Philippines

Economy & industry overview

The Philippines is a lower-middle-income emerging market economy in Southeast Asia with a nominal GDP of approximately $462 billion in 2024. The economy is driven primarily by services, which account for over 60% of GDP, with business process outsourcing (BPO), remittances from overseas Filipino workers, retail, and financial services as major pillars. Manufacturing, real estate, and infrastructure development contribute significantly, while agriculture remains a sizable employer. The country has sustained average real GDP growth of approximately 4.9% per year over the past decade, underpinned by strong domestic consumption and a young, growing labor force. Key structural challenges include infrastructure gaps, vulnerability to natural disasters, and a persistent trade deficit.

Key sectors

📘 Learn everything about Philippines →

Macro

GDP nominal, USD	$461.62B
GDP growth real, annual	5.6%
Inflation annual	3.2%
Population people	115.8M
GDP per capita USD	$3,985
Market cap total listed, USD	$232.00B
Market cap / GDP	50.3%
Unemployment	3.8%
Listed companies	287
Exchange	Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE)

Data year: 2024. Sources: World Bank – World Development Indicators (2024), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Annual Market Report 2024/2025, International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Economic Outlook, April 2026, FocusEconomics – Philippines Country Report, CEIC Data – Philippines Market Capitalization, Wikipedia – Philippine Stock Exchange, Trading Economics – Philippines, SimplyWallSt – Largest Filipino PSEi Stocks by Market Cap (2026), Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) – SRRV Programme.

Local exchange & access

Exchange	Philippine Stock Exchange
Code	PSE
Website	www.pse.com.ph
Currency	PHP

Local broker access

Foreign investors can access PSE-listed stocks through international online brokers offering Philippine market access (e.g., Interactive Brokers, which provides PSE access) or through local PSE-accredited brokers such as COL Financial, BDO Securities, First Metro Securities, and Abacus Securities. Settlement is in Philippine Peso (PHP) with a T+2 settlement cycle. A stock transaction tax of 0.6% applies on gross selling price. Foreigners are subject to a 25% withholding tax on dividends (reduced to 10–15% under applicable tax treaties). Foreign ownership limits (FOLs) apply in regulated sectors such as media, utilities, and telecommunications. US investors may also access Philippine equity exposure via the iShares MSCI Philippines ETF (EPHE) listed on the NYSE Arca.

Global brokers with foreign-market access

• Interactive Brokers — Direct access to 90+ markets worldwide, including many emerging exchanges.
• Saxo Bank — Multi-market access across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
• Charles Schwab (Global) — Foreign ordinary shares on select markets; US-listed ADRs and ETFs.
• Fidelity International Trading — International stock trading on a number of developed and emerging markets.

Listed for convenience only — not a recommendation. Available markets, fees and onboarding rules differ by broker and by your country of residence.

Relocation & residency

Foreign-investor access

The Philippines is a popular destination for English-speaking expatriates due to widespread English proficiency, relatively low cost of living, and a warm climate. Foreign nationals may obtain long-term residency through the SRRV programme. Foreign ownership of land is generally restricted by the Philippine Constitution; foreigners may own condominium units (up to 40% of a building's floor area) but not land. The 13A (non-quota immigrant visa for spouses of Philippine citizens) and various work and investor visas are also available. Healthcare infrastructure varies significantly by region, with Metro Manila offering international-standard private hospitals.