Philippines

Republic of the PhilippinesRepublika ng Pilipinas

republicIndependence 4 July 1946 (from US)

Philippines as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 106 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

79.35 million July 1999 est. · 66.12m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.04% 1999 est. · 1.97% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 21.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

66.58 years 1999 est. · 65.13 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.46 children per woman 1999 est. · 4.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

33.89 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 48 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,500 1998 est. · $860 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-0.5% 1998 est. · 0.6% in 1993

Geography

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

17 fields

Land useshare of 300,000 sq km

arable land 19%permanent crops 12%permanent pastures 4%forests and woodland 46%other 19% (1993 est.)irrigated 15,800 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

300,000sq km

land: 298,170 sq kmwater: 1,830 sq kmslightly larger than Arizona

Coastline

36,289km

land boundaries: 0 km

Highest point

2,954m

Mount Apolowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m

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

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

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

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

Environment--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, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification

People

15 fields

Population

79,345,812

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 2.04% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

27.88Death

6.45Net migration

-1.03

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)66.58

63.79 · 69.5

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)94.6%

95% · 94.3%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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:: 37% (male 15,057,698; female 14,555,430)
15-64 years:: 59% (male 23,168,043; female 23,715,877)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 1,269,522; female 1,579,242) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

33.89 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Filipino(s)
adjective:: Philippine

Languages

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

Government

Republic; President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June 1998); President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June 1998)

18 fields

Legislature, 221 seatsone dot, one seat

-LAMP 135Lakas 37LP 13Aksyon Demokratiko 1other 35

Country name

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

Data code

Government 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

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 Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June 1998);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June 1998);
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 11 May 2004)
election results:: Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA elected president;
percent of vote--NA%;
Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president;
percent of vote--NA%

Legislative branch

bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats--one-half elected every three years; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (221 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note--an additional 50 members may be appointed by the president)

elections:: Senate--last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 11 May 2001); House of Representatives--elections last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 11 May 2001)
election results:: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--LAMP 12, Lakas 5, PRP 2, LP 1, other 3;
note--the Senate now has only 23 members with one seat vacated when Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO became vice president;
the seat can only be filled by election and is likely to remain open until the next regular election in 2001;
House of Representatives--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--LAMP 135, Lakas 37, LP 13, Aksyon Demokratiko 1, other 35

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

Laban Ng Masang Pilipino or LAMP Eduardo "Danding" COJUANGO, chairman, Edgardo ANGARA, party MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, secretary general, Jose DE VENECIA, party SALONGA, chairman, Florencio ABAD, secretary general]; People's

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE
chancery:: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general:: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tamuning (Guam)
consulate(s):: San Diego and Susupe (Saipan)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD
embassy:: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000
mailing address:: FPO 96515

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

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.

31 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$3,500

purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)

Real growth rate

-0.5%

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: -1.7% (1998 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

9.7%

(1998)

Unemployment rate

9.6%

(October 1998)

GDP--composition by sector(1997 est.)

agriculture 20%industry 32%services 48% (1997 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

34%

20%

17%

Japan

21%

17%

10%

14%

ASEAN

12%

Taiwan

Hong Kong

Saudi Arabia

Exports $25 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)Imports $29 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)(1997 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$14.5 billionExpenditures

$12.6 billion (1998 est.)

Electricity

fossil fuel 62.11%hydro 20.19%other 17.7% (1996)nuclear 0%

Electricity production

32.2 billion (1996)Electricity consumption

32.2 billion (1996)

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 about -0.5% in 1998 from 5% in 1997, but is expected to recover to more than 2% in 1999.

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, and moving toward further deregulation and privatization of the economy.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$270.5 billion (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

32% (1997 est.)

Labor force

31.3 million (1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation

agriculture 39.8%, government and social services 19.4%, services 17.7%, manufacturing 9.8%, construction 5.8%, other 7.5% (1998 est.)

Industries

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

Agriculture--products

rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes;
pork, eggs, beef;
fish

Exports

$25 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities

electronics and telecommunications 51%, machinery and transport 10%, garments 9%, other 30%

Imports

$29 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities

raw materials and intermediate goods 43%, capital goods 36%, consumer goods 9%, fuels 9%

Debt--external

$46.4 billion (September 1998)

Economic aid--recipient

ODA, $1.1 billion (1998)

Currency

1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

Philippine pesos (P) per US$1--38.404 (January 1999), 40.893 (1998), 29.471 (1997), 26.216 (1996), 25.714 (1995), 26.417 (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

1.9 million

(1997)

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)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 261, FM 55, shortwave 0

Radios

9.03 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

37 (includes six stations of the US Armed Forces Radio and TV Service) (1997)

Televisions

9.2 million (1998)

Transportation

10 fields

Merchant marine, 513 ships by typeships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,544,029 GRT/10,052,418 DWT

bulk 179cargo 131chemical tanker 6combination bulk 13container 9liquefied gas tanker 12livestock carrier 10oil tanker 48passenger 4passenger-cargo 13refrigerated cargo 19roll-on/roll-off cargo 17short-sea passenger 31specialized tanker 1vehicle carrier 20note: a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 19 ships, Hong Kong 5, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Netherlands 1, Singapore 1, and UK 1 (1998 est.)

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 30

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

121

total: 185 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 61

Networkskm

Highways

161,313Waterways

3,219

Highways: paved: 290 km · unpaved: 161,023 km (1997) · Waterways: ; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels

Railways

total:: 897 km of which 492 km in operation
narrow gauge:: 492 km 1.067-m gauge (1996)

Highways

total:: 161,313 km
paved:: 290 km
unpaved:: 161,023 km (1997)

Military

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

7 fields

Military expenditures--percent of GDP

1.5%

(1998)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes--international

involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei;
claim to Malaysia's Sabah State has not been fully revoked

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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Philippines.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/philippines/1999.

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