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The Philippines at a Glance

Land Area: 300,000 sq. km. (archipelago of 7,100 islands)
Coastline: 36,289 kilometers
Geography: Three main island groups: Luzon, Visayas & Mindanao
Capital: Manila (Land area - 38.3 sq. km)
Political System: The 1987 Constitution provides for a presidential system of government with a bicameral parliament and three (3) equal branches: executive, legislative and judiciary.
Population: 76.5 million (as of May 1, 2000)
Projected Population : 85.2 million (2005) 
Population Density: 255 persons/sq. km. (as of May 1, 2000)
Population Growth Rate: 2.36% (1995 - 2000)
Labor Force Participation Rate: 64.8 (October 2005)
Employment Rate: 92.6 (October 2005)
Literacy Rate : 94.6% of total population - among the highest in the world
Number of Graduates Annually: Secondary school, over one million, college level, 350,000
Languages Spoken: Filipino, English and other regional dialects
Ethnic Profile: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, others 3%
Major Religion: 85% are Roman Catholics, the rest are Protestants and Muslims
Climate: Tropical with temperatures ranging from 23-32 °C. Two distinct seasons: Wet (June to October) & Dry (November to May)
Currency Unit: Philippine Peso
Business Hours: 0800-1700 (Private/Gov't Offices)
0900-1500 (Banks)
1000-2000 (Stores/Malls)
Time Zone: GMT +8 hrs.
Average Flying Hours:
Tokyo 3:35 Hong Kong 1:20
Jakarta 4:25 Kuala Lumpur 3:30
Paris 16:40 New York 17:30
Singapore 3:00
Sydney 7:40
Shanghai 2:20 Seoul 4:00
San Francisco 11:50 Frankfurt 13:00
Taipei 1:20 Bangkok 3:00
Brunei 2:30 Viet Nam 2:30
Brussels 14:16 London 14:00
GNP: 5.7% (2005)
GDP : 5.1% (2005)
Inflation: 7.7% (2005)
Exports : US$ 37.4 Billion (January to November 2005)
Imports : US$ 40.9 Billion (January to November 2005)
Principal Exports Semi-Conductors and Electronic Microcircuits; Garments; Finished Electrical Machinery; Crude Coconut Oil 
Principal Markets: USA, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Germany 

 

Sources:

National Statistics Coordinating Board - www.nscb.gov.ph
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas - www.bsp.gov.ph  
National Statistics Office - www.census.gov.ph