At a Glance

Official Name: Republic of the Philippines

Continent: Asia

Area: 115,830 square miles (300,000 sq km)

Population: 82,841,518

Capital City: Manila

Largest City: Manila (1,598,918)

Unit of Money: Peso

Major Languages: Pilipino, English (both official)

Natural Resources: Timber, petroleum, nickel

The Place

The Philippines, in the southwest Pacific Ocean, is made up of more than 7,000 islands. The 11 largest islands make up 95% of the country's area. Less than half of the islands have names. There are three main groups of islands—the northern group, which is made up of the two large islands Luzon and Mindoro; the central group, which is a group of 7,000 islands called the Visayan Islands; and the southern group, which consists of 400 islands that are part of the Mindanao and Sulu Archipelago.

Most larger islands have volcanic mountains. The nation's highest peak—Mount Apo at 9,692 feet (2,954 m)—is on Mindanao Island. Earthquakes sometimes occur on the islands. The country's largest lakes are Laguna de Bay in Luzon and Lake Sultan Alonto in Mindanao. Most of the country's rivers flow during the rainy season, which lasts from June to February. The Philippine Trench, which is off the northeast coast of Mindanao, is one of the deepest spots in all the oceans at 34,578 feet (10,539 m) beneath the surface of the sea.

Banyan, palm trees, and bamboo grow throughout the islands. Animals, such as crocodiles, monkeys, and snakes, can be found throughout the country. Small animals with owl-like eyes called tarsiers live only in the Philippines and East Indies.

The Philippines has a hot and humid climate. From March to May, temperatures can rise to 100°F (38°C). From June to February, the rainy season, temperatures are cooler at 70°F (21°C). Rainfall averages 100 inches (250 cm) a year.

The People

People live on 900 of the country's islands. The people of the Philippines are called Filipinos and are descendants of Indonesians and Malaysians, known as Malays. Chinese make up the second largest ethnic group in the country.

The Philippines has a population density of 701 people per square mile (270 people per sq km) and an annual population increase of 2.2%. Life expectancy is 66 years.

More than 40% of the labor force works in agriculture. Many work on farms that belong to wealthy landowners. About 40% work in education, government, medicine, trade, transportation, communication, or financial services and 15% in manufacturing, construction, or mining.

Filipinos have large, close families. Men usually hold positions of authority at both work and home. Many women, however, work in professional fields, and the country has had women presidents.

People in rural areas live in wooden houses with thatch or iron roofs. People in the cities live in large houses or government-built housing projects. The Philippines has more Christians than any Asian country. About 92% of the people are Christian, of those 83% are Roman Catholic.

Education

Children ages 7 to 12 must attend school. The first 2 years of school are taught in the local dialect, then Filipino and English are introduced. Almost all private schools, as well as high schools and universities, teach in English.

More than 30% of students attend college—mostly private or religious. The University of the East is the country's largest university.

The Philippines has a literacy rate of 95%.

Popular Culture/Daily Life

The Philippines has had many famous artists, including painters Fabian de la Rosa and Fernando Amorsolo. Much of the country's literature consists of native legends and poems. Myths and legends center on the origin of the world, the first man and woman on Earth, why the sky is high, why the sea is salty, and why there are different races.

Traditional theatre, literature, and love songs called kundimans are popular. Many people enjoy watching soap operas and movies. Filipinos also enjoy growing flowers.