,000 sq km

land area

298,170 sq km

comparative area

slightly larger than Arizona

continental shelf

to depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

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

International disputes

involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claims Malaysian state of Sabah

Climate

  • tropical marine;
  • northeast monsoon (November to April);
  • southwest monsoon (May to October)

Terrain

mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Natural resources

timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

arable land

26%

permanent crops

11%

meadows and pastures

4%

forest and woodland

40%

other

19%

current issues

  • deforestation;
  • soil erosion;
  • water pollution;
  • air pollution in Manila

natural hazards

  • astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year;
  • subject to landslides, active volcanoes, destructive earthquakes, tsunamis

international agreements

  • party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling;
  • signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Tropical Timber

People

21 fields
Population
69,808,930
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 1.92% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
27.34Death
6.94Net migration
-1.18

Ethnic divisions

Christian Malay 91.5%Muslim Malay 4%Chinese 1.5%other 3%

Religions

Roman Catholic 83%Protestant 9%Muslim 5%Buddhist and other 3%
Labor force
24.12million
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1990 est.)

Infant mortality rate

50.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

65.39 years

male

62.88 years

female

68.02 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.35 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Filipino(s)

adjective

Philippine

Languages

Pilipino (official; based on Tagalog), English (official)

total population

90%

male

90%

female

90%

by occupation

agriculture 46%, industry and commerce 16%, services 18.5%, government 10%, other 9.5% (1989)

Government

Republic

34 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

66%
LDP 66%NPC 20%Lakas-NUCD 8%Liberal 6%

Legislature, 24 seatsone dot, one seat

LDP 15NPC 5Lakas-NUCD 2Liberal 1Independent 1

Legislature, 200 seatsone dot, one seat

LDP 87NPC 45Lakas-NUCD 41Liberal 15NP 6KBL 3Independent 3

conventional long form

Republic of the Philippines

conventional short form

Philippines

local long form

Republika ng Pilipinas

local short form

Pilipinas

Type

republic

Capital

Manila

Administrative divisions

72 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, 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, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur

Independence

4 July 1946 (from US)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from Spain)

Constitution

2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Suffrage

15 years of age; universal

chief of state and head of government

  • President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992);
  • Vice President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992);
  • election last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1998);
  • results - Fidel Valdes RAMOS won 23.6% of votes, a narrow plurality

cabinet

Executive Secretary; appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments

Legislative branch

bicameral Congress (Kongreso)

Senate (Senado)

  • elections last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1995);
  • results - LDP 66%, NPC 20%, Lakas-NUCD 8%, Liberal 6%;
  • seats - (24 total) LDP 15, NPC 5, Lakas-NUCD 2, Liberal 1, Independent 1

House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan)

  • elections last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1995);
  • results - LDP 43.5%;
  • Lakas-NUCD 25%, NPC 23.5%, Liberal 5%, KBL 3%;
  • seats - (200 total) LDP 87, NPC 45, Lakas-NUCD 41, Liberal 15, NP 6, KBL 3, Independent 3

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

  • Democratic Filipino Struggle (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipinas, Laban), Edgardo ESPIRITU;
  • People Power-National Union of Christian Democrats (Lakas ng Edsa, NUCD and Partido Lakas Tao, Lakas/NUCD);
  • Fidel V. RAMOS, President of the Republic, Raul MANGLAPUS, Jose de VENECIA, secretary general;
  • Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), Eduardo COJUANGCO;
  • Liberal Party, Jovito SALONGA;
  • People's Reform Party (PRP), Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO;
  • New Society Movement (Kilusan Bagong Lipunan; KBL), Imelda MARCOS;
  • Nacionalista Party (NP), Salvador H. LAUREL, president

Member of

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission

Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE

chancery

1617 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone

(202) 483-1414

FAX

(202) 328-7614

consulate(s) general

Agana (Guam), Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle

consulate(s)

San Diego and San Jose (Saipan)

chief of mission

Ambassador John D. NEGROPONTE

embassy

1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000

mailing address

APO AP 96440

telephone

[632] 521-7116

FAX

[632] 522-4361

consulate(s) general

Cebu

Flag

  • 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

Domestic output in this primarily agricultural economy failed to grow | in 1992 and rose only slightly in 1993.

26 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,500
(1993 est.)
Real growth rate
1.4%
(1993 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate -1% (1992 est.); accounts for 34% of GDP

Overview

Domestic output in this primarily agricultural economy failed to grow in 1992 and rose only slightly in 1993. Drought and power supply problems hampered production, while inadequate revenues prevented government pump priming. Worker remittances helped to supplement GDP. A marked increase in capital goods imports, particularly power generating equipment, telecommunications equipment, and electronic data processors, contributed to 20% import growth in both 1992 and 1993.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $171 billion (1993 est.)

revenues

$11.5 billion

expenditures

$13 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (1994 est.)

Exports

$11.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities

electronics, textiles, coconut products, cooper, fish

partners

US 39%, Japan 18%, Germany 5%, UK 5%, Hong Kong 5% (1992)

Imports

$17.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities

raw materials 40%, capital goods 25%, petroleum products 10%

partners

Japan 21%, US 18%, Taiwan 7%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Hong Kong 5%, South Korea 5% (1992)

External debt

$34.1 billion (September 1993)

capacity

7,850,000 kW

production

28 billion kWh

consumption per capita

420 kWh (1992)

Industries

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

Agriculture

  • accounts for about 20% of GDP and about 45% of labor force;
  • major crops - rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangos;
  • animal products - pork, eggs, beef;
  • net exporter of farm products;
  • fish catch of 2 million metric tons annually

Illicit drugs

  • illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;
  • growers are producing more and better quality cannabis despite government eradication efforts;
  • transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for the US

recipient

  • US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.6 billion;
  • Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $7.9 billion;
  • OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million;
  • Communist countries (1975-89), $123 million

Currency

1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 27.725 (January 1994), 22.120 (1993), 25.512 (1992), 27.479 (1991), 24.311 (1990), 21.737 (1989)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

16 fields

Networkskm

Railroads
378 (1982)Inland waterways
3,219
Railroads: , 34% government owned · Inland waterways: ; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels

Railroads

378 km operable on Luzon, 34% government owned (1982)

total

157,450 km

paved

22,400 km

unpaved

gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 85,050 km; unimproved earth 50,000 km (1988)

Inland waterways

3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels

Pipelines

petroleum products 357 km

Ports

Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras, Iloilo, Legaspi, Manila, Subic Bay

Merchant marine

553 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,451,047 GRT/13,934,255 DWT, bulk 241, cargo 145, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 8, liquefied gas 3, livestock carrier 9, oil tanker 33, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 13, refrigerated cargo 27, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, short-sea passenger 12, vehicle carrier 35

note

many Philippine flag ships are foreign owned and are on the register for the purpose of long-term bare-boat charter back to their original owners who are principally in Japan and Germany

total

270

usable

238

with permanent-surface runways

74

with runways over 3,659 m

0

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

9

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

57

Telecommunications

  • good international radio and submarine cable services;
  • domestic and interisland service adequate;
  • 872,900 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 267 AM (including 6 US), 55 FM, 33 TV (including 4 US);
  • submarine cables extended to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, and 11 domestic

Defense Forces

Army, Navy (including Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force

4 fields

Branches

Army, Navy (including Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force

Manpower availability

  • males age 15-49 17,668,781;
  • fit for military service 12,479,312;
  • reach military age (20) annually 733,880 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $731 million, 1.4% of GNP (1992)

Affiliation

(dependent territory of the UK)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Philippines.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/philippines/1994.

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