PHP to LKR Live Rate

Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

13 00 N, 122 00 E

7 00 N, 81 00 E

Southeast Asia

Asia

total: 300,000 sq km

land: 298,170 sq km

water: 1,830 sq km

country comparison to the world: 74

total: 65,610 sq km

land: 64,630 sq km

water: 980 sq km

country comparison to the world: 123

0 km

0 km

36,289 km

1,340 km

territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea as wide as 285 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)

tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

mean elevation: 442 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m

highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m

mean elevation: 228 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower, arable land

agricultural land: 41%

arable land 18.2%; permanent crops 17.8%; permanent pasture 5%

forest: 25.9%

other: 33.1% (2011 est.)

agricultural land: 43.5%

arable land 20.7%; permanent crops 15.8%; permanent pasture 7%

forest: 29.4%

other: 27.1% (2011 est.)

16,270 sq km (2012)

5,700 sq km (2012)

population concentrated where good farmlands lie; highest concentrations are northwest and south-central Luzon, the southeastern extension of Luzon, and the islands of the Visayan Sea, particularly Cebu and Negros; Manila is home to one-eighth of the entire national population

the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north

astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis

volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Taal (311 m), which has shown recent unrest and may erupt in the near future, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Mayon (2,462 m), the country's most active volcano, erupted in 2009 forcing over 33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo, and Ragang

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds

deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

note 1: favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait

note 2: for decades, the Philippine archipelago was reported as having 7,107 islands; in 2016, the national mapping authority reported that hundreds of new islands had been discovered and increased the number of islands to 7,641 - though not all of the new islands have been verified

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes; Adam's Bridge is a chain of limestone shoals between the southeastern coast of India and the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka; geological evidence suggests that this 50-km long bridge once connected India and Sri Lanka; ancient records seem to indicate that a foot passage was possible between the two land masses until the 15th century when the land bridge broke up in a cyclone

104,256,076 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 13

22,409,381 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

noun: Filipino(s)

adjective: Philippine

noun: Sri Lankan(s)

adjective: Sri Lankan

Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census)

Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)

Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (official and national language) 18%, other 8%

note: English, spoken competently by about 10% of the population, is commonly used in government and is referred to as the link language in the constitution

Catholic 82.9% (Roman Catholic 80.9%, Aglipayan 2%), Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)

Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.)

total dependency ratio: 58.2

youth dependency ratio: 51

elderly dependency ratio: 7.2

potential support ratio: 13.8 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio: 51.2

youth dependency ratio: 37.2

elderly dependency ratio: 14.1

potential support ratio: 7.1 (2015 est.)

total: 23.5 years

male: 23.1 years

female: 24 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 169

total: 32.8 years

male: 31.5 years

female: 34 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 96

1.57% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 70

0.76% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 137

23.7 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 61

15.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 126

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 156

6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 153

-2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 162

-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 145

population concentrated where good farmlands lie; highest concentrations are northwest and south-central Luzon, the southeastern extension of Luzon, and the islands of the Visayan Sea, particularly Cebu and Negros; Manila is home to one-eighth of the entire national population

the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north

urban population: 44.2% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 1.57% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population: 18.5% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 1.11% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

MANILA (capital) 12.946 million; Davao 1.63 million; Cebu City 951,000; Zamboanga 936,000 (2015)

Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) 128,000 (2014); COLOMBO (capital) 707,000 (2015)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

23 years

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2013 est.)

25.4 years

note: median age at first birth among women 30-34 (2006/07 est.)

114 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 71

30 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 114

total: 21.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 24.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 18.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 77

total: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 150

total population: 69.4 years

male: 65.9 years

female: 73.1 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 162

total population: 76.9 years

male: 73.5 years

female: 80.6 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

3.02 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

2.07 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 111

55.1% (2013)

4.7% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 152

3.5% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 173

1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

3.6 beds/1,000 population (2012)

improved:

urban: 93.7% of population

rural: 90.3% of population

total: 91.8% of population

unimproved:

urban: 6.3% of population

rural: 9.7% of population

total: 8.2% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 98.5% of population

rural: 95% of population

total: 95.6% of population

unimproved:

urban: 1.5% of population

rural: 5% of population

total: 4.4% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 77.9% of population

rural: 70.8% of population

total: 73.9% of population

unimproved:

urban: 22.1% of population

rural: 29.2% of population

total: 26.1% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 88.1% of population

rural: 96.7% of population

total: 95.1% of population

unimproved:

urban: 11.9% of population

rural: 3.3% of population

total: 4.9% of population (2015 est.)

