Geographic coordinates 13? 00? N, 122? 00? E 

Located in Southeast Asia, bound by the South China Sea In the West, the Pacific Ocean in the East, Celebes Sea in the south

An archipelago, made up of 7,107 islands and islets

Three major island groups: Luzon (North), Visayas (Central), Mindanao (South)

Area total 300,000 sq km; land: 298,170 sq km; water: 1,830 sq km; Coastline: 36,289 km

Climate tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)

Terrain mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Elevation extremes lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m

Natural resources timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

Population 75 million (est)

Nationality Filipino

Ethnic groups Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, others 3%

Religions Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and others 3%

Languages Filipino (official, based on Tagalog), English (official); major dialects: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines conventional short form: Philippines local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas local short form: Pilipinas

Data code RP

Government type Republic; with 3 branches: Executive, headed by the President; Legislative, with 2 chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives; and the Judiciary with the Supreme Court as its highest body

Capital Manila

Currency Peso