EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Maldives
Iraq ↑ 54
Austria vs Czechia
Hong Kong vs Philippines
Side-by-side comparison of Hong Kong and Philippines from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Philippines
East Asia & Pacific · nation age 461 years
In short
Hong Kong scores 84.3 in the NationsTree Index (2nd in the world) and Philippines scores 44.0 (113th), a gap of 40.3 points. Their trees are 17 m and 22 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Philippines has 16 times the population of Hong Kong. Philippines is 270 times larger than Hong Kong by land area. Philippines has an economy 2.4 times the size of Hong Kong (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Hong Kong 7.5 million and Philippines 116.8 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $80,423 in Hong Kong and $12,577 in Philippines (2025, international dollars). People in Hong Kong live on average 15.4 years longer (85.4 vs 69.9 years).
Of 29 indicators reported by both countries, Hong Kong ranks higher in the world on 24 and Philippines on 5. Hong Kong is clearly stronger in society & health, institutions & safety and infrastructure & digital. Philippines is clearly stronger in main industries, natural resources and environment & energy.
As a nation, Philippines is the older of the two (statehood since 1565, 461 years), compared with Hong Kong (since 1997). Over the last five years Hong Kong improved faster (direction score 95 vs 26 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Hong Kong and Philippines.
Hong Kongbetter
100.0%
1st of 150
Philippines
48.5%
109th of 150
Access to electricityInfrastructure & digital
Hong Kongbetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Philippines
94.8%
155th of 215
Life expectancySociety & health
Hong Kongbetter
85.4
3rd of 217
Philippines
69.9
154th of 217
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Hong Kongbetter
81.1
15th of 207
Philippines
36.5
140th of 207
GDP per person (PPP)Economy
Hong Kongbetter
$80,423
17th of 199
Philippines
$12,577
131st of 199
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Hong Kong has been ahead of Philippines in the NationsTree Index in every year since 2000.
Hong Kong has been ahead of Philippines in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Philippines has been ahead of Hong Kong in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
Hong KongPhilippines All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Hong Kong | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,110177th/216 · 2024 | 300,00073rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,050176th/216 · 2024 | 298,17072nd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 7.5 m104th/217 · 2025 | 116.8 m14th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.34%192nd/217 · 2025 | 0.81%113th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 7,165.84th/216 · 2024 | 388.530th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 100.0%1st/217 · 2025 | 55.8%140th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 10.3%216th/217 · 2025 | 27.1%84th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 23.7%9th/217 · 2025 | 5.7%140th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $427.31 bn39th/210 · 2025 | $487.09 bn33rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $603.08 bn49th/199 · 2025 | $1.47 trn30th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $515.36 bn49th/199 · 2025 | $1.26 trn30th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $56,98328th/210 · 2025 | $4,171147th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $80,42317th/199 · 2025 | $12,577131st/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $62,50018th/201 · 2025 | $4,850130th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.5%98th/210 · 2025 | 4.4%67th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.4%46th/180 · 2025 | 1.7%52nd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 2.8%32nd/187 · 2025 | 2.2%21st/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 43.4%2014 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 12.1%10th/189 · 2025 | 59.1%110th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -4.5%141st/192 · 2025 | -4.5%141st/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 0.0%195th/197 · 2024 | 8.6%80th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 6.2%194th/200 · 2024 | 27.0%70th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 0.9%184th/192 · 2024 | 15.3%38th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 91.5%3rd/200 · 2024 | 64.4%59th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $853.59 bn12th/182 · 2025 | $129.32 bn44th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $841.32 bn10th/182 · 2025 | $196.02 bn34th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 199.8%1st/183 · 2025 | 26.6%121st/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 196.9%1st/183 · 2025 | 40.2%103rd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 396.6%1st/183 · 2025 | 66.8%117th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.1%136th/170 · 2025 | 1.0%119th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 85.7%11th/171 · 2025 | 76.5%30th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 1.3%159th/171 · 2025 | 10.8%112th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.0%105th/171 · 2025 | 7.5%49th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 75.6%3rd/168 · 2024 | 60.4%4th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 12.3%17th/191 · 2025 | -3.3%119th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 28.3%5th/196 · 2025 | 1.7%118th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.0%183rd/209 · 2021 | 2.0%95th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%116th/197 · 2021 | 