Philippines

Republic of the PhilippinesRepublika ng Pilipinas

republicIndependence 4 July 1946 (from US)

Philippines as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 82 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

Area300,000 sq km

LocationSoutheastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea

Populationas each edition published it

73.27 million July 1995 est. · 66.12m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.23% 1995 est. · 1.97% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 21.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

65.65 years 1995 est. · 65.13 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.81 children per woman 1995 est. · 4.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

49.6 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 48 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,310 1994 est. · $860 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.3% 1994 est. · 0.6% in 1993

Geography

Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea | and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

13 fields

Land useshare of 300,000 sq km

arable land 26%permanent crops 11%meadows and pastures 4%forest and woodland 40%other 19%irrigated 16,200 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

300,000sq km

land area: 298,170 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Arizona

Coastline

36,289km

land boundaries: 0 km

Location

Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

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

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
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
international agreements:: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands

People

15 fields

Population

73,265,584

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 2.23% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

30.42Death

6.97Net migration

-1.14

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years65.65

63.16 · 68.25

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy94%

94% · 93%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

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

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 38% (female 13,841,552; male 14,214,234)
15-64 years:: 58% (female 21,603,818; male 20,923,307)
65 years and over:: 4% (female 1,425,706; male 1,256,967) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

49.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Filipino(s)
adjective:: Philippine

Languages

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

Government

Republic

22 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 3independents 3

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form:: Philippines
local long form:: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form:: Pilipinas

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

Legal system

based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

15 years of age; universal

Executive branch

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 to be held NA May 1998);
results - Fidel Valdes RAMOS won 23.6% of the vote, 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 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 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, independents 3

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Filipino Struggle (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipinas, LDP), 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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE
chancery:: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:: [1] (202) 467-9300

FAX

[1] (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)

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador John D. NEGROPONTE
embassy:: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000
mailing address:: APO AP 96440
telephone:: [63] (2) 521-71-16

FAX

[63] (2) 522-43-61; consulate(s): 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.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,310

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

4.3%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 1.4% (1993); accounts for 28% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

7.1%

(1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1994)

Budget

Revenues

$14 billionExpenditures

$15.4 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)

Installed generating capacity, 6,770,000 kW

Electricity production

20.4 billionElectricity consumption per capita

278 (1993)

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% annual import growth in 1992-94.

Provided the government can cope with the substantial trade deficit and meet the fiscal targets agreed to with the IMF, the Philippines should duplicate the strong growth performance of 1994 in 1995-96.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $161.4 billion (1994 est.)

Exports

$13.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: electronics, textiles, coconut products, copper, fish
partners:: US 39%, Japan 16%, Germany 5%, Hong Kong 5%, UK 4% (1993)

Imports

$21.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: raw materials 40%, capital goods 25%, petroleum products 10%
partners:: Japan 23%, US 20%, Taiwan 6%, Singapore 5%, South Korea 5% (1993)

External debt

$40 billion (1994 est.)

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for 22% 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

Economic aid

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 - 24.622 (January 1995), 26.417 (1994), 22.120 (1993), 25.512 (1992), 27.479 (1991), 24.311 (1990)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 269 in all

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

133

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

160,700Railroads

800Inland waterways

3,219

Highways: paved: 29,000 km · unpaved: 131,700 km · Railroads: (est.); note - including about 390 km in Luzon · narrow gauge: 800 km 1.067-m gauge · Inland waterways: ; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels

Railroads

total:: 800 km (est.); note - including about 390 km in Luzon
narrow gauge:: 800 km 1.067-m gauge

Highways

total:: 160,700 km
paved:: 29,000 km
unpaved:: 131,700 km

Inland waterways

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

Pipelines

petroleum products 357 km

Ports

Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras, Iligan, Iloilo, Jolo, Legaspi, Manila, Masao, Puerto Princesa, San Fernando, Subic Bay, Zamboanga

Merchant marine

total:: 552 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,748,083 GRT/14,373,730 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 237, cargo 134, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 10, liquefied gas tanker 6, livestock carrier 9, oil tanker 46, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 11, refrigerated cargo 24, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, short-sea passenger 17, vehicle carrier 29

note: a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 13 ships, Norway 2, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 1, and South Korea 1

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

872,900 telephones;
good international radio and submarine cable services;
domestic and interisland service adequate

local:: NA
intercity:: 11 domestic satellite links
international:: submarine cables extended to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan; 3 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean) earth stations