Republic of the Philippines

Philippines (capital Manila) and neighboring states

Wealth and National Well-Being

World Factbook: "Philippine GDP grew 7.6% in 2010, spurred by consumer demand, a rebound in exports and investments, and election-related spending, before cooling to 3.7% in 2011. The economy weathered the 2008-09 global recession better than its regional peers due to minimal exposure to troubled international securities, lower dependence on exports, relatively resilient domestic consumption, large remittances from four- to five-million overseas Filipino workers, and a growing business process outsourcing industry."

Country Comparisons: chart

Economic growth rate
2011: 3.7%
2010: 7.6%
2009: 1.1%

Work force in agriculture
2010: 33%

Unemployment rate
2011: 7.2%

Public debt
2011: 49.4%

Export commodities
Semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits

Export partners
2010: China 19%, US 13.4%, Singapore 13.2%, Japan 12.8%, Hong Kong 7.6%, Germany 4.2%, South Korea 4.1%

Export/import ratio
2011: exports $54.17 billion, imports $68.84 billion.

The Philippines exports workers whose remittances help to balance the export/import ratio

Income Distribution – gini index
Ranks 38th among 140 countries (higher rank number is more equal, lower rank number is less equal). Less equal than Britain, which ranks 94th, and the US, which ranks 45th.

Health expenditures
2009: 3.8% of GDP

Military expenditures as a percentage of GDP
2006: 1.5%

People

Living in an urban area: 49% (2010)

Density for 2005, 294 persons per square kilometer – compared to 493 for South Korea (2005 estimate) and 378 for Japan (2004 estimate).

Ethnic groups
2000 census: Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3%

Religion
2000 census: Catholic 82.9% (Roman Catholic 80.9%, Aglipayan 2%), Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1%

Net migration rate
2012: A net loss of 1.27 per 1,000 population.

Literacy, Age 15 and Older
2003: males 92.5 percent, females 92.7 percent

Geography

Group of islands south of China and north of Indonesia. Total area including lakes: 300,000 square kilometers, roughly or 342 by 342 miles.

Government

Chief of state and head of government: Benigno Aquino III (president) since 30 June 2010, Liberal Party

A republic. Described also as a democracy with a bicameral legislature.. Capital: Manila

Recent History

Independence from the United States, July 4, 1946.

Pro-life people in the Philippines point out that population rate of growth has been declining over the years, and they celebrate what they call "big, happy" Filipino families. The Catholic Church forbids contraception such as birth control pills or condoms. In March, 2005, Catholic bishops in the south announced that they would deny communion to health workers who want to implement a safe-motherhood program through the government's Department of Health. 

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, known as a devout Catholic, has defended the Church's position against artificial birth control, but she has admitted to having used contraceptives as a young mother.

According to the BBC (February 23, 2006) average incomes have fallen "by about 10 percent in three years." The Philippines lacks a "good manufacturing base ... and is not keeping up with growth in the region." Poverty is growing along with a rapid rise in population. 

March 2010: With its rapidly growing population and low budget for education, the Philippines suffers from a lack of classrooms for children. It suffers, too, from low per capita GDP (162nd), and it has a high infant mortality rate: 20.56 per 1,000 live births (102st).