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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. |
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Location:
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Southeastern
Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South
China Sea, east of Vietnam |
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 00 N, 122 00 E |
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Map references:
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Southeast
Asia |
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Area:
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total:
300,000 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
|
slightly larger
than Arizona |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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36,289 km |
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Climate:
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tropical marine;
northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May
to October) |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains
with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m |
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Natural resources:
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timber,
petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper |
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Land use:
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arable land:
18.45%
permanent crops: 14.76%
other: 66.79% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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15,500 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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astride typhoon
belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six
cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes;
destructive earthquakes; tsunamis |
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Environment - current issues:
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uncontrolled
deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air
and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef
degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps
that are important fish breeding grounds |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent
Organic Pollutants |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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86,241,697 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
35.8% (male 15,758,255; female 15,152,291)
15-64 years: 60.2% (male 25,847,345; female 26,096,211)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 1,473,873; female
1,913,722) (2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
22.1 years
male: 21.6 years
female: 22.6 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.88% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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25.8 births/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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5.53 deaths/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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 (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
24.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 27.11 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 69.6 years
male: 66.74 years
female: 72.61 years (2004 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.22 children
born/woman (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1%
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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9,400 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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720 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine |
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Ethnic groups:
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Christian Malay
91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic
83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3% |
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Languages:
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two official
languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight
major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynon or
Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.9%
male: 96%
female: 95.8% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Manila |
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Administrative divisions:
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79 provinces and
115 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur,
Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Bacolod*,
Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan, Batanes,
Batangas, Batangas City*, Biliran, 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*, Compostela, Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*,
Davao City*, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental,
Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General Santos*, Gingoog*,
Guimaras, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo,
Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga, 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*, Sarangani, 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, Zamboanga Sibugay |
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Independence:
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12 June 1898
(from Spain) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day,
12 June (1898)
note: 12 June 1898 was the date of independence from
Spain; 4 July 1946 was the date of independence from the US |
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Constitution:
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2 February 1987,
effective 11 February 1987 |
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Legal system:
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based on Spanish
and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations |
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Executive branch:
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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 10 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 - 49.56%; 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 |
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Legislative branch:
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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 (206 members
representing districts plus 20 sectora party-list members;
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 10 May 2004); House of Representatives - elections last
held 14 May 2001 (next to be held 10 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 (May 2001) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (15
justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation
of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70 years of
age) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Laban Ng
Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP
[Edgardo ANGARA, president]; 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]; Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino
(Party of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Horacio MORALES,
president]; Aksyon Demokratiko Party [Raul ROCO, president];
Reporma [Renato DE VILLA, chairman]; PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA,
president] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
Bayan Muna [Reps.
Satur OCAMPO, Liza MAZA, and Crispin BELTRAN]; Bagong Alyasang
Makabayan or BAYAN [Nathaniel SANTIAGO and Teddy CASINO];
League of Filipino Students [Noel COLINA]; AKBAYAN [Rep.
Loretta ROSALES]; SANLAKAS [Renato CONSTANTINO]; Confederation
for Unity, Reform and Advancement for Government Employees or
COURAGE [Ferdinand GAITE] (2003) |
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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 |
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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) 523-6300
FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361 |
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Economy - overview:
|
The
Philippines was less severely affected by the Asian financial
crisis of 1998 than its neighbors, aided in part by annual
remittances of $6-7 billion from overseas workers. From a 0.6%
decline in 1998, GDP expanded by 2.4% in 1999, and 4.4% in
2000, but slowed to 3.2% in 2001 in the context of a global
economic slowdown, an export slump, and political and security
concerns. GDP growth accelerated to 4.4% in 2002 and 4.2% in
2003, reflecting the continued resilience of the service
sector, gains in industrial output, and improved exports.
