12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain); 4 July 1946 (from the US)
Religions
Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Roman Catholic 80.9%, Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)
Languages
Greek 99% (official), other 1% (includes English and French)
Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
Exports
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles
semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits
External Debt
$583,300,000,000 $
$61,720,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar - 44.439 (2008 est.), 46.148 (2007), 51.246 (2006), 55.086 (2005), 56.04 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.300%
0.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
4
0
Location
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Area
131,957 km sq
300,000 km sq
Coastline
13,676 km
36,289 km
Climate
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
