2013 Survey on

Overseas Filipinos
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) include overseas
contract workers (OCWs) who have an existing contract
to work abroad, and other Filipino workers abroad with
valid working visa or work permits, as well as those who
have no working visa or work permits (tourist, visitor,
student, medical, and other types of non-immigrant
visas) but are employed and working full time in other
countries.
The total number of OFWs who worked abroad at
anytime during the period April to September 2013 was
estimated at 2.3 million. The estimate for the same
period in 2012 was 2.2 million and for 2011 was 2.1
million. The OCWs or those with existing work contract
abroad comprised 95.0 percent of the total OFWs in
2012 as well as in 2011 (Figure 1).
Figure 1
Number of Ofws and OCWs
2013, 2012 and 2011 (In Millions)
3
2.5

2.3

2.2

2.2

2.1

2.1

1.5
1
0.5
0
2013

2012
OFWs

2011

OCWs

Source: Survey on Overseas Filipinos 2013, PSA

Distribution by Region.
Among the regions,
CALABARZON (18.4%), Central Luzon (13.9%) and
the National Capital Region (12.8%) had the biggest
percentage to the total OFWs. The three regions were
also the leading origins of OFWs in the previous two years
with 18.1%, 14.1% and 12.6%, respectively in 2012, and
16.5%, 14.3% and 12.5%, respectively, in 2011 (Table 1).
The
from
had
two

smallest number of OFWs in 2013 came

Caraga, with 1.5%. The region consistently
the lowest number of OFWS in the past
years at 1.2% in 2012 and 1.6% in 2011.

Distribution

by

Gender

and

Age.

There

Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department

House of Representatives
January 2015 (No. 1)

Table 1
Distribution of Overseas Filipino Workers
by Region of Origin, 2011, 2012, 2013 (In %)
Region

2013

2012

2011

NCR

12.8

12.6

12.5

CAR

2.2

2.1

1.9

Region I

8.2

8.7

9.2

Region II

6.6

6.1

6.3

Region III

13.9

14.1

14.3

Region IV-A

18.4

18.1

16.5

Region IV-B

2.2

2.1

1.9

Region V

3.3

3.5

3.3

Region VI

9.4

9.1

8.5

Region VII

6.5

5.5

6.9

Region VIII

1.6

2.3

2.0

Region IX

1.7

1.8

1.9

Region X

2.7

3.2

3.5

Region XI

2.6

2.7

2.3

Region XII

4.1

4.3

4.4

Caraga

1.5

1.2

1.6

ARMM

2.3

2.5

3.0

Source Philippine Statistics Authority, 2014

were more male than female OFWs in 2013,

Source Philippine
Statistics comprising
Authority, 2014 50.3% of the total.
with
the males
The age group 30 to 34 years comprised the largest
group with 24.3% of the total OFWs, followed by those
aged 25 to 29 years with 23.6% (Figure 2). Female
OFWs were younger compared to male OFWs, with
more than half (53.8%) of the females belonging to the
25-34 years age group. However, there were more
male OFWs in the 40-44 years (13.1%) and 45 & over
(22.0%) compared to females of the same age group.

Distribution By Occupation Group. Some 30.8% of

OFWS were classified as laborers and unskilled workers
in 2013. Of this, 51.4% were female workers who
employed as household helpers, cleaners, launderers
and other related jobs. Other occupation groups of
OFWs included service and shop workers (16.7%)

Figure 2
Overseas Filipino Workers
by Gender and Age 2013 (In %)
30

27.9
26.2

25

22.7

22.2

19.6

20

15.6 16.2

15

Figure 3
Distribution of Overseas Filipinos
by Occupation Groups 2013 (In %)

13.2
10.7

10

10.5

8.5

Laborers

6.7

45 & over

25

Female

Source: Survey on Overseas Filipinos 2013, PSA

20

Leading Destination of OFWs. Saudi Arabia continued

to be the leading destination of OFWs, where one in every
five Filipinos worked in the period April to September
2013. It was also the destination for 20.6% of OFWs
who worked abroad from April to September of 2012.
Other major destinations for OFWs in the same
period in 2013 were United Arab Emirates (15.4%),
Singapore (7.3%), Qatar (5.6%) and Hong Kong (5.1%).
Table 2
Distribution of Overseas Filipino Workers
by Place of Work, 2011,2012, 20013 (In %)
Region

30

15
10
5
0

2013
Source: Survey on Overseas Filipinos 2013, PSA

Remittances of OFWs. A total of 1.9 million OFWs

sent cash remittances to their families from April to
Septeber 2013. This was the same number of OFWs
wmho sent remittances in 2012. The total remittances
sent in 2013 was estimated at PhP163.2 billion, which
was lower than PhP165.6 billion sent during the
same period in 2012. These remittances included
Php116.7 billion cash sent home, PhP35.5 billion cash
brought home and PhP9.1 billion remittances in kind.

2013

2012

2011

Africa

1.7

1.7

1.7

Asia

81.2

79.7

80.4

16.0

15.7

16.8

Hong Kong

5.1

5.5

5.3

Japan

3.4

3.4

4.2

Taiwan

4.3

3.9

3.8

Other Countries

3.0

2.9

3.5

Southeast and South

Central Asia

12.2

12.6

10.9

Malaysia

3.2

3.5

3.1

140

Singapore

7.3

7.5

6.3

120

Other Countries

1.7

1.7

1.5

53.0

51.4

52.7

Kuwait

4.0

4.2

4.3

Qatar

5.8

6.5

6.9

Saudi Arabia

22.1

20.6

22.6

United Arab Emirates

15.4

14.9

14.6

20

Other Countries

5.0

5.3

4.3

Australia

2.1

2.2

1.7

Europe

7.7

8.7

8.6

North and South America

7.5

7.6

7.6

East Asia

Western Asia

Source: Survey on Overseas Filipinos 2013, PSA

Plant and Machine Operators

40-44

Trade and Related workers

Male

35-39

Service Workers

30-34

Professionals

25-29

Officials of government and other

companies

15-24

Clerks

Technicians and Associate Professionals

35

Figure 4
Total Remittances of Overseas
Filipino Workers 2011, 2012, 2013 (In Billion Pesos)

120.1

118.7

114

100
80
60
40

36.5

35.1

9.1

2013
Cash Sent

34.8

2012
Cash Brought Home

Source: Survey on Overseas Filipinos 2013, PSA

7.4

2011
In Kind