Not the easiest of topics, but here are my thoughts on some of these CIA figures ( mostly estimates ).
Of interest :-
• Population - Philippines 102 m, UK 63 m
• Age structure – median ( most often occurring ) – Philippines 23, UK 40
• Birth Rate ( per 1000 ) – Philippines 25, UK 12
• Death Rate ( per 1000 ) – Philippines 5, UK 9
• Net Migration ( per 1000 ) – Philippines -1.29 ( more people leaving ), UK 2.59 ( more people entering ). (About 572,000 people entered UK long-term in the year to June 2010 ; 346,000 emigrated ).
• Urban population ( % of total ) – Philippines 49, UK 80
• Infant Mortality Rate ( per 1000 live births ) – Philippines actually varies between 10 ( richest urban communities such as Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao ) and over 90 ( poorest rural communities such as Bicol, Samar Provinces and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ). UK : less than 5.
• Life Expectancy at Birth – Philippines actually varies from 80 years to under 60 years ( average 72 – males 69, females 75 ). UK also varies – from 85 males and 88 females ( Kensington and Chelsea ) to 72 males and 78 females ( Glasgow ) - average 78 males, 82 females. ( Since 1950 estimated life expectancy at birth of most of world’s population has increased ).
• Health expenditure - Philippines – 3.8% of GDP in 2009 ( World Health Organization ). The “ Economist “ claimed Philippines Government spent only 0.6% of GDP on health in 2010. Public spending on health is so low it results in “ out of pocket spending “ - more than half of the total . Especially affects the poor majority of the population, and should be reduced, with more Government spending. The free basic health service could be improved, and more insurance coverage by PhilHealth ( 76% now) or similar agencies. UK Government spending is 8-9%.
• Physician density – Philippines 1,153 doctors / 1000 population ( 1 for every 867 ) ; UK 2,739 / 1000 ( 1 for 365 ). There are less than 100,000 doctors in Philippines compared to about 240,000 in UK.
• HIV / AIDS – estimates for Philippines ( less than 0.1% prevalence in adults, 8,700 living with HIV / AIDS, and fewer than 200 deaths / year ) are admitted by the Government to be too low. In the UK ( 0.2 % prevalence, fewer than 1,000 deaths, and 85,000 living with it ) up to a quarter thought to have AIDS / HIV haven’t actually been diagnosed, so don’t know their status.
• Hospital bed density ( per 1000 ) – Philippines 0.5 ( 3/5 private ) , UK 3.38 ( most NHS ).
• Obesity – adult prevalence rates quoted ( Philippines 4.3% ; UK 22.7% ) seem too low. In UK nearly a quarter of people are obese. The Philippines has proportions of overweight and obesity approaching those of UK, but also – especially in children – malnutrition is a problem. Over 20% of children under 5 are quoted as underweight – possibly nearer 25% now.
• Unemployment – latest Philippine rate: 7.3% (2010). UK is 2.67 million, or 8.4% ( 22% for 16 – 24 year olds ).
• Literacy – in Philippines age 15 and over, 93% can read and write. Some in UK might disagree with the estimate of 99% literacy !