0.1% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 108

<.1% (2016 est.)

56,000 (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 54

4,000 (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 108

<1000 (2016 est.)

<200 (2016 est.)

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria

water contact disease: leptospirosis (2016)

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A

vectorborne disease: dengue fever

water contact disease: leptospirosis

animal contact disease: rabies (2016)

6.4% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 168

5.2% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 182

19.9% (2013)

country comparison to the world: 29

26.3% (2012)

country comparison to the world: 23

2.7% of GDP (2009)

country comparison to the world: 149

3.5% of GDP (2016)

country comparison to the world: 168

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.3%

male: 95.8%

female: 96.8% (2015 est.)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 92.6%

male: 93.6%

female: 91.7% (2015 est.)

total: 13 years

male: 12 years

female: 13 years (2013)

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 14 years (2013)

total: 15%

male: 14.3%

female: 16% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 89

total: 20.7%

male: 16.5%

female: 27.3% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 64

0.88 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines

conventional short form: Philippines

local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas

local short form: Pilipinas

etymology: named in honor of King PHILLIP II of Spain by Spanish explorer Ruy LOPEZ de VILLALOBOS, who visited some of the islands in 1543

conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

conventional short form: Sri Lanka

local long form: Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu

local short form: Shri Lanka/Ilankai

former: Serendib, Ceylon

etymology: the name means "resplendent island" in Sanskrit

presidential republic

presidential republic

name: Manila

geographic coordinates: 14 36 N, 120 58 E

time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

name: Colombo (commercial capital); Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (administrative capital)

geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 79 50 E

time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

80 provinces and 39 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, Compostela, Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, 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, Antipolo, 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 (2012)

9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

4 July 1946 (from the US)

4 February 1948 (from the UK)

Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from the US

Independence Day (National Day), 4 February (1948)

history: several previous; latest ratified 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

amendments: proposed by Congress if supported by three-fourths of the membership, by a constitution convention called by Congress, or by public petition; passage by either of the 3 proposal methods requires a majority vote in a national referendum; note - the constitution has not been amended since its enactment in 1987 (2017)

history: several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978

amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of its total membership, certification by the president of the republic or the Parliament speaker, and approval in a referendum by an absolute majority of valid votes; amended many times, last in 2015; note - in late October 2017, the president announced the establishment of 3 conferences designed to inform the public on plans to adopt a new constitution (2017)

mixed legal system of civil, common, Islamic, and customary law

mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and Jaffna Tamil customary law

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Sri Lanka

dual citizenship recognized: no, except in cases where the government rules it is to the benefit of Sri Lanka

residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

18 years of age; universal

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Rodrigo DUTERTE (since 30 June 2016); Vice President Leni ROBREDO (since 30 June 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Rodrigo DUTERTE (since 30 June 2016); Vice President Leni ROBREDO (since 30 June 2016)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments, an independent body of 25 Congressional members including the Senate president (ex officio chairman), appointed by the president

elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by simple majority popular vote for a single 6-year term; election last held on 9 May 2016 (next to be held in May 2022)

election results: 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%, Bongbong MARCOS (independent) 34.5%, Alan CAYETANO 14.4%, Francis ESCUDERO (independent) 12%, Antonio TRILLANES (independent) 2.1%, Gregorio HONASAN (UNA) 1.9%

chief of state: President Maithripala SIRISENA (since 9 January 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Ranil WICKREMESINGHE (since 9 January 2015) holds the title of prime minister

head of government: President Maithripala SIRISENA (since 9 January 2015)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister

elections/appointments: president directly elected by preferential majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 January 2015 (next to be held by January 2020); note - the January 2015 election was held nearly 2 years ahead of schedule

election results: Maithripala SIRISENA elected president; percent of vote - Maithripala SIRISENA (SLFP) 51.3%, Mahinda RAJAPAKSA (SLFP) 47.6%, other 1.1%

description: bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by majority vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years) and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (297 seats; 238 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 59 representing minorities directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms)

