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| Introduction | Philippines |
| Background: | The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. The islands 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 a series of electoral presidential transitions since the removal of MARCOS. The government continues to struggle with armed Muslim insurgencies in the south. |
| People | Philippines |
| Population: | 86,241,697 (July 2004 est.) |
| Age structure: | 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.) |
| Median age: | total: 22.1 years male: 21.6 years female: 22.6 years (2004 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.88% (2004 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 25.8 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Death rate: | 5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 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 (2004 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | 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 |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 69.6 years male: 66.74 years female: 72.61 years (2004 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 3.22 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 9,000 (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | less than 500 (2003 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Filipino(s) adjective: Philippine |
| 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% |
| Languages: | two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.6% male: 92.5% female: 92.7% (2002) |
| Government | Philippines |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines conventional short form: Philippines local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas local short form: Pilipinas |
| Government type: | republic |
| Capital: | Manila |
| Administrative divisions: | 79 provinces and 115 chartered cities : provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu, Compostela, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay : chartered cities: Alaminos, Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago, Baguio, Bais, Balanga, Batangas, Bayawan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabanatuan, Cadiz, Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan, Calbayog, Candon, Canlaon, Cauayan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Danao, Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Escalante, Gapan, General Santos, Gingoog, Himamayan, Iligan, Iloilo, Isabela, Iriga, Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal, La Carlota, Laoag, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao, Lipa, Lucena, Maasin, Makati, Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marawi, Markina, Masbate, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga, Olongapo, Ormoc, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Pagadian, Palayan, Panabo, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Passi, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, Roxas, Sagay, Samal, San Carlos (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos (in Pangasinan), San Fernando (in La Union), San Fernando (in Pampanga), San Jose, San Jose del Monte, San Pablo, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay, Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tacloban, Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran, Tagum, Talisay (in Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Oriental), Tanauan, Tangub, Tanjay, Tarlac, Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires, Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga |
| Independence: | 12 June 1898 (from Spain) |
| National holiday: | 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 |
| 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 Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (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); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2010) election results: results of the election - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected president; percent of vote - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 40%, Fernando POE 37%, three others 23% cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments |
| 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 (212 members representing districts plus 24 sectora party-list members; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - the Constitution prohibits the House of Representatives from having more than 250 members) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - Lakas 30%, LP 13%, KNP 13%, independents 13%, others 31%; seats by party - Lakas 7, LP 3, KNP 3, independents 3, others 7; note - there are 23 rather than 24 sitting senators because one senator was elected vice president; 14 senators are pro-government, 9 are in opposition; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Lakas-CMD 91, NPC 58, LP 29, LDP 15, other 19 (2004) elections: Senate - last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2007); House of Representatives - elections last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2007) |
| Judicial branch: | 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) |
| Political parties and leaders: | 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] |
| 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) |
| International organization participation: | APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, 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, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Albert DEL ROSARIO chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, San Jose (Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam) consulate(s): San Diego FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614 telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Communications | Philippines |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 3,310,900 (2002) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 15.201 million (2002) |
| 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: | AM 369, FM 583, shortwave 5 note: each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the language of the target audience (2004) |
| Radios: | 11.5 million (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 225; note - 1373 CATV networks (2004) |
| Televisions: | 3.7 million (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .ph |
| Internet hosts: | 38,440 (2002) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 33 (2000) |
| Internet users: | 3.5 million (2002) |
| Transportation | Philippines |
| Railways: | total: 897 km narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in operation) (2003) |
| Highways: | total: 201,994 km paved: 42,419 km unpaved: 159,575 km (2000) |
| Waterways: | 3,219 km note: limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m (2004) |
| Pipelines: | gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 100 km (2004) |
| 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 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 173 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 68 under 914 m: 100 (2004 est.) |
| Heliports: | 2 (2003 est.) |
| Military | Philippines |
| Military branches: | Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force |
| Military manpower - military age and obligation: | 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001) |
| 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) |
| Transnational Issues | Philippines |
| 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 |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons: | IDPs: 150,000 (fighting between government troops and MILF and Abu Sayyaf groups) (2004) |
| 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 16 December, 2004 |
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