Philippines

Classification facts (stable)

The Philippines is a United Nations member state with the following statistical identifiers:

• UN M49 code: 608
• ISO alpha-2: PH
• ISO alpha-3: PHL
• UN region: Asia
• UN subregion: South-eastern Asia
• UN member state: Yes
• World Bank capital field: Manila

These identifiers come from the UN Statistics Division’s M49 classification and the World Bank country API. M49 codes are statistical groupings, not political or territorial claims. The Philippines is classified under South-eastern Asia for statistical purposes; this does not imply any position on territorial or political disputes in the region.

Country basics

The Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia, composed of more than 7,600 islands. The three main island groups are Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The official languages are Filipino and English, while regional languages such as Cebuano, Ilocano, and Hiligaynon are recognized. The national currency is the Philippine peso (PHP), issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

For any current figure about population, area, or administrative divisions, the authoritative source is the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The most recent census was the 2020 Census of Population and Housing; the next full census is scheduled for 2030. As of the 2020 census, the usually resident count was 109,035,343 persons (PSA, 2020). The UN World Population Prospects produces annual estimates between censuses; its 2024 revision projected a mid-2023 figure of around 116 million. These two numbers are not directly comparable because they use different definitions, reference dates, and collection methods.

Manila is the seat of the national administration. The broader metropolitan area, sometimes called Metro Manila or the National Capital Region, is a distinct administrative region. The World Bank capital field lists Manila, but the capital region is formally defined as the National Capital Region (NCR), which includes 16 cities and one municipality. This distinction matters: statistical and administrative boundaries do not always align.

Population, economy, and governance figures change frequently; the following are reference values, not live data.

How to find the latest population and demographic figures

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) conducts the census and releases official counts roughly every decade; the 2020 Census of Population and Housing counted 109,035,343 persons. The UN World Population Prospects 2024 revision estimated a mid-2023 count of around 116 million. Always check the PSA and the UN World Population Prospects for the latest figure, and note the reference year when citing any number. The World Bank also publishes annual estimates that can differ because of projection methods and base years.

For demographic context, consult these reference points:

• Median age: 25.7 years (UN World Population Prospects 2024 revision).
• Urban share: 48.0% of the total (World Bank, 2023).
• Life expectancy at birth: 69.5 years (WHO, 2019).
• Infant mortality rate: 22.2 deaths per 1,000 live births (UN IGME, 2022).
• Adult literacy rate: 96.3% (World Bank, 2019). Note that functional literacy may differ from this official estimate.

Capital and administrative geography

Manila is the capital city. The seat of the national administration is in Manila, while the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) is the political, economic, and cultural centre. The city of Manila is one of the 16 cities that make up Metro Manila, which also includes Quezon City, the country’s most populous city. Administrative and political claims about the capital are not in dispute, but the functional extent of the capital region depends on whether you use the official NCR definition or a broader metropolitan definition. Always attribute the source of any population or area figure for the capital.

Languages

Filipino and English are the official languages per the 1987 Constitution. Filipino is based on Tagalog. English is widely used in administration, business, media and education. The Constitution recognizes regional languages as auxiliary official languages in their respective regions. The country has over 180 living languages, including Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, and others. According to the PSA, the 2020 Census of Population and Housing reported Tagalog as the most commonly spoken language at home, followed by other regional languages; exact percentages require consulting the PSA’s language tables for the reference year. For current linguistic data, see the Philippine Statistics Authority census reports and the UNESCO Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger.

Government and political system

The Philippines is a unitary presidential constitutional republic. The President serves as both head of state and head of government. The legislature is bicameral: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Supreme Court heads the judiciary. The 1987 Constitution is the supreme law. Administrative divisions include regions, provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays. The country has a multi-party system. Political structure and territorial claims are defined by the Constitution and national law; the Republic of the Philippines exercises sovereignty over its territory, while some maritime boundaries remain subject to international dispute.

Economy and development indicators

The economy is services-dominated, with substantial overseas remittances, business process outsourcing, manufacturing, and agriculture. GDP data and growth rates are published by the PSA and the World Bank; figures differ because of revision cycles and base-year changes.

Key reference values from the World Bank and UN agencies:

• Income classification: Lower-middle income (World Bank, FY2025 classification, based on 2023 GNI per capita, Atlas method).
• GDP per capita (PPP): Approximately $12,100 in international dollars (World Bank, 2023, rounded to nearest hundred).
• GDP per capita (nominal): Approximately $3,950 (World Bank, 2023).
• Gini index: 42.3 (World Bank, 2021, latest available; 0 equals perfect equality, 100 equals perfect inequality).
• Poverty headcount ratio at $3.65/day (2017 PPP): 18.1% (World Bank, 2021).
• HDI: 0.710, high human development category, rank 113 of 193 countries (UNDP, 2022).
• Internet penetration: 73% of individuals using the Internet (ITU, 2023).
• CO2 emissions per capita: 1.31 metric tons (World Bank, 2019).

People and culture

The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands. Cultural identity is shaped by Malay, Chinese, Spanish, and American influences, and by the large overseas Filipino diaspora. The national statistical authority is the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).