Geography
Climate: tropical marine.
CIA 2026
Data as of May 5, 2026
Philippines
AsiaLand of Contrasts
Philippines defies simple categorization. Test your assumptions about Philippines.
Philippines defies simple categorization. Strong at #4 for high-tech exports, it stumbles on life expectancy. Test your assumptions about Philippines.
13.0, 122.0 - Asia
Area
342K km²
Pop.
118.28M
Stats
128
Reality brief
Philippines is a country in Asia with a population of 118.28M and an area of 342,353 km². Life expectancy is 69.8 years.
Short factual summary generated from the same country data used in game rounds.
Core numbers
Stats worth knowing
Fast scan first, deep dive later.
Population Density
385.32 /km²#29globally
How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
Land Area
298.2K km²#72globally
Total land area in square kilometers, excluding lakes, rivers, and territorial waters.
Internet Users (%)
84%#98globally
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
University Enrollment Rate
47.41%#81globally
Total university and college enrollment as a percentage of the typical college-age population.
Human Development Index
0.72#119globally
Composite 0-1 index of life expectancy, education, and income, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
Country briefing
Grounded facts about Philippines
A quick real-world briefing before you dive deeper into rankings, surprises, and matchups.
Culture
Major languages include Tagalog 39.9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 16%, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo 7.3%, Ilocano 7.1%, and more.
CIA 2026
Identity
Formal name: Republic of the Philippines.
CIA 2026
Cities
Cities in Philippines
Browse this country's cities before City Detective asks you to guess.
Manila
National Capital Region, Philippines
Famous100/100
Open city guide
Davao
Davao Region, Philippines
Famous81/100
Open city guide
Cebu City
Central Visayas, Philippines
Famous79/100
Open city guide
Zamboanga
Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines
Famous75/100
Open city guide
Iloilo
Western Visayas, Philippines
Famous72/100
Open city guide
Baguio
Cordillera, Philippines
Famous66/100
Open city guide
Cagayan de Oro
Northern Mindanao, Philippines
Famous65/100
Open city guide
Laoag
Ilocos, Philippines
Famous65/100
Open city guide
Top stats
Where They Stand Out
The strongest source-backed stats before the deeper data table.
Coastline Length
36.3K km#5globallyTop stat
Total coastline length from CIA World Factbook.
High-Tech Exports (%)
60.98%#4globallyTop stat
High-tech products (like computers, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace) as a percentage of total manufactured exports.
Merchant Fleet Size
2.2K#11globallyTop stat
Number of merchant marine ships from the frozen public-domain CIA World Factbook snapshot.
Spirits Consumption
3.5 L/person/yr#18globallyTop stat
Liters of spirits consumed per person per year, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
Irrigated Land
16.3K km²#27globallyTop stat
Irrigated land area from CIA World Factbook.
Reality checks
Did You Know?
The stats that tend to surprise players in real rounds.
Only ranks #129 in railway length
#12977 kmRailway Length
Total railway length from CIA World Factbook.
Keeps unemployment rate unusually low
#1692.2%Unemployment Rate
The percentage of the workforce that is unemployed but actively looking for work.
Only ranks #217 in land border length
#2170 kmLand Border Length
Total length of land borders with neighboring countries from the frozen public-domain CIA World Factbook snapshot.
Ranks #28 globally in airports
#28244Airports
Large, medium, and small airport records by country from the open OurAirports dataset.
Ranks #30 globally in gdp growth rate
#305.7%GDP Growth Rate
The annual percentage change in the country's GDP.
