Philippines

Republic of the PhilippinesRepublika ng Pilipinas

republicIndependence 4 July 1946 (from US)

Philippines as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 117 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 Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
2002

Every edition of Philippines

Populationas each edition published it
84.53 million July 2002 est. · 66.12m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.99% 2002 est. · 1.97% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 21.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
68.12 years 2002 est. · 65.13 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
3.35 children per woman 2002 est. · 4.3 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
27.87 deaths per 1,000 live births 2002 est. · 48 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$4,000 2001 est. · $860 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
2.8% 2001 est. · 0.6% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

The Philippines were ceded by Spain to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. They attained their independence in 1946 after Japanese occupation in World War II. The 21-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986 when a widespread popular rebellion forced him into exile. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. The Philippines has had two electoral presidential transitions since Marcos' removal by "people power."

In January 2001, the Supreme Court declared Joseph ESTRADA unable to rule in view of mass resignations from his government and administered the oath of office to Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO as his constitutional successor. The government continues to struggle with ongoing Muslim insurgencies in the south.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 300,000 sq km

arable land 18.45%permanent crops 14.76%other 66.79% (1998 est.)irrigated 15,500 sq km (1998 est.)
Area
300,000sq km
water: 1,830 sq kmland: 298,170 sq kmslightly larger than Arizona
Coastline
36,289km
land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: to depth of exploitationterritorial 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 breadthexclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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

Geographic coordinates

13 00 N, 122 00 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note

favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait

People

18 fields
Population
84,525,639
(July 2002 est.)growth rate: 1.99% (2002 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2002 est.)

Birth
26.88Death
5.95Net migration
-1

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2002 est.)68.12
65.26 · 71.12
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:
36.6% (male 15,731,451; female 15,169,264)
15-64 years:
59.7% (male 24,990,500; female 25,478,245)
65 years and over:
3.7% (male 1,399,862; female 1,756,317) (2002 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 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 (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate

27.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.35 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,200 (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Filipino(s)
adjective:
Philippine

Languages

  • two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English;
  • eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense

Government

Republic; President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Teofisto GUINGONA (since 20 January 2001); President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Teofisto GUINGONA (since 20 January 2001)

18 fields

Senate, 214 seats, elected 14 May 2001one dot, one seat

Lakas 86NPC 51LDP 21LP 20independents 10other 26

Country name

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

Capital

Manila

Administrative divisions

73 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 del Norte, 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, Tawi-Tawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur

Independence

4 July 1946 (from US)

National holiday

Independence Day (from Spain), 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 is the date of independence from Spain, 4 July 1946 is the date of independence from the US

Constitution

2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Teofisto GUINGONA (since 20 January 2001);
  • note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
  • President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Teofisto GUINGONA (since 20 January 2001);
  • 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 16 May 2004)
election results:
  • results of the last presidential election - Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA elected president;
  • percent of vote - approximately 40%;
  • Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president;
  • percent of vote - 55%;
  • note - on 20 January 2001, Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was sworn in as the constitutional successor to President Joseph ESTRADA after the Supreme Court declared that ESTRADA was unable to rule in view of the mass resignations from his government;
  • according to the Constitution, only in cases of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the president, can the vice president serve for the unexpired term

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 (214 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - additional members may be appointed by the president but the Constitution prohibits the House of Representatives from having more than 250 members)

elections:
Senate - last held 14 May 2001 (next to be held 16 May 2004); House of Representatives - elections last held 14 May 2001 (next to be held 16 May 2004)
election results:
  • Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
  • seats by party - Lakas 13, PDP-Laban/LDP 11;
  • House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%;
  • seats by party - Lakas 86, NPC 51, LDP 21, LP 20, independents 10, other 26

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70 years of age)

Political parties and leaders

  • Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (New Society Movement) [Imelda MARCOS];
  • Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Eduardo ANGARA];
  • Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA, party president];
  • Liberal Party or LP [Florencio ABAD];
  • Nacionalista Party [Jose OLIVEROS];
  • National People's Coalition or NPC [Eduardo COJUANGCO];
  • PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL];
  • People's Reform Party or PRP [Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Albert DEL ROSARIO
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, San Jose (Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)
FAX:
[1] (202) 328-7614
telephone:
[1] (202) 333-6000
chancery:
1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Francis J. RICCIARDONE
embassy:
1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000 Manila
mailing address:
FPO 96515
telephone:
[63] (2) 523-1001
FAX:
[63] (2) 522-4361

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.