elections: Senate - elections last held on 9 May 2016 (next to be held in May 2019); House of Representatives - elections last held on 9 May 2016 (next to be held in May 2019)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - LP 31.3%, NPC 10.1%, UNA 7.6%, Akbayan 5.0%, other 30.9%, independent 15.1%; seats by party - LP 6, NPC 3, UNA 4, Akbayan 1, other 10; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - LP 41.7%, NPC 17.0%, UNA 6.6%, NUP 9.7%, NP 9.4%, independent 6.0%, others 10.1%; seats by party - LP 115, NPC 42, NUP 23, NP 24, UNA 11, other 19, independent 4, party-list 59

description: unicameral Parliament (225 seats; 196 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote using a preferential method in which voters select 3 candidates in order of preference; remaining 29 seats allocated to other political parties and groups in proportion to share of national vote; members serve 5-year terms)

elections: last held on 17 August 2015 following President SIRISENA's dissolution of Parliament in late June 2015 in an effort to consolidate power and pass reforms (next to be held in 2020)

election results: percent of vote by coalition/party - EYJP 45.7%, UPFA 42.4%, JVP 4.9%, TNA 4.6%, SLMC 0.4%, EPDP 0.3% other 1.7%; seats by coalition/party EYJP 106, UPFA 95, TNA 16, JVP 6, SLMC 1, EPDP 1

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 14 associate justices)

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

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

highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 9 justices); note - the court has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation

judge selection and term of office: chief justice nominated by the Constitutional Council (CC), a 9-member high-level advisory body, and appointed by the president; other justices nominated by the CC and appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice; all justices can serve until age 65

subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; municipal and primary courts

Akbayon [Machris CABREROS]

Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA]

Lakas ng EDSA-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD [Ferdinand Martin ROMUALDEZ]

Liberal Party or LP [Francis PANGILINAN]

Nacionalista Party or NP [Manuel "Manny" VILLAR]

Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC [Eduardo COJUNGCO, Jr.]

National Unity Party or NUP [Albert GARCIA]

PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL III]

People's Reform Party or PRP [Narcisco SANTIAGO]

Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Force of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA]

United Nationalist Alliance or UNA

Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP [Douglas DEVANANDA]

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE]

Jathika Hela Urumaya or JHU [Karunarathna PARANAWITHANA and Ven Hadigalle WIMALASARA THERO]

New Democratic Front or NDF [Shalila MOONESINGHE]

Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP [Maithripala SIRISENA]

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC [Rauff HAKEEM]

Tamil National Alliance or TNA [Rajavarothiam SAMPANTHAN] (alliance includes Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front [Suresh PREMACHANDRAN], Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi Mavai SENATHIRAJAH], People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam [D. SIDDARTHAN], Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization Selvam ADAIKALANATHAN])

United National Front for Good Governance or EYJP [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE] (coalition includes JHU, UNP)

United National Party or UNP [Ranil WICKREMESINGHE]

United People's Freedom Alliance or UPFA [Maithripala SIRISENA] (coalition includes SLFP)

Black and White Movement or BWM [Vicente ROMANO]

People Action (Kilosbayan)

Buddhist clergy

Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups

diaspora groups

other: labor unions; hardline nationalist Sinhalese groups, such as the National Movement Against Terrorism

ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

ABEDA, ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CICA (observer), CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Manuel del Gallego ROMUALDEZ (since 29 November 2017)

chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300

FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), San Francisco, Tamuning (Guam)

chief of mission: Ambassador Prasad KARIYAWASAM (since 14 July 2014)

chancery: 3025 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028

FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181

consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

chief of mission: Ambassador Sung KIM (since 6 December 2016)

embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila 1000

mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000

telephone: [63] (2) 301-2000

FAX: [63] (2) 301-2017

chief of mission: Ambassador Atul KESHAP (since 21 August 2015); note - also accredited to Maldives

embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3

mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo

telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500

FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a white equilateral triangle is based on the hoist side; the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays; each corner of the triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star; blue stands for peace and justice, red symbolizes courage, the white equal-sided triangle represents equality; the rays recall the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, while the stars represent the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897

note: in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at the top

yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a maroon rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green Sri Lankan Moors, and maroon the Sinhalese majority; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag

