12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain); 4 July 1946 (from the US)
1 January 1984 (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)
Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10%
Languages
Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
Malay (official), English, Chinese
Exports
semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits
crude oil, natural gas, garments
External Debt
$61,720,000,000 $
$0 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)
Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.5886 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.900%
2.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
Area
300,000 km sq
5,765 km sq
Coastline
36,289 km
161 km
Climate
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
