Geography & environment — Philippines
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Philippines: Southeast Asia
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Southeast Asia
- Geographic Coordinates
13 00 N, 122 00 E
- Total Area
115,830 Square Miles 300,000 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
115,123 Square Miles 298,170 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
707 Square Miles 1,830 Square Kilometers
- Coastline
22,549 Miles 36,289 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
- Highest Point
2,954 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Mount Apo 2,954 m
- Lowest Point Location
Philippine Sea 0 m
- Natural Resources
timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
- Irrigated Land
7,255 Square Miles 18,790 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
The Philippines has a tropical climate, but it is marginally less hot and humid than many tropical countries for most of the year. Although the sun shines almost year round, there are slight seasonal variations in the weather. The dry summer season, which runs from about late April to early June is hot and humid and with little rainfall. The typhoon season runs from June to September, with frequent drenching rains that can temper the heat somewhat but also preclude any outdoor activities. The downpours are often limited in duration, but the resulting flash floods can create chaos by blocking streets, stranding motorists, and bringing the already congested traffic of Manila to a virtual standstill. The most pleasant season follows the rainy season, from November until March. During this time of year, mornings can be fresh, and even the midday temperatures remain bearable, with frequent breezes that temper the heat. The temperature range in Manila is relatively narrow, with minimum temperatures in the mid-70s and highs in the mid-90s, and an annual mean of about 80°F. Average relative humidity ranges from 69% in April to 84% in August or September. Baguio, the original summer capital of the Philippines, is located 155 miles north of Manila at an altitude of about 5,000 feet. The climate varies between the dry and the very wet season, each lasting about six months. The dry season runs from December to May, with temperatures ranging from the 50s and 60s at night to highs in the mid-80s during the day. Baguio averages 176 inches of rainfall a year, about half of which falls in July and August alone. The rains begin tapering off in September and are light in October and November.
- Terrain
mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
- Location
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
- Total Area
115,830 Square Miles 300,000 Square Kilometers
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
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
- Environment - International Agreements
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