Philippines
Facts
Area:
Total: 186,420 sq miles
Land: 185,283 sq miles
Water: 1,137 sq miles
Climate:
Tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Elevation Extremes:
Lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 ft
Highest point: Mount Apo 9,689 ft
Population:
89,468,677
Ethnic Groups:
Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 80.9%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, Muslim 5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)
Languages:
Two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
Conventional short form: Philippines
Local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
Local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw
Local short form: Pilipinas
Government type:
Republic
Capital:
Manila
Independence:
12 June 1898 (from Spain) and 1946 (from the United States)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,100 (2005 est.)
Currency:
Philippine peso (PHP)
Time Zone:
GMT +8
Country Dialing Code:
+63
Electricity:
220V 50HzHz