three stars and sun, Philippine eagle; national colors: red, white, blue, yellow

lion, water lily; national colors: maroon, yellow

name: "Lupang Hinirang" (Chosen Land)

lyrics/music: Jose PALMA (revised by Felipe PADILLA de Leon)/Julian FELIPE

note: music adopted 1898, original Spanish lyrics adopted 1899, Filipino (Tagalog) lyrics adopted 1956; although the original lyrics were written in Spanish, later English and Filipino versions were created; today, only the Filipino version is used

name: "Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka)

lyrics/music: Ananda SAMARKONE

note: adopted 1951

The economy has been relatively resilient to global economic shocks due to less exposure to troubled international securities, lower dependence on exports, relatively resilient domestic consumption, large remittances from about 10 million overseas Filipino workers and migrants, and a rapidly expanding services industry. During 2017, the current account balance fell into the negative range, the first time since the 2008 global financial crisis, in part due to an ambitious new infrastructure spending program announced this year. However, international reserves remain at comfortable levels and the banking system is stable.

Efforts to improve tax administration and expenditures management have helped ease the Philippines' debt burden and tight fiscal situation. The Philippines received investment-grade credit ratings on its sovereign debt under the former AQUINO administration and has had little difficulty financing its budget deficits. However, weak absorptive capacity and implementation bottlenecks have prevented the government from maximizing its expenditure plans. Although it has improved, the low tax-to-GDP ratio remains a constraint to supporting increasingly higher spending levels and sustaining high and inclusive growth over the longer term.

Economic growth has accelerated, averaging over 6% per year from 2011 to 2017, compared with 4.5% under the MACAPAGAL-ARROYO government; and competitiveness rankings have improved. Although 2017 saw a new record year for net foreign direct investment inflows, FDI to the Philippines has continued to lag regional peers, in part because the Philippine constitution and other laws limit foreign investment and restrict foreign ownership in important activities/sectors - such as land ownership and public utilities.

Although the economy grew at a rapid pace under the AQUINO government, challenges to achieving more inclusive growth remain. Wealth is concentrated in the hands of the rich. The unemployment rate declined from 7.3% to 5.7% between 2010 and 2017; while there has been some improvement, underemployment remains high at around 17% to 18% of the employed population. At least 40% of the employed work in the informal sector. Poverty afflicts more than a fifth of the total population but is as high as 75% in some areas of the southern Philippines. More than 60% of the poor reside in rural areas, where the incidence of poverty (about 30%) is more severe - a challenge to raising rural farm and non-farm incomes. Continued efforts are needed to improve governance, the judicial system, the regulatory environment, the infrastructure, and the overall ease of doing business.

2016 saw the election of President Rodrigo DUTERTE, who has pledged to make inclusive growth and poverty reduction his top priority. DUTERTE believes that illegal drug use, crime and corruption are key barriers to economic development. The administration wants to reduce the poverty rate to 17% and graduate the economy to upper-middle income status by the end of President DUTERTE’s term in 2022. Key themes under the government’s Ten-Point Socioeconomic Agenda include continuity of macroeconomic policy, tax reform, higher investments in infrastructure and human capital development, and improving competitiveness and the overall ease of doing business. The administration sees infrastructure shortcomings as a key barrier to sustained economic growth and has pledged to spend $165 billion on infrastructure by 2022. Although the final outcome has yet to be seen, the current administration is shepherding legislation for a comprehensive tax reform program to raise revenues for its ambitious infrastructure spending plan and to promote a more equitable and efficient tax system. However, the need to finance rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the southern region of Mindanao following the 2017 Marawi City siege may compete with other spending on infrastructure.

Sri Lanka is attempting to sustain economic growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability under its IMF program that it began in 2016. The government's high debt payments and bloated civil service cadre, which have contributed to historically high budget deficits and low tax revenues, remain a concern. Government debt is about 75% of GDP and remains among the highest of the emerging markets. Sri Lanka will need to balance its elevated debt repayment schedule with its requirement to maintain adequate foreign exchange reserve levels in the coming years.

In May 2016, Sri Lanka regained its preferential trade preferences under the European Union’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+), enabling many of its firms to export products, including it top export garments, tax free to the EU. Also in 2016, the government reformed elements of the country’s tax regime to increase some tax rates and broaden the tax net in response to recommendations made under its IMF program.

