Philippines

Republic of the PhilippinesRepublika ng Pilipinas

republicIndependence 12 June 1898 (from Spain)

Philippines as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 126 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
2003

Every edition of Philippines

Populationas each edition published it
84.62 million July 2003 est. · 66.12m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.92% 2003 est. · 1.97% in 1993
Median ageyears
21.8 years 2002 · 27.1 yrs in 2025
Life expectancyyears at birth
69.29 years 2003 est. · 65.13 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
3.29 children per woman 2003 est. · 4.3 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
24.98 deaths per 1,000 live births 2003 est. · 48 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$4,600 2002 est. · $860 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
4.4% 2002 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 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 the removal of MARCOS. 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 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 that 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

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Population
84,619,974
(July 2003 est.)growth rate: 1.92% (2003 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2003 est.)

Birth
26.3Death
5.6Net migration
-1.5

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2003 est.)69.29
66.44 · 72.28Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)24.98
27.9 · 21.91
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)95.9%
96% · 95.8%Median age years (2002)21.8
21.3 · 22.4
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:
36.2% (male 15,625,480; female 15,028,498)
15-64 years:
59.9% (male 25,206,467; female 25,485,482)
65 years and over:
3.9% (male 1,427,238; female 1,846,809) (2003 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.77 male(s)/female
total population:
1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.29 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

720 (2001 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

12 June 1898 (from Spain)

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

  • Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA, president, Agapito AQUINO, secretary general];
  • Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union of Christian Democrats) or Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA, president];
  • Liberal Party or LP [Florencio ABAD, president; Franklin DRILON, chairman];
  • National People's Coalition or NPC [Eduardo COJUANGCO, chairman emeritus; Frisco SAN JUAN, president; Faustino DY, chairman];
  • PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL, chairman; Jejomar BINAY, president];
  • PMP [Horacio MORALES, president];
  • Aksyon Demokratiko Party [Raul ROCO, president];
  • Reporma [Renato DE VILLA, chairman];
  • PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA, president]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Albert DEL ROSARIO
consulate(s):
San Diego
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) 467-9300
chancery:
1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Francis J. RICCIARDONE
embassy:
1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila
mailing address:
PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000
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.

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Real growth rate
4.4%
(2002 est.)industrial production growth: 4% (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2001 est.)

agriculture 15%industry 31%services 54% (2001 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

26.2%
US
18.6%
14.9%
Japan
21.6%
5.7%
Singapore
7.8%
4.3%
South Korea
7.5%
7.4%
China
5.2%
5.8%
Taiwan
4.1%
5.3%
Hong Kong
4.5%
5.3%
Malaysia
5%
Netherlands
4.6%
Germany
Exports $35.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)Imports $33.5 billion f.o.b. (2002)(2002)

Budget

Revenues
$10.9 billionExpenditures
$15 billion (2002 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 55.6%hydro 17.5%other 26.9% (2001)nuclear 0%
Electricity production
45.21 billion (2001)Electricity consumption
42.04 billion (2001)

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 3.3% in 1999, 4.5% in 2000, and 4.5% in 2001.

In 2002, the Philippines recorded GDP growth of 4.4% but also incurred a record budget deficit. As a result, the Philippines is burdened with a public sector debt equal to more than 100% of GDP. Growth eased to 3.8% in 2003. The government has promised economic reforms including going forward with privatization, reforming the tax system, and promoting additional trade integration within its region. Considerable drive is required to update the educational system and the road network.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $379.7 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
1.5%
highest 10%:
39.3% (1998)

Labor force

33.7 million (2002)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 45%, industry 15%, services 40% (2003 est.)

Industries

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

Oil - production

8,460 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

343,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves

164 million bbl (37257)

Natural gas - production

10 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

10 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

104.6 billion cu m (37257)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$35.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$33.5 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities

raw materials, machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals

Debt - external

$60.3 billion (2002)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $1.1 billion (1998)

Currency

Philippine peso (PHP)

Exchange rates

Philippine pesos per US dollar - 51.67 (2002), 50.99 (2001), 44.19 (2000), 39.09 (1999), 40.89 (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
11.35 million
(2001)
Fixed lines
6.98 million
(2001) · country code .ph

Telephone system

general assessment:
good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and inter-island 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)

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
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
201,994Railways
897Waterways
3,219
Highways: paved: 42,419 km · unpaved: 159,575 km (2000) · Railways: narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (405 km are not in operation) (2002) · 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) (2002)

Highways

total:
201,994 km
paved:
42,419 km
unpaved:
159,575 km (2000)

Waterways

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

Pipelines

gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 100 km (2003)

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:
393 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,664,718 GRT/6,699,666 DWT

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, UK 7 (2002 est.)

ships by type:
bulk 111, cargo 105, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 8, container 8, liquefied gas 8, livestock carrier 9, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 42, refrigerated cargo 21, roll on/roll off 16, short-sea passenger 27, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 18

Airports

257 (2002)

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 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 21,923,324 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 15,428,043 (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

  • involved in complex dispute over Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and possibly Brunei;
  • claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", a mechanism to ease tension but which fell short of a legally binding "code of conduct";
  • Sultanate of Sulu granted Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue its sovereignty claim over Malaysia's Sabah State but Malaysia rejects claim

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 2003. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/philippines/2003.

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