Compared with the region
How Philippines Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
Philippines
Asia avg
World avg
GDP per Capita
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
- Country
- $11,794.14
- Region avg
- $34,339.76
- World avg
- $31,844.55
Philippine…$11,794.14
Asia$34,339.76
World$31,844.55
-63% below worldWB 2023
Life Expectancy
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
- Country
- 69.8 years
- Region avg
- 75.3 years
- World avg
- 73.7 years
Philippine…69.8 years
Asia75.3 years
World73.7 years
-5% below worldWB 2023
Human Development Index
Composite 0-1 index of life expectancy, education, and income, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
- Country
- 0.72
- Region avg
- 0.75
- World avg
- 0.74
Philippine…0.72
Asia0.75
World0.74
-3% below worldOWID 2023
Internet Users
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
- Country
- 84%
- Region avg
- 75.77%
- World avg
- 70.29%
Philippine…84%
Asia75.77%
World70.29%
+20% above worldWB 2023
Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Play this countryFactbook notes
About Philippines
Country briefing
The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War.
Read the full Factbook note
The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. Led by Emilio AGUINALDO, the Filipinos conducted an insurgency against US rule from 1899-1902, although some fighting continued in outlying islands as late as 1913. In 1935, the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. The islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence.
Twenty-one years of authoritarian rule under Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power" movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Several coup attempts hampered her presidency, and progress on political stability and economic development faltered until Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992. The US closed its last military bases on the islands the same year. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998. His vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, succeded him in 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2") demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected president in 2004. Corruption allegations marred her presidency, but the Philippine economy was one of the few to avoid contraction after the 2008 global financial crisis. Benigno AQUINO III was elected as president in 2010, followed by Rodrigo DUTERTE in 2016. During his term, DUTERTE pursued a controversial drug war that garnered international criticism for alleged human rights abuses. Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. was elected president in 2022 with the largest popular vote in a presidential election since his father's ouster.
For decades, the country has been challenged by armed ethnic separatists, communist rebels, and Islamic terrorist groups, particularly in the southern islands and remote areas of Luzon.
Geography & Climate6 facts
- Location
- Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
- 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 several cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Taal (311 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Mayon (2,462 m), the country's most active volcano, erupted in 2009 and forced over 33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo, and Ragang; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
- Size Comparison
- slightly less than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona
People & Culture4 facts
- Languages
- Tagalog 39.9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 16%, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo 7.3%, Ilocano 7.1%, Cebuano 6.5%, Bikol/Bicol 3.9%, Waray 2.6%, Kapampangan 2.4%, Maguindanao 1.4%, Pangasinan/Panggalato 1.3%, other languages/dialects 11.2%, unspecified 0.4% (2020 est.)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 78.8%, Muslim 6.4%, Iglesia ni Cristo 2.6%, other Christian 3.9%, other 8.2%, none/unspecified <0.1 (2020 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Tagalog 26%, Bisaya/Binisaya 14.3%, Ilocano 8%, Cebuano 8%, Illonggo 7.9%, Bikol/Bicol 6.5%, Waray 3.8%, Kapampangan 3%, Maguindanao 1.9%, Pangasinan 1.9%, other local ethnicities 18.5%, foreign ethnicities 0.2% (2020 est.)
- Major Cities
- 14.667 million MANILA (capital), 1.949 million Davao, 1.025 million Cebu City, 931,000 Zamboanga, 960,000 Antipolo, 803,000 Cagayan de Oro City, 803,000 Dasmarinas (2023)
Government & History10 facts
- Government Type
- presidential republic
- Capital
- Manila
- Capital Coordinates
- 14 36 N, 120 58 E
- Capital Timezone
- UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Republic of the Philippines
- Name Origin
- named in honor of King PHILLIP II of Spain by Spanish explorer Ruy LOPEZ de VILLALOBOS, who visited the islands in 1543
- Independence
- 4 July 1946 (from the US)
- National Symbols
- three stars and sun, Philippine eagle
- National Anthem
- "Lupang Hinirang" (Chosen Land)
- UNESCO Heritage
- 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)