33 fields
Real growth rate
2.8%
(2001 est.)industrial production growth: 4% (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2000 est.)

agriculture 17%industry 30%services 53% (2000 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

30%
US
16%
15%
Japan
19%
EU
9%
8%
Netherlands
8%
Singapore
6%
8%
Taiwan
6%
South Korea
8%
5%
Hong Kong
Exports $37 billion f.o.b. (2000)Imports $30 billion f.o.b. (2000)(2000)

Budget

Revenues
$10.9 billionExpenditures
$13.8 billion (2001 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 58%hydro 20%other 23% (2000)nuclear 0%
Electricity production
40.667 billion (2000)Electricity consumption
37.82 billion (2000)

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 0.6% in 1998 from 5% in 1997, but recovered to about 3% in 1999 and 4% in 2000.

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, furthering deregulation and privatization of the economy, and increasing trade integration with the region. Prospects for 2002 depend heavily on the economic performance of two major trading partners, the US and Japan.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $335 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2%
highest 10%:
39% (1998)

Labor force

32 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 40%, government and social services 19%, services 18%, manufacturing 10%, construction 6%, other 8% (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

$37 billion f.o.b. (2000)

Exports - commodities

electronic equipment, machinery and transport equipment, garments, coconut products

Imports

$30 billion f.o.b. (2000)

Imports - commodities

raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, consumer goods, fuels

Debt - external

$50 billion (2001)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $1.1 billion (1998) (1998)

Currency

Philippine peso (PHP)

Exchange rates

Philippine pesos per US dollar - 51.201 (January 2002), 50.993 (2001), 44.192 (2000), 39.089 (1999), 40.893 (1998), 29.471 (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields
Mobile cellular
6.5 million
(2000)
Fixed lines
3.1 million
(2000) · country code .ph

Telephone system

general assessment:
good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate
domestic:
domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations
international:
  • 9 international gateways;
  • satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean);
  • submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan

Radio broadcast stations

AM 366, FM 290, shortwave 5 note: each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the language of the target audience (2002)

Radios

11.5 million (1997)

Televisions

3.7 million (1997)

Internet users

4.5 million (2002)

Transportation

10 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

4
over 3,047 m
5
2,438 to 3,047 m
1
34
914 to 1,523 m
71
13
under 914 m
99
26
1,524 to 2,437 m
5
Paved 82Unpaved 175

Networkskm

Highways
199,950Railways
897Waterways
3,219
Highways: paved: 39,590 km · unpaved: 160,360 km (1998 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (405 km are not in operation) (2001) · Waterways: note: limited to vessels with a draft of less than 1.5 m

Railways

total:
897 km
narrow gauge:
897 km 1.067-m gauge (405 km are not in operation) (2001)

Highways

total:
199,950 km
paved:
39,590 km
unpaved:
160,360 km (1998 est.)

Waterways

3,219 km note: limited to vessels with a draft of less than 1.5 m

Pipelines

petroleum products 357 km

Ports and harbors

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

Merchant marine

total:
416 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,179,029 GRT/7,670,688 DWT
ships by type:
bulk 134, cargo 112, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 7, container 5, liquefied gas 9, livestock carrier 9, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 41, refrigerated cargo 20, roll on/roll off 14, short-sea passenger 29, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 18

note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 2, Canada 1, Germany 3, Greece 8, Hong Kong 13, Japan 47, Malaysia 19, Netherlands 14, Norway 8, Panama 3, Singapore 12, South Korea 1, Taiwan 2, United Kingdom 7 (2002 est.)

Airports

275 (2001)

Heliports

2 (2002)

Military

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

7 fields

Military branches

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

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 21,718,304 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 15,285,248 (2002 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

  • Sultanate of Sulu granted Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue his sovereignty claim over Malaysia's Sabah State, to which the Philippines have not fully revoked their claim;
  • involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei

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 2002. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/philippines/2002.

How to cite ← 2001 edition 2003 edition →