World Factbook
Philippines
Republika ng Pilipinas
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a white equilateral triangle is based on the left side; the center of the triangle has a yellow sun with eight rays, each split into smaller rays; the triangle's corners each have a small five-pointed yellow star meaning: blue stands for peace and justice, red for courage, and the triangle for equality; the rays represent the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, and the stars represent the country's three parts: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao history: the design dates to 1897
note: in wartime, the flag is flown upside-down with the red band at the top
Capital
name
Manila
etymology
derives from the Tagalog word may , meaning "there is," and nila , the local name for a shrub in the indigo family
time difference
UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
14 36 N, 120 58 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of the Philippines
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest ratified 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
amendment process
proposed by Congress if supported by three fourths of the membership, by a constitutional convention called by Congress, or by public petition; passage by either of the three proposal methods requires a majority vote in a national referendum
Country name
etymology
named in honor of King PHILLIP II of Spain by Spanish explorer Ruy LOPEZ de VILLALOBOS, who visited the islands in 1543
local long form
Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form
Pilipinas
conventional long form
Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form
Philippines
Independence
4 July 1946 (from the US)
Legal system
mixed system of civil, common, Islamic (sharia), and customary law
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 14 associate justices)
subordinate courts
Court of Appeals; Sandiganbayan (special court for corruption cases of government officials); Court of Tax Appeals; regional, metropolitan, and municipal trial courts; sharia courts
judge selection and term of office
justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council, a constitutionally created, 6-member body that recommends Supreme Court nominees; justices serve until age 70
Executive branch
note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments, an independent body of 25 Congressional members that includes the Senate president (ex officio chairman) and is appointed by the president
chief of state
President Ferdinand "BongBong" MARCOS, Jr. (since 30 June 2022)
election results
2022: Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. elected president; percent of vote - Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. (PFP) 58.7%, Leni ROBREDO (independent) 27.9%, Manny PACQUIAO (PROMDI) 6.8%, other 6.6%; Sara DUTERTE-Carpio elected vice president; percent of vote Sara DUTERTE-Carpio (Lakas-CMD) 61.5%, Francis PANGILINAN (LP) 17.8%, Tito SOTTO 15.8%, other 4.9% 2016: Rodrigo DUTERTE elected president; percent of vote - Rodrigo DUTERTE (PDP-Laban) 39%, Manuel "Mar" ROXAS (LP) 23.5%, Grace POE (independent) 21.4%, Jejomar BINAY (UNA) 12.7%, Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO (PRP) 3.4%; Leni ROBREDO elected vice president; percent of vote Leni ROBREDO (LP) 35.1%, Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. (independent) 34.5%, Alan CAYETANO 14.4%, Francis ESCUDERO (independent) 12%, other 4%
head of government
President Ferdinand "BongBong" MARCOS, Jr. (since 30 June 2022)
most recent election date
9 May 2022
election/appointment process
president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by simple-majority popular vote for a single 6-year term
expected date of next election
9 May 2028
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
National color(s)
red, white, blue, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Baroque Churches of the Philippines (c); Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (n); Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (c); Historic Vigan (c); Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park (n); Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (n)
Political parties
Democratic Action (Aksyon Demokratiko) Alliance for Change (Hugpong ng Pagbabago or HNP) Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP) Lakas ng EDSA-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD Liberal Party or LP Nacionalista Party or NP Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC National Unity Party or NUP Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban Partido Federal ng Pilipinas or PFP
Legislative branch
legislature name
Congress (Kongreso)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Lupang Hinirang" (Chosen Land)
history
music adopted 1898 and lyrics adopted 1956; only sung in Tagalog
lyrics/music
collectively/Julian FELIPE
National symbol(s)
three stars and sun, Philippine eagle
National coat of arms
the coat of arms was adopted on 3 July 1946; the three gold stars represent the major island groups of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao; the rays of the sun represent the provinces of the Philippines; the American eagle and lion of Spain represent the nation's colonial past
Administrative divisions
81 provinces and 38 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, Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, 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, 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: Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caloocan, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Davao, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Lucena, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Naga, Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, San Juan, Santiago, Tacloban, Taguig, Valenzuela, Zamboanga
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan)
term in office
3 years
number of seats
317 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
5/12/2025
expected date of next election
May 2028
percentage of women in chamber
28.3%
parties elected and seats per party
Lakas-CMD party (103), National Unity Party (NUP) (32), Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) 31, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) (27), Nacionalista Party (NP) (22), Liberal Party (LP) (6), others (28), independents (11)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Senado)
term in office
6 years
number of seats
24 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
partial renewal
most recent election date
5/12/2025
expected date of next election
May 2028
percentage of women in chamber
20.8%
parties elected and seats per party
Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) (2); Nacionalista Party (NP) (3); Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) (2); Lakas- CMD party (1); Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP) (1); Liberal Party (1); Independents (2)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 328-7614
chancery
1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone
[1] (202) 467-9300
chief of mission
Ambassador Jose Manuel del Gallego ROMUALDEZ (since 29 November 2017)
consulate(s) general
Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Tamuning (Guam)
email address and website
info@phembassy-us.org The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Washington D.C. (philippineembassy-dc.org)
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[63] (2) 5301-2017
embassy
1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila 1000
telephone
[63] (2) 5301-2000
mailing address
8600 Manila Place, Washington DC 20521-8600
chief of mission
Ambassador MaryKay Loss CARLSON (since 22 July 2022)
email address and website
acsinfomanila@state.gov https://ph.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew from the ICCt in March 2019