# Philippines

> archipelagic country in Southeast Asia

**Wikidata**: [Q928](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q928)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/philippines

## Summary
The Philippines is an archipelagic sovereign state and island country located in Southeast Asia. It is a presidential republic with its capital in Manila, serving as a major political and cultural hub within the region. Situated in the western Pacific Ocean, the country is defined by its vast collection of islands and its strategic position bordering the Philippine Sea to the east and the West Philippine Sea to the west.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name**: Republic of the Philippines (Republika ng Pilipinas).
- **Capital**: Manila (established by Presidential Decree No. 940, s. 1976).
- **Total Area**: 343,448 square kilometres.
- **Population**: 112,729,484 (2024 Census, preferred value).
- **Government Type**: Presidential republic and sovereign state.
- **Head of State and Government**: Bongbong Marcos (assumed office June 30, 2022).
- **Legislative Body**: Congress of the Philippines.
- **Highest Judicial Authority**: Supreme Court of the Philippines.
- **Official Languages**: Filipino (de jure) and English; Taglish is recognized de facto.
- **Currency**: Philippine peso (PHP).
- **Central Bank**: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
- **Highest Point**: Mount Apo.
- **Lowest Point**: Philippine Sea (0 metres).
- **National Motto**: *Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa* ("For God, People, Nature, and Country").
- **National Anthem**: *Lupang Hinirang*.
- **Independence Date**: July 4, 1946 (from the United States).
- **Timezone**: Philippine Standard Time (UTC+08:00), Asia/Manila.
- **Calling Code**: +63.
- **Internet TLD**: .ph.
- **ISO Codes**: Alpha-2: PH, Alpha-3: PHL, Numeric: 608.

## FAQs
**What are the primary administrative and geographic divisions of the Philippines?**
The Philippines is divided into three main island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Administratively, it consists of multiple regions including Metro Manila (National Capital Region), Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, Bangsamoro, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

**What international organizations is the Philippines a member of?**
The Philippines is a founding member of the United Nations (since 1946) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It also maintains memberships in the World Trade Organization (WTO), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Interpol, UNESCO, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

**What is the demographic and religious profile of the country?**
As of 2024, the population is approximately 112.7 million, with a literacy rate of 96.3%. The dominant religion is Catholicism (78.8%), followed by Islam (6.4%) and other Christian denominations. Major ethnic groups include the Tagalog (28.1%), Cebuano (13.1%), Ilocano (9%), Visayans (7.6%), Hiligaynon (7.5%), Bicolano (6%), and Waray (3.4%).

**What are the national holidays and symbols of the Philippines?**
National symbols include the Flag of the Philippines and the Great Seal, which bears the national motto. Major public holidays include Independence Day (June 12), Rizal Day (December 30), Bonifacio Day (November 30), Bataan Day (*Araw ng Kagitingan*, April 9), National Heroes' Day (August 26), and religious observances such as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Christmas, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha.

## Why It Matters
The Philippines is a significant geopolitical actor in Southeast Asia, serving as a bridge between mainland Asia and the Pacific. As one of the world's largest archipelagic states, it manages vast maritime territories and diverse ecosystems. Its historical trajectory—from Spanish colonial rule (1565) to American administration (1901) and finally to a sovereign republic (1946)—has created a unique cultural synthesis of Eastern and Western influences. Economically, it is a major emerging market with a nominal GDP exceeding $404 billion (2022) and a high human development index of 0.699. Its commitment to regional stability is evidenced by its role as a founder of ASEAN and its active participation in global trade and security frameworks.

## Notable For
- **Archipelagic State**: One of the world's largest island countries, comprising thousands of islands.
- **Linguistic Diversity**: Home to over 170 languages, including major regional tongues like Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, and Waray.
- **Mount Apo**: The highest peak in the country, located in Mindanao.
- **Tourism Slogan**: Widely known for the campaign "It’s more fun in the Philippines."
- **Democracy Index**: Ranked with a score of 6.62 (2021), classified as a "partly free" country by Freedom House.
- **Historical Firsts**: Established the first republic in Asia (1899) under Emilio Aguinaldo.
- **Banaue Rice Terraces**: Featured as a prominent cultural and geographic landmark.

## Body

### History and Governance
The modern Philippine state evolved through several distinct periods of governance. Its formal inception as a unified entity began with the Captaincy General of the Philippines under the Spanish Empire in 1565. Following the Spanish-American War, the Insular Government of the Philippine Islands was established in 1901, followed by the Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1935. Full sovereignty was achieved with the inauguration of the Third Republic on July 4, 1946.

The government operates as a presidential republic. The President serves as both head of state and head of government. Notable past presidents include Manuel L. Quezon, Ferdinand Marcos, Corazon Aquino, Rodrigo Duterte, and the current incumbent, Bongbong Marcos. Independent constitutional bodies, such as the Civil Service Commission (established 1900), support the administrative framework.

### Geography and Environment
Located at coordinates 12° N, 123° E, the Philippines is bounded by the Philippine Sea to the east, the Celebes Sea to the south, and the West Philippine Sea to the west. It shares maritime borders with the People's Republic of China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Palau, and Taiwan. The terrain is mountainous and volcanic, with Mount Apo serving as the highest point. The lowest point is at sea level along the Philippine Sea. The country's northernmost point is at 21.12° N, while its easternmost point is Pusan Point (126.60° E).

