Updated
Overview
The Philippines has 19 times the population of Singapore: 116.79 million people against 6.11 million (2025).
Singapore's economy is 24% larger than the Philippines', at $603.87B versus $487.09B.
Per person, Singapore is the wealthier of the two: $98,814 against $4,171 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Philippines | Singapore | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $487.09B | Higher: $603.87B | 2025 | $461.62B / $547.39B |
| GDP per capita | $4,171 | Higher: $98,814 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 4.4% | Higher: 5.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.7% | Lower: 0.9% | 2025 | 3.2% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.2% | 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $316 | Higher: $3,483 | 2023 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $145 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.74 | $5.77 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 116.79 million | 6.11 million | 2025 | 118.28 million / 6.08 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.1 yrs | 36.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 0.96 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 69.9 yrs | Higher: 83.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 100% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 67% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 342,353 km² | 719 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 341.1/km² | 8499.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 175 Mt | Lower: 54 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.5 t | 9.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.12B | $15.06B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 2.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 157,000 | 59,000 | 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
Singapore is growing faster: 5.0% annual GDP growth versus 4.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.7% in the Philippines and 0.9% in Singapore.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the Philippines: a price level of 33 versus 60 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Singapore: $3,483 against $316 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Philippines is the far younger society: median age 26.1 versus 36.2 years.
Life expectancy is 13.4 years longer in Singapore (83.3 vs 69.9).
Singapore is considerably more urbanized: 100% of people live in cities, against 56%.
Internet adoption is higher in Singapore (94% vs 67% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the Philippines is 476 times the size of Singapore: 342,353 km² versus 719 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Singapore is far more densely settled: 8500 people per km² against 341.
Military
Singapore spends 2.5 times as much on defence as the Philippines: $15.06B versus $6.12B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Singapore carries the heavier military burden: 2.8% of GDP versus 1.3%.
The Philippines fields the larger armed forces: 157,000 personnel against 59,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the Philippines bigger than Singapore?
- The Philippines is larger by land area. The Philippines covers 342,353 km² while Singapore covers 719 km², so the Philippines is 476 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the Philippines or Singapore?
- The Philippines has the larger population: 116.79 million versus 6.11 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the Philippines richer than Singapore?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Singapore is richer: $98,814 against $4,171. Total GDP tells the same story: $487.09B for the Philippines versus $603.87B for Singapore.
- Who spends more on their military, the Philippines or Singapore?
- Singapore spends more: $15.06B versus $6.12B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).