Updated
Overview
The Philippines has 2.2 times the population of Colombia: 116.79 million people against 53.43 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $487.09B for the Philippines and $457.41B for Colombia.
Per person, Colombia is the wealthier of the two: $8,562 against $4,171 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Philippines | Colombia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $487.09B | $457.41B | 2025 | $461.62B / $418.54B |
| GDP per capita | $4,171 | Higher: $8,562 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 2.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.7% | 5.1% | 2025 | 3.2% / 6.6% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.2% | 8.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 38 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $316 | Higher: $499 | 2023 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $145 | Higher: $319 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.74 | $8.00 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 116.79 million | 53.43 million | 2025 | 118.28 million / 49.84 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.1 yrs | 32.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.62 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 69.9 yrs | Higher: 77.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 79% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 67% | Higher: 79% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 342,353 km² | 1,141,748 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 341.1/km² | 46.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 175 Mt | Lower: 93 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.5 t | 1.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.12B | $15.10B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 3.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 157,000 | 428,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
The Philippines is growing faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 2.6%.
Colombia runs the hotter price environment: 5.1% inflation versus 1.7%.
Average monthly earnings favour Colombia: $499 against $316 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Philippines is the younger society: median age 26.1 versus 32.5 years.
Life expectancy is 8.0 years longer in Colombia (77.9 vs 69.9).
Colombia is considerably more urbanized: 79% of people live in cities, against 56%.
Internet adoption is higher in Colombia (79% vs 67% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the Philippines is 70% smaller than Colombia: 342,353 km² versus 1,141,748 km².
The Philippines is far more densely settled: 341 people per km² against 47.
Military
Colombia spends 2.5 times as much on defence as the Philippines: $15.10B versus $6.12B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Colombia carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 1.3%.
Colombia fields the larger armed forces: 428,000 personnel against 157,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the Philippines bigger than Colombia?
- Colombia is larger by land area. The Philippines covers 342,353 km² while Colombia covers 1,141,748 km², so Colombia is 3.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the Philippines or Colombia?
- The Philippines has the larger population: 116.79 million versus 53.43 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the Philippines richer than Colombia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Colombia is richer: $8,562 against $4,171. Total GDP tells a different story: $487.09B for the Philippines versus $457.41B for Colombia.
- Who spends more on their military, the Philippines or Colombia?
- Colombia spends more: $15.10B versus $6.12B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).