Philippines

Economy & industry overview

The Philippines is one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing emerging economies, recording nominal GDP of approximately USD 462 billion in 2024 with real growth of 5.6 to 5.7 percent, the second-highest rate in the region that year. The services sector is the dominant driver of economic output, contributing nearly 63 percent of GDP, with business process outsourcing, finance, and retail trade as major sub-sectors. Remittances from an estimated 10 million overseas Filipino workers constitute a significant and stable source of foreign exchange. The country possesses a large, young, English-proficient workforce and a growing consumer class, which attract both domestic and foreign investment. Key structural challenges include infrastructure gaps, high exposure to natural disasters, fiscal deficits, and restrictions on foreign ownership in certain sectors.

Key sectors

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Macro

GDP nominal, USD	$461.67B
GDP growth real, annual	5.6%
Inflation annual	3.2%
Population people	112.7M
GDP per capita USD	$4,080
Market cap total listed, USD	$232.38B
Market cap / GDP	50.3%
Unemployment	3.8%
Listed companies	283
Exchange	Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE)

Primary data year: 2024. Sources: Philippine Stock Exchange (pse.com.ph), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (bsp.gov.ph), Philippine Statistics Authority (psa.gov.ph), World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Worldometer GDP Data, MSCI Index Factsheets (msci.com), Swiss Economic Report on the Philippines 2024 (eda.admin.ch), ASEAN Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) Country Report 2024, FocusEconomics Philippines, dividends.ph Top 100 PSE Companies 2026, companiesmarketcap.com Philippines, iShares / BlackRock EPHE ETF page, Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), Board of Investments Philippines (BOI). Individual figures may cover different reference periods — for example a fiscal year, or an estimate for the current year — and the overview above states these where known.

Local exchange & access

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

Local broker access

Foreign investors can access Philippine-listed equities through local PSE-accredited brokers such as COL Financial, BDO Nomura Securities, and First Metro Securities, many of which offer online trading platforms. International retail investors without a Philippine brokerage account typically gain exposure through US-listed ETFs such as EPHE (iShares MSCI Philippines ETF) or through over-the-counter purchase of Philippine depositary receipts and OTC-quoted shares. Foreign ownership limits apply in certain sectors such as telecommunications, media, retail, and public utilities, which may restrict direct shareholding. A stock transaction tax of 0.6 percent applies to seller proceeds on the PSE.

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 relatively accessible destination for foreign residents. English is widely spoken and is an official language, lowering the linguistic barrier for expatriates from many countries. The cost of living is moderate by regional standards, with Metro Manila offering urban amenities alongside lower housing costs than Singapore or Hong Kong. Foreign nationals generally cannot own land freehold but may own condominium units up to 40 percent of a building's total floor area. The country experiences typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic activity, and infrastructure outside major urban centers can be limited. Healthcare quality varies considerably between Metro Manila and provincial areas.