### Demographics and Society
The Philippine population has seen massive growth, from an estimated 1.5 million in 1799 to over 112 million in 2024. The society is highly urbanized, with 58.9 million people living in urban areas compared to 50.1 million in rural settings (2020 data). Quezon City is the most populous urban area. 

The linguistic landscape is exceptionally diverse. While Filipino and English are official, dozens of other languages are actively used, including Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Kapampangan, and various Agta and Manobo languages. The literacy rate is high at 96.3%, and the age of majority is 18 for females and 21 for males (historical data). Life expectancy at birth was recorded at approximately 72 years in 2022.

### Economy and Infrastructure
The Philippine economy is a major regional force with a nominal GDP of $404.3 billion (2022). The currency is the Philippine peso, managed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The poverty incidence has significantly declined from 33.7% in 2000 to 13.2% in 2021. The unemployment rate was 7.1% as of 2014.

Infrastructure standards include:
- **Driving Side**: Right-hand traffic.
- **Railway Side**: Left-hand traffic.
- **Electricity**: 220V at 60Hz; plug types include NEMA 1-15, NEMA 5-15, and Europlug.
- **Emergency Number**: 911 (since 2016).
- **Connectivity**: International calling code +63 and trunk prefix 0.

### International Relations
The Philippines maintains extensive diplomatic relations globally, including with the United States, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and the European Union. It is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and a member of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (historical). The country also participates in the ASEAN cable system and maintains an active presence in the World Customs Organization and the International Telecommunication Union.

### Technical Identifiers
- **ISO 3166-1**: PH (Alpha-2), PHL (Alpha-3), 608 (Numeric).
- **ISNI**: 0000 0001 2180 0793.
- **VIAF**: 124656806.
- **GS1 Country Code**: 480.
- **Maritime Identification Digits**: 548.
- **Aircraft Registration Prefix**: RP.
- **Internet Domain**: .ph.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/)
2. [Source](https://www.workwithdata.com/place/philippines)
3. [Source](https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines)
4. [Source](http://www.gov.ph/about/gov/exec/)
5. [Source](http://www.gov.ph/1935/11/25/oath-of-office-of-president-quezon-november-25-1935/)
6. [Source](http://rtvm.gov.ph/main/?tag=administration-of-oath-of-office-to-the-president-elect-rodrigo-roa-duterte)
7. [Source](https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1976/05/29/presidential-decree-no-940-s-1976/)
8. [Source](http://ncca.gov.ph/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-disseminationscd/language-and-translation/development-of-filipino-the-national-language-of-the-philippines/)
9. Source
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12. [Source](https://asiasociety.org/education/religion-philippines)
13. [Source](http://nap.psa.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/listreg.asp)
14. Virtual International Authority File
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16. BnF authorities
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18. [Source](https://data.iana.org/time-zones/tzdb-2021e/asia)
19. Lingua Libre
20. [Member States](http://www.un.org/en/member-states/)
21. [Source](http://asean.org/asean/asean-member-states/)
22. [Source](https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org6_e.htm)
23. [Source](http://www.apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC/Member-Economies)
24. [Source](http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/leadership/members)
25. [Source](http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/leadership/members#2)
26. [Source](http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/leadership/members#3)
27. [Source](http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/leadership/members#4)
28. [Source](http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/leadership/members#5)
29. [Source](http://aseanregionalforum.asean.org/about.html)
30. [Source](https://www.adb.org/about/members)
31. [Source](https://www.interpol.int/Member-countries/World)
32. [Source](https://www.interpol.int/Who-we-are/Member-countries/Asia-South-Pacific/PHILIPPINES)
33. [Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons](https://www.opcw.org/about-opcw/member-states/)
34. [Source](https://www.opcw.org/about-us/member-states/philippines)
35. [International Hydrographic Organization](https://www.iho.int/srv1/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=452&lang=en)
36. [Source](http://www.unesco.org/eri/cp/ListeMS_Indicators.asp)
37. [Source](http://www.upu.int/en/the-upu/member-countries.html)
38. [Source](https://www.upu.int/en/Universal-Postal-Union/About-UPU/Member-Countries?csid=-1&cid=236)
39. [Source](https://www.itu.int/online/mm/scripts/gensel8)
40. [Source](https://public.wmo.int/en/members/philippines)
41. [Source](https://www.who.int/choice/demography/by_country/en/)
42. [Source](https://www.wcoomd.org/-/media/wco/public/global/pdf/about-us/wco-members/list-of-members-with-membership-date.pdf)
43. [Source](https://www.ncnk.org/sites/default/files/content/resources/publications/NCNK_Issue_Brief_DPRK_Diplomatic_Relations.pdf)
44. [Source](http://forestry.denr.gov.ph/b+wiser/index.php/sites/mount-apo-natural-park)
45. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
46. [Source](https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/)
47. [Source](https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/nationwide-holidays/)
48. FIPS 10-4
49. [2022](https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/human-development-index#/indicies/HDI)
50. growth of Philippine Population: 1799 - 2007