Nonetheless, it will take a higher, sustained growth path to
make appreciable progress in poverty alleviation given the
Philippines' high annual population growth rate and unequal
distribution of income. The MACAPAGAL-ARROYO Administration
has promised to continue economic reforms to help the
Philippines match the pace of development in the newly
industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes
improving the infrastructure, strengthening tax collection to
bolster government revenues, furthering deregulation and
privatization of the economy, enhancing the viability of the
financial system, and increasing trade integration with the
region. Prospects for 2004 will depend on the economic
performance of two major trading partners, the US and Japan,
and on increased confidence on the part of the international
investment community. |
|
GDP:
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purchasing
power parity - $390.7 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
|
4.5%
(2003 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
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purchasing
power parity - $4,600 (2003 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
15%
industry: 35%
services: 50% (2003 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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40%
(2001 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.1%
(2003 est.) |
|
Labor force:
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34.6
million (2003) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture
45%, industry 15%, services 40% (2003 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
|
11.4%
(2003) |
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Budget:
|
revenues:
$10.9 billion
expenditures: $15.1 billion, including capital
expenditures of $2.4 million $NA (2002) |
|
Industries:
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electronics
assembly, textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products,
food processing, petroleum refining, fishing |
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Industrial production growth rate:
|
3.7%
(2002 est.) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
45.21
billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil
fuel: 55.6%
hydro: 17.5%
other: 26.9% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
42.04
billion kWh (2001) |
|
Oil - production:
|
8,460
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
|
343,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - production:
|
10
million cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Natural gas - consumption:
|
10
million cu m (2001 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products:
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rice,
coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, pork,
eggs, beef, fish |
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Exports:
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$34.56
billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Exports - commodities:
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electronic
equipment, machinery and transport equipment, garments,
coconut products, chemicals |
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Exports - partners:
|
US
24.7%, Japan 15%, Netherlands 8.7%, Taiwan 7.1%, Singapore 7%,
Hong Kong 6.7%, Malaysia 4.7% (2002) |
|
Imports:
|
$35.97
billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
raw
materials, machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals |
|
Imports - partners:
|
US
20.6%, Japan 20.4%, South Korea 7.8%, Singapore 6.5%, Taiwan
5%, Hong Kong 4.5% (2002) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$56.7
billion (2003) |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
ODA
commitments, $1.2 billion (2002) |
|
Currency:
|
Philippine
peso (PHP) |
|
Currency code:
|
PHP |
|
Exchange rates:
|
Philippine
pesos per US dollar - 54.2 (2003), 51.6 (2002), 50.99 (2001),
44.19 (2000), 39.09 (1999) |
|
Fiscal year:
|
calendar
year |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
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3,310,900 (2002) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
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15.201 million
(2002) |
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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: country code - 63; 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:
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AM 369, FM 583,
shortwave 5
note: each shortwave station operates on multiple
frequencies in the language of the target audience (2004) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
225; note - 1373
CATV networks (2004) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.ph |
|
Internet hosts:
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38,440 (2002) |
|
Internet users:
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3.5 million
(2002) |
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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: 385
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,524,259 GRT/6,437,171 DWT
foreign-owned: Australia 2, Canada 1, Germany 2, Greece
11, Hong Kong 15, Japan 50, Malaysia 5, Netherlands 15, Norway
6, Panama 1, United Kingdom 2, United States 4
registered in other countries: 87 (2003 est.)
by type: bulk 99, cargo 103, chemical tanker 7,
combination bulk 7, container 8, liquefied gas 9, livestock
carrier 10, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker
45, refrigerated cargo 21, roll on/roll off 16,
short-sea/passenger 26, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier
19 |
|
Airports:
|
253 (2003 est.) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total: 82
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 11 (2003 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total: 171
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 68
under 914 m: 98 (2003 est.) |
|
Heliports:
|
2 (2003 est.) |
|
Military branches:
|
Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard and
Marine Corps), Air Force |
|
Military manpower - military age:
|
20 years of age
(2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - availability:
|
males age
15-49: 22,435,982 (2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - fit for military service:
|
males age
15-49: 15,780,602 (2004 est.) |
|
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
|
males:
851,009 (2004 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$995 million
(FY98) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
1.5% (FY98) |
|
Disputes - international:
|
involved in
complex dispute with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and
possibly Brunei over the Spratly Islands, known locally as the
Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, the 2002 "Declaration on the
Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," has eased
tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of
conduct" desired by several of the disputants;
Philippines retains a claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in
northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting the
Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a
sovereignty 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; domestic methamphetamine
production is a growing problem; remains on Financial Action
Task Force Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for
continued failure to address deficiencies in money-laundering
control regime |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
|