0.03%89th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.16%57th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.09%30th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 1.52%39th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.00%174th/209 · 2021 | 0.16%98th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 1.9%171st/206 · 2024 | 18.7%59th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | — | 4,20368th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 3.6 m49th/194 · 2020 | 1.5 m81st/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $32.70 bn4th/175 · 2019 | $2.77 bn42nd/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 5.1%86th/168 · 2019 | 3.5%99th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 8.3 m23rd/107 · 2020 | 1.5 m58th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 85.43rd/217 · 2024 | 69.9154th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | — | 26.5133rd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.321995 | 0.79109th/174 · 2021 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | — | 1.0121st/145 · 2021 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | — | 71%166th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 80.6%70th/153 · 2022 | 61.9%98th/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 107.2%34th/173 · 2024 | 85.3%118th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 43.0%2018 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 35.8%14th/217 · 2025 | 8.5%142nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | — | 5.1%124th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | — | 98.5%19th/98 · 2020 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 120.1%4th/150 · 2024 | 47.4%83rd/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.9558th/193 · 2023 | 0.720117th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | — | 39.382nd/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | — | 5.3%77th/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 94.8%155th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 100.0%1st/150 · 2024 | 48.5%109th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 94.8%26th/144 · 2024 | 62.2%72nd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 95.8%23rd/186 · 2024 | 67.3%129th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 3652nd/210 · 2024 | 115106th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 40.326th/208 · 2024 | 7.1132nd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.0014th/164 · 2022 | 3.2046th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 23082nd/82 · 2021 | 5092016 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 25.7 m31st/161 · 2023 | 41.5 m27th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 4.60146th/203 · 2024 | 1.5077th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 0.4%200th/212 · 2021 | 28.0%84th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | — | 22.2130th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | — | 24.8%119th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,44378th/149 · 2024 | 612114th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 83.818th/205 · 2025 | 56.390th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 81.115th/207 · 2025 | 36.5140th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 74.140th/207 · 2025 | 50.9132nd/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 79.261st/207 · 2025 | 51.0171st/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 83.39th/205 · 2025 | 58.581st/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 48.1130th/205 · 2025 | 53.0117th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.49th/145 · 2023 | 4.392nd/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | — | $6.38 bn41st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | — | 1.3%100th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | — | 5.4%74th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | — | 157,00040th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | — | 0.37%135th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 846.0 m10th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 4.0 m2007 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.13%37th/110 · 2024 | 0.28%76th/110 · 2020 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 49544th/137 · 2024 | 87334th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | — | 4,75262nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Hong Kong or Philippines?
Philippines has the larger population: 116.8 m (2025) compared with 7.5 m for Hong Kong (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Hong Kong or Philippines?
Philippines is larger: 300,000 km² (2024) compared with 1,110 km² for Hong Kong (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Hong Kong or Philippines?
Philippines has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $1.47 trn intl. (2025) compared with $603.08 bn intl. for Hong Kong (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Hong Kong or Philippines?
Hong Kong has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $80,423 intl. (2025) compared with $12,577 intl. for Philippines (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Hong Kong or Philippines?
Hong Kong has the higher life expectancy at birth: 85.4 years (2024) compared with 69.9 years for Philippines (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Hong Kong or Philippines?
Hong Kong: 84.3 points (2nd in the world); Philippines: 44.0 points (113th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Myanmar
New Zealand
Singapore
Australia
Malaysia
Thailand
VietnamSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Hong Kong vs Philippines — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/hong-kong-vs-philippines. Data as of 26 October 2026.