Tourism has experienced strong growth during recent years following the resolution of the government's 26-year conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The government has been pursuing large-scale reconstruction and development projects in its efforts to spur growth.

$874.5 billion (2017 est.)

$820.4 billion (2016 est.)

$767.2 billion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 30

$278.2 billion (2017 est.)

$265.6 billion (2016 est.)

$254.5 billion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 62

$321.2 billion (2017 est.)

$83.57 billion (2017 est.)

6.6% (2017 est.)

6.9% (2016 est.)

6.1% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 16

4.7% (2017 est.)

4.4% (2016 est.)

4.8% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 46

$8,200 (2017 est.)

$7,900 (2016 est.)

$7,500 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 152

$13,000 (2017 est.)

$12,500 (2016 est.)

$12,100 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 120

25.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

24.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

23.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 47

29.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

29% of GDP (2016 est.)

26.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 28

household consumption: 72.7%

government consumption: 10.9%

investment in fixed capital: 25.2%

investment in inventories: -0.2%

exports of goods and services: 32.1%

imports of goods and services: -40.7% (2017 est.)

household consumption: 67.9%

government consumption: 8.6%

investment in fixed capital: 28.9%

investment in inventories: 3.3%

exports of goods and services: 21.3%

imports of goods and services: -30% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 9.4%

industry: 30.8%

services: 59.8% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 7.8%

industry: 30.5%

services: 61.7% (2017 est.)

rice, fish, livestock, poultry, bananas, coconut/copra, corn, sugarcane, mangoes, pineapple, cassava

rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, vegetables, fruit, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish

semiconductors and electronics assembly, business process outsourcing, food and beverage manufacturing, construction, electric/gas/water supply, chemical products, radio/television/communications equipment and apparatus, petroleum and fuel, textile and garments, non-metallic minerals, basic metal industries, transport equipment

processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism, shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services, construction

6.5% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

5.4% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 39

44.46 million (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 16

8.937 million (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 56

agriculture: 26.9%

industry: 17.5%

services: 55.6% (2016 est.)

agriculture: 28.4%

industry: 25.7%

services: 45.9% (31 December 2016 )

6% (2017 est.)

5.5% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 86

4% (2017 est.)

4% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 49

21.6% (2017 est.)

6.7% (2012 est.)

lowest 10%: 3.2%

highest 10%: 29.5% (2015 est.)

lowest 10%: 1.6%

highest 10%: 39.5% (2012 est.)

44.4 (2015 est.)

46 (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 46

49 (2012 est.)

46 (1995 est.)

country comparison to the world: 20

revenues: $44.74 billion

expenditures: $53.55 billion (2017 est.)

revenues: $12.64 billion

expenditures: $16.66 billion (2017 est.)

13.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 198

15.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 187

-2.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 103

-4.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 157

41.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

42.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 131

79.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

79.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: covers central government debt, and excludes debt instruments directly owned by government entities other than the treasury (e.g. commercial bank borrowings of a government corporation); the data includes treasury debt held by foreign entities as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement; sub-national entities are usually not permitted to sell debt instruments

country comparison to the world: 39

calendar year

calendar year

3.1% (2017 est.)

1.8% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 130

6% (2017 est.)

4% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 185

3.56% (31 December 2016 est.)

6.19% (31 December 2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 101

7% (30 November 2017 est.)

6% (31 December 2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 50

6% (31 December 2017 est.)

5.64% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 127

11.8% (31 December 2017 est.)

10.49% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 68

$68.16 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$61.62 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 48

$5.213 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$5.184 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 104

$199 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$183.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 41

$36.83 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$32.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 76

$207.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$184.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 46

$51.72 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$46.21 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 66

$290.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$286.1 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$318 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

$20.8 billion (30 September 2017 est.)

$23.67 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$18.81 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 65

$-315 million (2017 est.)

$601 million (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 97

$-2.094 billion (2017 est.)

$-1.942 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 158

$53.22 billion (2017 est.)

$43.44 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 51

$10.93 billion (2017 est.)

