OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of the Philippines
DATE OF FORMATION: 1946
POPULATION: 81.4 million
DENSITY: 707 people per square mile
LANGUAGES: Filipino, English, Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, many other local languages
RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Other (including Buddhist) 3%
ETHNIC MIX: Malay 95%, Other 3%, Chinese 2%
GOVERNMENT: Multiparty elections
CURRENCY: Philippine peso