Economy & Trade7 facts
- Overview
- growing Southeast Asian economy; commercial rebound led by transportation, construction and financial services; electronics exports recovering from sector slowdown; significant remittances; interest rate rises following heightened inflation; uncertainties due to increased regional tensions with China
- Industries
- semiconductors and electronics assembly, business process outsourcing, food and beverage manufacturing, construction, electric/gas/water supply, chemical products, radio/television/communications equipment and apparatus, petroleum and fuel, textile and garments, non-metallic minerals, basic metal industries, transport equipment
- Agricultural Products
- sugarcane, rice, coconuts, maize, bananas, vegetables, tropical fruits, plantains, pineapples, cassava (2023)
- Export Partners
- China 19%, USA 13%, Hong Kong 12%, Japan 11%, Germany 5% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- integrated circuits, machine parts, gold, insulated wire, semiconductors (2023)
- Import Partners
- China 25%, Indonesia 8%, Japan 8%, S. Korea 6%, USA 6% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- integrated circuits, refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, coal (2023)
Infrastructure & Defense5 facts
- Military Forces
- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force Department of Transportation: Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); Department of the Interior: Philippine National Police Force (PNP) (2025)
- Military Service
- some variations in age based on the branch of service, but generally 18-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 77.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); geothermal: 9.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); biomass and waste: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- multiple national private TV and radio networks; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; more than 400 TV stations; about 1,500 cable TV providers with more than 2 million subscribers; over 1,400 radio stations; was scheduled to move to digital by the end of 2023 (2019)
- Space Program
- has a small space program focused on acquiring satellites and related technologies, largely for climate studies, national security, and risk management; also prioritizing development of space expertise and industry; manufactures and operates satellites (mostly micro- and nano-sized), including remote sensing and scientific/experimental; has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, the ESA (and some of its member states), India, Japan, Russia, and the US (2025)
Source:World Factbook archive 2026
Data vault
Deep Dive
Every tracked stat, grouped for fast scanning.
Wealth & Economy10 statsBest: #4
High-Tech Exports (%)
GDP Growth Rate
GDP (Nominal)
Inflation Rate
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
GDP Per Capita
Government Debt (% GDP)
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
Youth Unemployment Rate
Unemployment Rate
Land & Sea4 statsBest: #5
Coastline Length
36.3K km#5
Highest Elevation
3.0K m#71
Lowest Elevation
0 m#159
Land Border Length
0 km#217
Infrastructure3 statsBest: #11
Demographics12 statsBest: #14
Population
Population Density
Land Area
Youth Population (%)
Birth Rate
Teen Birth Rate
Fertility Rate
Elderly Population (%)
Urban Population (%)
Median Age
Dependency Ratio
Death Rate
Lifestyle5 statsBest: #18
Education & Future5 statsBest: #22
Environment9 statsBest: #27
Irrigated Land
16.3K km²#27
Total CO2 Emissions
Forest Area
Renewable Energy (%)
Air Pollution (PM2.5)
Protected Land (%)
Forest Coverage (%)
CO2 Per Capita
Electricity Access (%)
Society & Equality2 statsBest: #27
Energy1 statsBest: #38
Electric Generating Capacity
29.17M kW#38
Military & Defense2 statsBest: #40
Health & Survival9 statsBest: #64
Child Mortality
Infant Mortality
Smoking Rate
Doctors (per 1,000)
Health Spending (% GDP)
Life Expectancy
Suicide Rate
Hospital Beds (per 1,000)
Obesity Rate
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Philippines
#14 in Population
The total number of people living in the country.
Top 10% globally
118.28M
Frequently Asked Questions about Philippines
What is the population of Philippines?
Philippines has a population of 118.28M, ranking #14 globally by population.
What continent is Philippines in?
Philippines is located in Asia. It has an area of 342,353 km².
What is the life expectancy in Philippines?
Life expectancy in Philippines is 69.8 years, ranking #151 globally.
What is the GDP per capita of Philippines?
Philippines's GDP per capita (PPP) is $11,794.14, ranking #131 globally.
What is Philippines known for in global statistics?
Philippines ranks particularly high in Population (#14), Population Density (#29), Land Area (#72).
What is Philippines's Human Development Index?
Philippines has an HDI of 0.720, ranking #119 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
How densely populated is Philippines?
Philippines has a population density of 385.3 people per km², ranking #29 globally.