Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general. Prime minister : Freundel Stuart
Population
103,775,002
287,733
Life Expectancy
71.940 years
74.520 years
Capital City
Manila
Bridgetown
Largest city
Manila (population: 10,444,500)
Bridgetown (population: 98,511)
Human Development Index
0.745
0.889
GDP per capita
$4,100 US
$23,700 US
Literacy Rate
92.6%
99.7%
Corruption Perception Index
2.3
7
Percentage of Women in Parliament
20.2%
13.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Henry Sy & family ($2.7bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
7.000%
12.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Legal
Political System
republic
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain); 4 July 1946 (from the US)
30 November 1966 (from UK)
Religions
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)
Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%, Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian 7%, other 4.8%, none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)
Languages
Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
English
Exports
semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
External Debt
$72,270,000,000 $
$668,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar - 44.439 (2008 est.), 46.148 (2007), 51.246 (2006), 55.086 (2005), 56.04 (2004)
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.900%
0.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Area
300,000 km sq
430 km sq
Coastline
36,289 km
97 km
Climate
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
