Philippines

Republic of the PhilippinesRepublika ng Pilipinas

republicIndependence 4 July 1946 (from US)

Philippines as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 88 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

Position13 00 N, 122 00 E

Area300,000 sq km

LocationSoutheastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine

Populationas each edition published it

74.48 million July 1996 est. · 66.12m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.18% 1996 est. · 1.97% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 21.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

65.91 years 1996 est. · 65.13 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.69 children per woman 1996 est. · 4.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

35.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 48 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,530 1995 est. · $860 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.8% 1995 · 0.6% in 1993

Geography

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

14 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

lowest point:: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point:: Mount Apo 2,954 m

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;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Tropical Timber 94

People

15 fields

Population

74,480,848

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 2.18% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

29.51Death

6.66Net migration

-1.06

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years65.91

63.14 · 68.83

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy94.6%

95% · 94.3%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

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%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 38% (male 14,486,214; female 14,026,873)
15-64 years:: 58% (male 21,403,784; female 21,968,259)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 1,165,810; female 1,429,908) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.82 male(s)/female
all ages:: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

35.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Filipino(s)
adjective:: Philippine

Languages

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

Government

Republic

22 fields

Legislature, 24 seatsone dot, one seat

LDP 14Lakas/NUCD 5NPC 2LP 1PRP 1independent 1

Legislature, 204 seatsone dot, one seat

Lakas/NUCD 129LDP 29NPC (opposition) 25LP 6PDP 3KBL/NPC 1results pending 11

Name of country

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

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:: President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992) and Vice President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992) were elected for six-year terms by popular vote;
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 was appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments

Legislative branch

bicameral Congress (Kongreso)

Senate (Senado)

elections last held 8 May 1995 (next to be held NA 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (24 total) LDP 14, Lakas/NUCD 5, NPC 2, LP 1, PRP 1, independent 1

House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan)

elections last held 8 May 1995 (next to be held NA 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (204 total) Lakas/NUCD 129, LDP 29, NPC (opposition) 25, LP 6, PDP 3, KBL/NPC 1, results pending 11

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president on recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Filipino Struggle (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, LDP), Edgardo ANGARA;
People Power-National Union of Christian Democrats (Lakas ng EDSA-NUCD or Lakas-NUCD);
Raul MANGLAPUS, president and Jose DE VENECIA, secretary general;
Liberal Party (LP), Raul DAZA;
National People's Coalition (NPC), Eduardo COJUANGCO;
People's Reform Party (PRP), Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO;
New Society Movement (Kilusan Bagong Lipunan, KBL), Imelda MARCOS;
Nacionalista Party (NP), Salvador H. LAUREL, president;
Filipino Democratic Party (Partido Demokratikong Philipinas or PDP), Jose COJUANGCO, is part of the ruling coalition with the LDP

International organization participation

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIH, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

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, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle
consulate(s):: San Diego and San Jose (Saipan)

US diplomatic representation

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

FAX

[63] (2) 522-43-61

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

The Philippine economy, primarily a mixture of | agriculture and light industry, continued its third year of recovery | in 1995, led by growth in exports and investments.

21 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,530

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

4.8%

(1995)industrial production growth: 1.4% (1993)

Inflation, consumer prices

8.1%

(1995)

Unemployment rate

9.5%

(1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture 22%industry 30%services 48%

Budget

Revenues

$14.1 billionExpenditures

$13.6 billion (1995)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 6,770,000 kW

Electricity production

20.4 billionElectricity consumption per capita

278 (1993)

Economic overview

The Philippine economy, primarily a mixture of agriculture and light industry, continued its third year of recovery in 1995, led by growth in exports and investments. Officials have targeted 5%-6% growth for 1996 after achieving 4.8% growth in 1995. The government is continuing its economic reforms to enable the Philippines to move closer to the development of the newly industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes improving infrastructure and plans to overhaul the tax system to bolster government revenues.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $179.7 billion (1995 est.)

Labor force

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

Industries

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

Agriculture

rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes;
pork, eggs, beef;
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 and Golden Triangle heroin bound for the US

Exports

$17.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995)

commodities:: electronics, textiles, coconut products, copper, fish
partners:: US 39%, Japan 15%, Germany 5%, Hong Kong 5%, UK 5% (1994)

Imports

$26.5 billion (f.o.b., 1995)

commodities:: raw materials 40%, capital goods 25%, petroleum products 10%
partners:: Japan 24%, US 18%, Singapore 7%, Taiwan 6%, South Korea 5% (1994)

External debt

$41 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $934 million (1993)

Currency

1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 26.206 (December 1995), 25.714 (1995), 26.417 (1994), 27.120 (1993), 25.512 (1992), 27.479 (1991)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 235 in all

over 3 047 m

2 438 to 3 047 m

1 524 to 2 437 m

914 to 1 523 m

104

under 914 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

160,633Railways

499Waterways

3,219

Highways: paved: 22,489 km · unpaved: 138,144 km (1992 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 499 km 1.067-m gauge (1993) · Waterways: ; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels

Railways

total:: 499 km
narrow gauge:: 499 km 1.067-m gauge (1993)

Highways

total:: 160,633 km
paved:: 22,489 km
unpaved:: 138,144 km (1992 est.)

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 Island, Iligan, Iloilo, Jolo, Legaspi, Manila, Masao, Puerto Princesa, San Fernando, Subic Bay, Zamboanga

Merchant marine

total:: 535 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,033,849 GRT/13,101,188 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 230, cargo 126, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 11, container 12, liquefied gas tanker 9, livestock carrier 12, oil tanker 44, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 12, refrigerated cargo 19, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 18, vehicle carrier 25

note: a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 22 ships, Hong Kong 4, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 1, Denmark 1, and UK 1 (1995 est.)

Communications

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

9 fields

Fixed lines

887,229

(1993 est.)

Telephone system

good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate

domestic:: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations
international:: submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)

males age 15-49:: 18,722,509
males fit for military service:: 13,221,513
males reach military age (20) annually:: 767,056 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $1 billion, 1.4% of GDP (1995)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Philippines.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/philippines/1996.

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