Christy Balita
Research expert covering the Philippines
Demographics of the Philippines - statistics & facts
With around 116 million people, the Philippines was among the most populated countries in the Asia Pacific in 2022, next to Japan. Deep-seated Catholic beliefs influenced the nation’s pro-life stance and aided the population boom. However, the country’s population has reflected sluggish growth in the past decade, as evidenced by the declining fertility rates, partly due to the increased use of contraceptives and modern family planning methods.
The slum areas in the Philippines have contributed to the share of the slum population worldwide. The lack of affordable housing and economic inequality continue to challenge the living conditions and quality of life of those who can only afford to squat in slums.
In terms of migration, the country has developed an emigration culture, where one out of five Filipinos expressed desires to move abroad. The government also relies on this emigration culture and has positioned the country as the leading labor exporter in the Asia-Pacific region.
A young demographic
The Philippines has a young population, with about 64 percent of people between the ages of 15 and 64 years old. Meanwhile, over 30 percent are between zero and 14 years old. In 2019, the mean age of male household members was 37.68 years, while female members had a mean age of 44.2 years. The country’s young people were seen to significantly contribute to the economic recovery after experiencing prolonged COVID-19-related lockdowns. The country's young demographic has also been fueling digitalization trends and boosting social media and e-commerce adaptation.Urbanization and migration
Despite the slow growth, the country’s population density remains among the highest in the region. However, the distribution of people was uneven as more Filipinos chose to live in urban areas where work opportunities remain abundant. As of May 2020, the regions of CALABARZON and the National Capital Region (NCR) accounted for the highest number of inhabitants nationwide. This, in turn, created an income disparity among major capitals. In addition, the country saw a growing slum community that has been an ongoing societal issue in major urban cities.The slum areas in the Philippines have contributed to the share of the slum population worldwide. The lack of affordable housing and economic inequality continue to challenge the living conditions and quality of life of those who can only afford to squat in slums.
In terms of migration, the country has developed an emigration culture, where one out of five Filipinos expressed desires to move abroad. The government also relies on this emigration culture and has positioned the country as the leading labor exporter in the Asia-Pacific region.
