Americans in the Philippines
Filipino-American family, Philippines | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 38,000-750,000 Americans 250,000 Amerasians | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| · Calamba · Tuguegarao · Calapan · Legazpi · Iloilo · Olongapo · Pagadian · Cagayan de Oro · Davao · Koronadal · Butuan · Cotabato · Antipolo · Metro Cebu · Metro Manila | |
| Languages | |
| · and Spanish | |
| Religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Filipino Americans |
American settlement in the Philippines (Filipino: paninirahan sa Pilipinas ng mga Amerikano) began during the Spanish colonial period. The period of American colonization of the Philippines was 48 years long. It began with the cession of the Philippines to the U.S. by Spain in 1898 and lasted until the U.S. recognition of Philippine independence in 1946.
In 2015, the U.S. State Department estimated in 2016 that more than 220,000 U.S. citizens lived in the Philippines and more than 650,000 visited per year. They noted there was a significant mixed population of Amerasians born here since World War II, as well as descendants of Americans from the colonial era. The total number of Amerasians descended from American servicemen (termed "G.I. babies") was estimated to be around 250,000 in 2012. According to American ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, there were 750,000 American citizens living in the Philippines as of year 2025. If one were to sum the percentage of the population with partial American ancestry (Amerasians), 0.25%; and full American ancestry (American Filipinos), 0.75%; around 1% of the Philippines' demographics is made up of those with American ancestry.
During the Spanish–American War the United States assisted Philippine revolutionaries in renewing their fight for independence. The Philippine–American War erupted after the U.S. assimilated the Philippines instead of granting independence following Spanish cession to the U.S. in their peace treaty.