The Economic Case for LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Southeast Asia - The Philippines Focus
Interactive Asia, Philippines City Map - 2025 Edition
Figure 1: Interactive Asia, Philippines City Map - 2025 Edition. Use Ctrl + scroll (or pinch to zoom) to zoom in and out of the map. Click a city bubble for more information.
This paper presents some of the top-line findings, specifically related to the Philippines, from Open for Business’ Economic Case for LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Southeast Asia report.
Inclusive societies are better for business and economic growth. Our research shows that economically successful countries tend to be those with better records on LGBTQ+ rights. For example, analyses demonstrate correlations between LGBTQ+ rights and:
World Bank Per Capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Global Innovation Index (GII) from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
World Bank Labor Force Participation Rates
Open For Business’ 2022 Cities Ratings Report shows that Manila, rated C, ranks lower than regional competitors like Bangkok (CC) and Kuala Lumpur (CC)