Philippine Health Indicators Analysis
Comprehensive analysis of health metrics across mortality, infectious diseases, child health, non-communicable diseases, and health systems from WHO data spanning 1953-2019.
66 years of Philippine health data reveal dramatic progress in mortality reduction alongside emerging crises in HIV, TB, and child malnutrition.
- Life expectancy improved from 48 years (1953) to 72.6 years for females (2016), a 24-year gain over six decades.
- HIV cases surged 24x since 2003, reaching 97,000 people living with HIV in 2019 -- the fastest-growing epidemic in Asia-Pacific.
- TB burden remains critically high at 554 per 100,000, though treatment success rate reaches 91%.
- Infant mortality dropped from 100+ to 22.5 per 1,000 live births, but 30% child stunting persists as a chronic challenge.
Life Expectancy Trends
Tracking the improvement in life expectancy at birth from 2000 to 2016
👨 Male Life Expectancy
Increased from 63.9 years in 2000 (+3.7%)
👩 Female Life Expectancy
Increased from 70.1 years in 2000 (+3.6%)
⚥ Gender Gap
Women consistently live longer than men
Infant & Child Mortality
Dramatic improvements in child survival rates over six decades
↓ Infant Mortality Reduction
Infant mortality dropped from 85 per 1,000 in 1953 to 22.5 per 1,000 in 2018 - a 73.5% reduction in 65 years.
↓ Under-5 Mortality Reduction
Under-5 mortality dropped from 136 per 1,000 in 1953 to 28.4 per 1,000 in 2018 - a 79% reduction.
Immunization Coverage
Vaccination rates among 1-year-olds show concerning declines in recent years
⚠️ DTP3 Coverage
Dropped from 89% in 2013 - below 80% target
⚠️ BCG Coverage
Declined from 91% in 2011
⚠️ Measles Coverage
Low coverage linked to 2014, 2018 outbreaks
Child Nutrition Status
Malnutrition remains a significant challenge for children under 5
🚨 Stunting Remains High
30.3% of children under 5 are stunted (height-for-age), indicating chronic malnutrition. This affects cognitive development and future productivity.
⚠️ Double Burden
While underweight prevalence is 19.1%, overweight prevalence is now 4% - the Philippines faces both under and overnutrition challenges.
Tuberculosis Burden
The Philippines has one of the highest TB burdens globally
🔴 TB Cases (2018)
New and relapse cases reported
⚠️ TB Incidence
Per 100,000 population - among highest globally
✓ Treatment Success
High treatment success rate maintained
HIV/AIDS Epidemic
Rapidly growing HIV epidemic with 24x increase in infections since 2003
📈 Fastest Growing in Asia-Pacific
New infections increased from 660 (2003) to 16,000 (2019) - a 24-fold increase in 16 years. The Philippines has one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the Asia-Pacific region.
⚠️ Young People at Risk
The epidemic is concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM) and young people aged 15-24. Despite low overall prevalence (0.2%), targeted interventions are critical.
Measles Outbreaks
Correlation between declining vaccination coverage and disease resurgence
🔴 2014 Outbreak
Major outbreak following coverage decline
🔴 2018 Resurgence
Post-Dengvaxia vaccine hesitancy impact
✓ Near Elimination
Cases in 2006 - lowest on record
Non-Communicable Diseases
Rising burden of NCDs including obesity, hypertension, and diabetes
⚠️ Obesity Rising
Adult obesity (BMI≥30) increased from 5% in 2012
⚠️ Hypertension
Adults with raised blood pressure (2015)
⚠️ Diabetes Risk
Adults with raised fasting blood glucose
Mental Health & Substance Use
Suicide rates and alcohol consumption patterns in the Philippines
👨 Male Suicide Rate Higher
Male suicide rate (5.2 per 100,000) is more than double the female rate (2.3). Overall rate of 3.7 is lower than global average but likely underreported.
🍻 Alcohol Consumption
Per capita alcohol consumption is approximately 4.7 liters of pure alcohol per year among adults 15+, with beer being the most consumed type.
Health System Capacity
Health workforce and financing indicators
👨⚕️ Doctors (2017)
Medical doctors in the Philippines
💊 Pharmacists
Registered pharmacists (2017)
💰 Health Expenditure
Of GDP spent on health (2014)
65 Years of Health Progress
Comparing health indicators from 1953 to 2018
| Indicator | 1953/1960 | 2018 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant Mortality (per 1,000) | 84.9 | 22.5 | -73.5% |
| Under-5 Mortality (per 1,000) | 136.5 | 28.4 | -79.2% |
| Life Expectancy - Male | ~55 yrs | 66.2 yrs | +20% |
| Life Expectancy - Female | ~60 yrs | 72.6 yrs | +21% |
| Measles Cases | 81,896 (1987) | 20,827 | -74.6% |
Key Findings & Challenges
Summary of critical health challenges facing the Philippines
✓ Progress Areas
- Dramatic reduction in infant and child mortality
- Steady improvement in life expectancy
- High TB treatment success rate (91%)
- Effective control of infectious diseases like cholera
⚠️ Critical Challenges
- Rapidly growing HIV epidemic (24x increase since 2003)
- High TB burden (554 per 100,000)
- Declining immunization coverage
- Persistent child malnutrition (30% stunting)
- Rising non-communicable diseases
Data Source & Methodology
This analysis uses WHO Global Health Observatory data for the Philippines, compiled from multiple health indicators covering mortality, infectious diseases, child health, non-communicable diseases, substance use, and health systems.
- Source: WHO Global Health Observatory (GHO) Data Repository via Humanitarian Data Exchange
- Coverage: 50 CSV files with 56,512 total records
- Time Span: 1953-2019 (varies by indicator)
- Categories: Mortality, child health, infectious diseases, NCDs, TB, HIV/AIDS, mental health, health systems
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