$10.31 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 86

semiconductors and electronic products, machinery and transport equipment, wood manufactures, chemicals, processed food and beverages, garments, coconut oil, copper concentrates, seafood, bananas/fruits

textiles and apparel, tea and spices; rubber manufactures; precious stones; coconut products, fish

Japan 16.2%, US 14.8%, Hong Kong 13.7%, China 11.1%, Singapore 6.1%, Thailand 4.2%, Germany 4.1%, South Korea 4% (2017)

US 27.3%, UK 10.2%, India 5%, Germany 5%, Italy 4% (2016)

$90.42 billion (2017 est.)

$77.52 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 37

$21.14 billion (2017 est.)

$19.4 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 73

electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals, plastic

petroleum, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, building materials, mineral products, foodstuffs

China 18.1%, Japan 11.4%, South Korea 8.7%, US 8%, Thailand 7.1%, Indonesia 6.8%, Singapore 5.9%, Taiwan 5.3% (2016)

China 22%, India 20%, UAE 6.1%, Singapore 5.9%, Japan 5.4% (2016)

$81.53 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$80.69 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

$6.632 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$6.019 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 86

$80.88 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$75.01 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 56

$47.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$45.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 65

$67.25 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$64.25 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 54

$NA

$47.58 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$45.38 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 44

$NA

Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar -

50.21 (2017 est.)

47.49 (2016 est.)

47.49 (2015 est.)

45.5 (2014 est.)

44.4 (2013 est.)

Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -

154.1 (2017 est.)

145.58 (2016 est.)

145.58 (2015 est.)

135.86 (2014 est.)

130.57 (2013 est.)

population without electricity: 20,600,000

electrification - total population: 88%

electrification - urban areas: 94%

electrification - rural areas: 82% (2013)

population without electricity: 1,334,100

electrification - total population: 94%

electrification - urban areas: 99%

electrification - rural areas: 93% (2013)

90.8 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 37

12.64 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 92

74.15 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 38

11.72 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 87

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 188

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 118

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 192

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 132

21.21 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 42

4.056 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 88

67.5% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 108

55.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 141

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 172

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 63

16.9% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 97

41.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 48

15.6% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 46

3.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 107

20,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 118

4,942 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 63

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 104

215,800 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

36,480 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 58

138.5 million bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 68

0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 118

169,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 56

35,650 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 85

390,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 38

103,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 80

13,140 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 78

472.9 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 112

186,100 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 33

60,840 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 74

2.6 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 119

3.196 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 77

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 167

0 cu m (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 171

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 81

0 cu m (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 179

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 104

98.54 billion cu m (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 125

88 million Mt (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 44

16 million Mt (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 89

total subscriptions: 3,835,910.54

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 40

total subscriptions: 2,479,802

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

total: 113 million

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 14

total: 25,797,199

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 49

general assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate

domestic: telecommunications infrastructure includes the following platforms: fixed line, mobile cellular, cable TV, over-the-air TV, radio and Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), fiber-optic cable, and satellite for redundant international connectivity

international: country code - 63; a series of submarine cables together provide connectivity to the US, and to countries like Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Brunei, and Malaysia, among others; multiple international gateways (2016)

general assessment: telephone services have improved significantly and are available in most parts of the country

domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing

international: country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2016)

multiple national private TV and radio networks; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; more than 400 TV stations; about 1,500 cable TV providers with more than 2 million subscribers, and some 1,400 radio stations; the Philippines adopted Japan’s Integrated Service Digital Broadcast – Terrestrial standard for digital terrestrial television in November 2013 and is scheduled to complete the switch from analog to digital broadcasting by the end of 2023 (2016)

government operates 5 TV channels and 19 radio channels; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 25 private TV stations and about 43 radio stations; 6 non-profit TV stations and 4 radio stations (2017)

.ph

.lk

total: 56,956,436

percent of population: 55.5% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 13

total: 7,126,540

percent of population: 32.1% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 61

number of registered air carriers: 11

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 158

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 32,230,986

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 484,190,968 mt-km (2015)

number of registered air carriers: 3

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 25

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,911,730

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 381,381,300 mt-km (2015)

RP (2016)

4R (2016)

247 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 24

19 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 137

total: 89

over 3,047 m: 4

2,438 to 3,047 m: 8

1,524 to 2,437 m: 33

914 to 1,523 m: 34

under 914 m: 10 (2017)

total: 15

over 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013)

total: 158

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 56

under 914 m: 99 (2013)

total: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 3 (2013)

