In 2021, the leading illness in the Philippines was acute respiratory infection, with approximately 598,591 people diagnosed with this disease. This was followed by hypertension and animal bites. The morbidity rate of acute respiratory infection per hundred thousand population in the Philippines was at nearly 543.2 in that year.

Preliminary figures between January to September 2024 indicated that ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of death in the Philippines. The number of people who died from this illness was estimated at 75,500. Following this, cancer resulted in the deaths of about 43,000 people. Eating habits Heart diseases have been linked to high meat consumption, among others. In the Philippines, pork has been the most consumed meat type, followed closely by chicken. While pork meat is typically produced domestically, the country also imports pork to supplement its supply. However, plant-based food has started gaining popularity among Filipinos. In fact, a 2024 survey revealed that 69 percent of surveyed Filipinos consumed plant-based products, including meat alternatives. Common diseases in the Philippines Aside from heart and cerebrovascular diseases, the Filipino population is also exposed to infections, diabetes, skin diseases, and illnesses resulting from high meat consumption. In 2020, over 700,000 Filipinos contracted acute respiratory tract infections, followed by over 400,000 diagnosed with hypertension. In areas with high exposure to rain, dengue infections and leptospirosis have also become prevalent.

Cause of death, by non-communicable diseases (% of total) in Philippines was reported at 69.75 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Philippines - Cause of death, by non-communicable diseases (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions (% of total) in Philippines was reported at 24.28 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Philippines - Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Among non-communicable diseases in the Philippines in 2023, current health expenditure was highest on diseases of the genitourinary system (nephritis) at around *** billion Philippine pesos. Meanwhile, spending on oral diseases reached **** billion in that year.

In 2021, the morbidity rate per 100,000 population of acute respiratory infection was approximately ***** in the Philippines. By comparison, the morbidity rate of heart diseases per 100,000 people was **** in the country.

In 2021, hypertension was the leading disease in Davao region of the Philippines, with cases amounting to around ******. Acute respiratory infection was the next leading disease, affecting approximately ****** inhabitants within the region.

In 2021, diarrhea and gastroenteritis of presumed infectious origin was the leading cause of mortality among children aged one to four years old in the Philippines. The number of deaths caused by such disease amounted to 611. The other major causes of child mortality in the country were remainder diseases of sepsis, other tuberculosis, as well as respiratory tuberculosis.

According to preliminary data between January and October 2024, *** percent of deaths in the Philippines were caused by chronic lower respiratory diseases. Deaths from such illnesses fluctuated since 2017, with the highest share of deaths reported in 2017 and 2019.

As of May 3, 2023, approximately 4.1 million people had been confirmed as infected with the COVID-19 virus in the Philippines. Of those, over four million had recovered and around 66.4 thousand died.

Vaccination rollout in the Philippines
The government’s vaccination drives successfully inoculated over 71 million Filipinos, surpassing the initial target of 70 million. This represented about 77 percent of the total eligible population to receive the vaccine. As of June 2022, the National Capital Region accounted for the highest share of the population that have been fully vaccinated from the virus, followed by Region 4-A.

Hybrid shopping behavior Lockdown restrictions across the country forced consumers to turn to e-commerce channels and digital payment systems to prevent themselves from contracting the virus. A survey revealed that about 46 percent of respondents in the Philippines were first social media shoppers in 2021.

The Philippines reported about ****** HIV cases, an increase from the previous year. The number of reported HIV cases has gradually increased since 2012, aside from a significant dip in 2020. The state of HIV As the monthly average number of people newly diagnosed with HIV increases, the risk it poses threatens the lives of Filipinos. HIV is a sexually transmitted infection that attacks the body’s immune system, with more males being diagnosed than females. In 2022, the majority of people newly diagnosed with HIV were those between the age of 25 and 34 years, followed by those aged 15 and 24. There is still no cure for HIV and without treatment, it could lead to other severe illnesses such as tuberculosis and cancers such as lymphoma and Kaposi’s sarcoma. However, HIV is now a manageable chronic illness that can be treated with proper medication. What are the leading causes of death in the Philippines? Between January and September 2024, preliminary figures have shown that ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of death in the Philippines. The prevalence of heart diseases in the nation has been closely attributed to the Filipino diet, which was described as having a high fat, high cholesterol, and high sodium content. In addition, acute respiratory infections and hypertension also registered the highest morbidity rate among leading diseases in the country in 2021.

In 2024, the total population of the Philippines was at approximately 114.17 million inhabitants. For the foreseeable future, the Filipino population is expected to increase slightly, despite a current overall downward trend in population growth. The dwindling Filipino population For now, the population figures in the Philippines still show a steady increase and the country is still one of the most densely populated countries in the Asia-Pacific region, however, all signs point to a decline in the number of inhabitants in the long run: Just like the population growth rate, the country’s fertility rate, for example, has also been decreasing for years now, while the death rate has been increasing simultaneously.   Poor healthcare to blame One of the reasons for the downward trend is the aging population; fewer babies are born each year, while life expectancy at birth has been steady over the years. Another reason is poor healthcare in the country: The Philippines have a high tuberculosis incidence rate, a highly infectious disease, and are among the countries with a high probability of death from noncommunicable diseases as well.

In 2022, the Philippines recorded around ******* dengue cases, indicating a significant increase from the previous year. The number of dengue cases in the country peaked in 2019. Dengue is a disease caused by mosquitos.