Philippines, Republic of the (in Filipino, Republika ng Pilipinas), republic in the western Pacific Ocean, comprising the Philippine Islands and forming part of the Malay Archipelago, an island grouping that extends southward to include Indonesia and Malaysia. The Philippines includes more than 7,100 islands, but most of the land area is shared among the 11 largest islands. The terrain is mountainous and includes many active volcanoes. The location of the Philippines just north of the equator gives the republic a moderate tropical climate suited for the cultivation of export crops such as coconuts and pineapples. Agriculture has long formed the backbone of the economy. Manila, located on east central Luzon Island, is the national capital and largest city. The republic’s cultural institutions, industries, and federal government are concentrated in this rapidly growing metropolitan area.
The people of the Philippines are called Filipinos.The republic has one of the highest population-growth rates in the world. The official languages are English and Filipino (formerly spelled Pilipino), which is based on the indigenous Tagalog language. More than 80 other indigenous languages and dialects are also spoken, and the people of the Philippines are divided into regional ethnolinguistic groups. The Philippines is the only predominantly Christian country in Asia. Muslims, often called Moros, live predominantly in the southern islands and form a small but significant religious minority.
Area 300,000 sq km 116,000 sq mi
Coastline 36,289 km 22,549 mi
Highest point Mount Apo 2,954 m/9,692 ft
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