The Philippines
THE PHILIPPINES is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest lies between the country and the island of Borneo, and to the south the Celebes Sea separates it from other islands of Indonesia. It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea. Because of its location and tropical climate, the Philippines is endowed with immense natural resources, making it one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. An archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines is categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines)
Fast Facts:
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Full name: Republic of the Philippines
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Population: 93.6 million (UN, 2010)
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Capital: Manila
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Area: 300,000 sq km (115,831 sq miles)
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Major languages: Filipino, English (both official)
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Major religion: Christianity
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Life expectancy: 71 years (men), 75 years (women) (UN)
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Monetary unit: 1 Philippine peso = 100 centavos
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Main exports: Electrical machinery, clothing, food and live animals, chemicals, timber products
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GNI per capita: US $1,790 (World Bank, 2009)
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Internet domain: .ph
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International dialing code: +63
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(Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1262783.stm )
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