Date of independence, or formation date: 1946
Date when current borders were established: 1946
National day: June 12
Vehicle country identifying code: RP
Time zone (hours plus or minus from GMT): +8
International telephone dialling code: +63
Internet country identifying code: .ph

Lying on the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines is the world's second-largest archipelago-state. Of its 7107 islands, 4600 are named and 1000 inhabited. There are three main island groupings: Luzon, Visayan, and the Mindanao and Sulu islands. Located on the Pacific "ring of fire," it is thus subject to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. