Eternal president: Kim Il-sung (deceased) Chairman, National Defence Commission: Kim Jong-il
Population
103,775,002
24,589,122
Life Expectancy
71.940 years
69.200 years
Capital City
Manila
Largest city
Manila (population: 10,444,500)
Pyongyang (population: 3,222,000)
Human Development Index
0.745
0
GDP per capita
$4,100 US
Literacy Rate
92.6%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
2.3
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
20.2%
20.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
Henry Sy & family ($2.7bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
7.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished
NA
Political System
republic
Communist state one-man dictatorship
Independence date
12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain); 4 July 1946 (from the US)
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)
traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Languages
Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
Korean
Exports
semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits
External Debt
$72,270,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
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
0.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
6
Location
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Area
300,000 km sq
120,538 km sq
Coastline
36,289 km
2,495 km
Climate
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)