Philippines: Flag and Facts
The flag of the Philippines has a blue band over a red band, with a white triangle at the hoist containing a yellow eight-rayed sun and a small yellow star in each corner.
- Official name
- Republic of the Philippines
- Capital
- Manila
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia
- Population
- 118 million (2024)
- Languages
- English, Filipino
- Currency
- Philippine peso
- Area
- 342,353 km² (132,183 sq mi)
- People
- Filipino
- Calling code
- +63
- Highest point
- Mount Apo 2,954 m
- Independence
- 4 July 1946 (from the US)
- National symbols
- three stars and sun, Philippine eagle
- Borders
- No land borders
About Philippines
Blue is peace and justice, red is courage, and the triangle is equality. Each of the sun's eight rays marks one of the first provinces to rise up against Spain. The three stars stand for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the country's three main parts. The design goes back to 1897.
Spain made the islands a colony in the 16th century and handed them to the US in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. Filipinos led by Emilio Aguinaldo fought US rule from 1899 to 1902. The country became a self-governing commonwealth in 1935, endured Japanese occupation in World War II, and won full independence on 4 July 1946. In 1986, a people power movement in Manila ended more than two decades of rule by Ferdinand Marcos. Mountains dominate the islands, edged by coastal lowlands, and roughly 118 million people live across the islands.
Did you know?
- Mount Apo is the tallest mountain in the Philippines at 2,954 meters.
- The Philippine eagle is one of the country's national symbols.
- Metro Manila holds about 14.7 million people, far more than Davao at 1.9 million.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Philippines
When is Independence Day in the Philippines?
It is celebrated on 12 June, marking 1898, even though formal independence from the US came on 4 July 1946.
What languages are spoken in the Philippines?
Filipino and English are the official languages.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.