Philippines
The Country of the Week
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Manila
- Population
- 118,277,063 (2024 est.)
- Area
- 300,000 sq km
- Government
- presidential republic
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 78.8%, Muslim 6.4%, Iglesia ni Cristo 2.6%, other Christian 3.9%, other 8.2%, none/unspecified <0.1 (2020 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Tagalog 26%, Bisaya/Binisaya 14.3%, Ilocano 8%, Cebuano 8%, Illonggo 7.9%, Bikol/Bicol 6.5%, Waray 3.8%, Kapampangan 3%, Maguindanao 1.9%, Pangasinan 1.9%, other local ethnicities 18.5%, foreign ethnicities 0.2% (2020 est.)
- Currency
- Philippine pesos (PHP)
- Life Expectancy
- 70.8 years (2024 est.)
- Internet Domain
- .ph
- Climate
- tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
- Terrain
- mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
- Natural Resources
- timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
- Major Exports
- integrated circuits, machine parts, gold, insulated wire, semiconductors (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Overview
The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. Led by Emilio AGUINALDO, the Filipinos conducted an insurgency against US rule from 1899-1902, although some fighting continued in…