Philippines
Asia · South-Eastern Asia
English-speaking islands, affordable, with typhoon risk and uneven infrastructure.
Digital Nomad
Ideal destination
Backpacker
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Philippines's Human Development Index
0.710
High human development#111 of 191 countries worldwide, #29 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 42% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Philippines
The Philippines is a Southeast Asian archipelago of over 7,000 islands with extraordinary natural variety, from the rice terrace landscapes of the Cordillera highlands and the white-sand beaches of Palawan and the Visayas to the vibrant, chaotic energy of Manila. The culture is uniquely shaped by three centuries of Spanish rule and decades of American influence, resulting in a deeply warm and outwardly expressive society. Those who find their rhythm in island life, diving, and warmth of people will find it endlessly generous.
- 7,641 islands — and only about 2,000 are inhabited.
- Remittances from overseas workers make up roughly 9% of GDP.
- World's top producer of nurses — exports more medical professionals than any other country.
Quick Facts
Capital
Manila
Languages
English, Filipino
Currency
₱ PHP
Area
298,170 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
107Mbps
Mobile
56Mbps
Digital Nomad Visa
Min. Income
No minimum
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application Fee
Varies
GDP / Capita
$4K
PPP / Capita
$13K
Inflation
1.7%
Unemployment
2.2%
Innovation (GII)
33.6
GNI / Capita
$5K
Tax Revenue
14.4%
FDI Inflows
1.6%
Education Spend
4.0%
Cost of Living
30.1
Price Level Index
79th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.598 → 0.710 (+0.112)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Philippines for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Philippines head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Philippines's Human Development Index?
Philippines's Human Development Index is 0.710 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #111 of 191 countries.
Is Philippines safe?
Philippines scores 2.09 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #101 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Philippines?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Philippines at 30.1 (New York = 100); that is #30 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Philippines?
Life expectancy at birth in Philippines is 69.9 yrs (World Bank), ranked #133 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Philippines?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Philippines at 87.1, ranked #82 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.