Land

Philippines

The Philippines is a republic in Southeast Asia. The archipelago consists of 7107 islands, the largest two of which are Luzon and Mindanao. Together, these two islands cover about two-thirds of the surface of the country, which, at approximately 300,000 km², is more than 7 times the size of the Netherlands. The Philippines has many Western characteristics due to its long-term colonization by Spain and the United States

The population

The Philippines had nearly 101 million inhabitants (half of whom live in urban areas) and 110 ethno-linguistic groups at the last official census in 2015. The Philippines has a sharp contrast between rich and poor. There is a small, wealthy elite and a large poor part of the population that often lives below the subsistence level. The elite is in control, both economically and politically.

The Social and Economic Situation

However, economic growth has not been broad-based, certainly not in favor of the poor, as evidenced by the persistence of income inequality between rich and poor. According to data from the National Statistical Coordination Board, about a quarter (25.2%) of the population, some 25 million people, falls below the poverty line. Employment is insufficient to absorb the strong population growth, as evidenced by an increasing number of unemployed. Unemployment is higher among women, partly due to seasonal fluctuations in employment. Youth unemployment has been limited to some extent by increasing outward migration. There are also concerns about effective compliance with labor law and limited enforcement of labor standards.