Philippines: health and care

What is the life expectancy in the Philippines?

Life expectancy at birth in the Philippines was 69.9 years in 2024, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators. It fell to 66.7 years in 2021 and has risen since.

The measure assumes that the death rates of a single year apply throughout a person's life, so a year with many deaths pulls it down sharply even though most people's prospects change far less. The World Bank figures come from UN population estimates. The Philippine Statistics Authority publishes registered deaths and life tables.

Official sources: World Bank: life expectancy at birth, Philippines

What is the infant mortality rate in the Philippines?

The Philippines' infant mortality rate was 21.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, down from 22.6 in 2021, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators, which use UN inter-agency estimates. The maternal mortality ratio was 84 per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to the World Bank modelled estimate.

The UN estimates combine registration and survey data and smooth year-to-year swings, so they can differ from rates calculated from registered deaths. The maternal estimate was 153 in 2021.

Official sources: World Bank: infant mortality rate, Philippines · World Bank: maternal mortality ratio, Philippines

How much does the Philippines spend on health?

The proposed health sector budget for 2027 is ₱1,058.53 billion, of which ₱764.6 billion is PhilHealth's corporate operating budget and ₱271.0 billion is for the Department of Health and its attached agencies, according to the Department of Budget and Management Technical Notes on the 2027 Proposed National Budget.

The PhilHealth figure includes ₱690.22 billion of its own corporate funds, so the national government's direct health spending is smaller. Current health spending across the economy was 5.1% of GDP in 2023, and households paid 44.4% of it out of pocket, according to the World Bank.

Official sources: DBM: Technical Notes on the 2027 Proposed National Budget (PDF) · World Bank: out-of-pocket health expenditure, Philippines · World Bank: current health expenditure, Philippines

How many children in the Philippines are stunted?

26.7% of children under five in the Philippines were stunted, or too short for their age, in 2021, down from 33.1% in 2015, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators.

Stunting reflects long-term undernutrition and repeated illness in early childhood and is linked to poorer learning later on. The figures come from national nutrition surveys, which measure children directly, so they are available only for survey years. The DBM's 2027 budget technical notes list nutrition among the weaknesses in foundational learning identified by the Second Congressional Commission on Education.

Official sources: World Bank: prevalence of stunting, Philippines · DBM: Technical Notes on the 2027 Proposed National Budget (PDF)

How many doctors does the Philippines have?

The Philippines had 0.792 physicians per 1,000 people in 2021, up from 0.695 in 2018, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators, which use World Health Organization data. That is about one doctor for every 1,260 people.

The figure aims to count doctors actively working in the country. The 2027 proposed budget includes funding for the National Health Workforce Support System, according to the Department of Budget and Management technical notes.

Official sources: World Bank: physicians per 1,000 people, Philippines · DBM: Technical Notes on the 2027 Proposed National Budget (PDF)

What is life expectancy in the Philippines?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 69.9 years. The peak was 70.1 years in 2020 and the low 66.7 years in 2021. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 71.5 years, and the Philippines placed 19th highest of 30. World rank, highest first: 131st of 193.

What is the infant mortality rate in the Philippines?

The latest figure from the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, for 2024, is 21.7 per 1,000. That is the lowest since at least 2005. East Asia & Pacific median: 13.9 per 1,000; the Philippines is 8th highest of 30. World rank, highest first: 65th of 192.

How many women die in childbirth in the Philippines?

84.0 per 100,000: that is the maternal mortality ratio in the Philippines for 2023, according to the WHO. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 15th highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 82.0 per 100,000. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 71st highest.

What share of GDP does the Philippines spend on health care?

According to the WHO, current health spending in the Philippines was 5.1% of GDP in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2021, at 6.0% of GDP; its low point was 2014, at 3.7% of GDP. It is 17th highest of 29 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 5.9% of GDP. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 122nd highest.

How much do people in the Philippines pay for health care themselves?

44.4%: that is out-of-pocket health spending in the Philippines for 2023, according to the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 41.2% (2021) to 58.9% (2011). Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 12.2%, and the Philippines placed 5th highest of 29. World rank, highest first: 45th of 191.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in the Philippines?

According to the WHO, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in the Philippines was 0.79 per 1,000 in 2021. Its high point since 2005 was 2009, at 1.2 per 1,000; its low point was 2010, at 0.54 per 1,000. It is 12th highest of 17 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 1.9 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 87th of 123.

How many hospital beds does the Philippines have?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2021, is 0.97 per 1,000. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.92 per 1,000 (2014) to 1.5 per 1,000 (2008). East Asia & Pacific median: 2.7 per 1,000; the Philippines is 12th highest of 13. Worldwide: 109th of 124.

What is measles vaccine coverage in the Philippines?

WHO and UNICEF puts measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in the Philippines at 80.0% in 2024. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 92.0%; its low point was 2021, at 64.0%. East Asia & Pacific median: 91.0%; the Philippines is 23rd highest of 30. Of 191 countries with 2024 data, 144th highest.