2 (2013)

1 (2013)

gas 530 km; oil 138 km (non-operational); refined products 185 km (2017)

total: 77 km

narrow gauge: 28 km 1.067-m gauge

standard guage: 49 km 1.435-m guage (2017)

country comparison to the world: 89

total: 1,447 km

broad gauge: 1,447 km 1.676-m gauge (2014)

country comparison to the world: 82

total: 216,387 km

paved: 61,093 km

unpaved: 155,294 km (2014)

country comparison to the world: 24

total: 114,093 km

paved: 16,977 km

unpaved: 97,116 km (2010)

country comparison to the world: 42

3,219 km (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m) (2011)

country comparison to the world: 30

160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2012)

country comparison to the world: 100

total: 1,508

by type: bulk carrier 64, container ship 33, general cargo 627, oil tanker 184, other 600 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 18

total: 82

by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 1, general cargo 9, oil tanker 10, other 54 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 94

major seaport(s): Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Liman, Manila

container port(s) (TEUs): Manila (3,976,000) (2015)

major seaport(s): Colombo

container port(s) (TEUs): Colombo (3,651,963)

1.28% of GDP (2016)

1.14% of GDP (2015)

1.09% of GDP (2014)

1.24% of GDP (2013)

1.16% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 90

2.44% of GDP (2016)

2.55% of GDP (2015)

2.41% of GDP (2014)

2.15% of GDP (2013)

2.16% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 39

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2013)

Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy (includes Marine Corps), Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Coast Guard (2016)

17-23 years of age (officers 20-24) for voluntary military service; no conscription; applicants must be single male or female Philippine citizens with either 72 college credit hours (enlisted) or a baccalaureate degree (officers) (2013)

18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 5-year service obligation (Air Force) (2012)

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; during 2016, 10 attacks were reported in and around the Philippines including six ships that were boarded, one hijacked, one fired upon, and 18 crew were kidnapped for ransom; an emerging threat area lies in the Celebes and Sulu Seas between the Philippines and Malaysia where 12 crew were kidnapped in three incidents during the last quarter of 2016; it is believed the pirates involved are associated with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorist organization; during the first six months of 2017, 13 attacks were reported including 10 ships that were boarded, one was fired upon, 10 crew were kidnapped for ransom and two killed; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Philippines claims sovereignty over Scarborough Reef (also claimed by China together with Taiwan) and over certain of the Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf; maritime delimitation negotiations continue with Palau

none

IDPs: 445,000 (government troops fighting the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Abu Sayyaf Group, and the New People's Army; clan feuds; natural disasters) (2017)

stateless persons: 4,636 (2016); note - stateless persons are descendants of Indonesian migrants

IDPs: 42,000 (civil war; more than half displaced prior to 2008; many of the more than 480,000 IDPs registered as returnees have not reached durable solutions) (2017)

domestic methamphetamine production has been a growing problem in recent years despite government crackdowns; major consumer of amphetamines; longstanding marijuana producer mainly in rural areas where Manila's control is limited

current situation: Sri Lanka is primarily a source and, to a lesser extent, a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; some Sri Lankan adults and children who migrate willingly to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Afghanistan to work in the construction, garment, and domestic service sectors are subsequently subjected to forced labor or debt bondage (incurred through high recruitment fees or money advances); some Sri Lankan women are forced into prostitution in Jordan, Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore, and other countries; within Sri Lanka, women and children are subjected to sex trafficking, and children are also forced to beg and work in the agriculture, fireworks, and fish-drying industries; a small number of women from Asia, Central Asia, Europe, and the Middle East have been forced into prostitution in Sri Lanka in recent years

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Sri Lanka does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, Sri Lanka was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; law enforcement continues to demonstrate a lack of understanding of trafficking crimes and inadequate investigations, relying on trafficking cases to be prosecuted under the procurement statute rather than the trafficking statute, which carries more stringent penalties; authorities convicted only one offender under the procurement statute, a decrease from 2013; the government approved guidelines for the identification of victims and their referral to protective services but failed to ensure that victims were not jailed and charged for crimes committed as a direct result of being trafficked; no government employees were investigated or prosecuted, despite allegations of complicity (2015)