The following is a comparison between Indonesia and the Philippines, two Southeast Asian countries made up of thousands of islands. Let’s read.
Indonesia and the Philippines – country comparison
GDP comparison
Indonesia has a larger GDP and a higher GDP per capita than the Philippines. The table below compares the GDP and GDP per capita of the two countries.
| 2025 (IMF) | Indonesia | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Indonesian Rupiah | Philippine peso |
| GDP (nominal, USD) | $1.45 trillion | $487.16 billion |
| GDP per capita (nominal, USD) | $5.08 thousand | $4.27 thousand |
| GDP (PPP, international $) | $5.05 trillion | $1.47 trillion |
| GDP per capita (PPP, international $) | $17.75 thousand | $12.88 thousand |
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Population
Indonesia has a larger population than the Philippines. However, the Philippines is more densely populated. The table below compares the population, total fertility rate (TFR), and the percentage of the population in different age groups in the two countries.
| 2025 estimate | Indonesia | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 285.7 million | 116.8 million |
| Population aged 0-14 | 24% | 27% |
| Population aged 15-64 | 68% | 67% |
| Population aged 65 and older | 8% | 6% |
| Total fertility rate, per woman | 2.1 | 1.9 |
Source: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Life
| Indonesia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (2023/UN) | 71.15 | 69.83 |
| Human Development Index rank (2023) | 113th | 117th |
| Human Development Index value | 0.728 | 0.720 |
Overview
Indonesia is one of the largest countries in the world. It is roughly 6.35 times the size of the Philippines in terms of total area.
| Indonesia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | approximately 1.9 million sq km | approximately 300,000 sq km |
| Population | 285.7 million (2025 estimate) | 116.8 million (2025 estimate) |
| Capital city | Jakarta | Manila |
| Largest city | Jakarta | Quezon City |
| Largest metropolitan area | Jakarta metropolitan area | Metropolitan Manila |
| Most spoken language | Indonesian | Filipino |
| Popular sports | Football and badminton | Basketball, boxing, and volleyball |
Geography
| Indonesia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Southeast Asia and Oceania | Southeast Asia |
| Forest cover (2023) | 47.7% | 24.5% |
| Total number of time zones | 3 | 1 |
| Highest mountain | Puncak Jaya (4,884 m/16,024 ft) | Mount Apo (2,954 m/9,692 ft) |
| Number of islands | More than 17,000 | More than 7,500 |
| Major rivers | Kapuas, Solo, Musi, Mahakam, Barito, Mamberamo | Cagayan, Mindanao, Agusan, Pampanga, Abra, Agno |
| Volcanoes | Yes, many active volcanoes | Yes, many active volcanoes |
(Also read: Indonesia and Malaysia – country comparison | Indonesia vs Malaysia)
Tourism
| Indonesia | Philippines | |
|---|---|---|
| International tourist arrivals | 13.6 million (2024) | 5.9 million (2024) |
| Number of UNESCO world heritage sites | 10 | 6 |
| Popular places to visit | Bali, Jakarta, Lombok, Komodo National Park, Raja Ampat Islands, Lake Toba, etc. | Manila, Cebu, Boracay, Palawan, Bohol, Davao City, Siargao, etc. |
| Busiest airport | Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (serves Jakarta metropolitan area) | Ninoy Aquino International Airport (serves Metropolitan Manila) |