Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 13° 0' N, 122° 0' E
Coastline km: 36,289 km km
Climate: Tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Terrain: The Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait
Elevation: highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Natural hazards: Astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
Currency: Philippine peso (PHP)
Population: 87,857,473 (July 2005 est.)
Languages: Two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense
Capital: Manila
Divisions: 79 provinces and 116 chartered cities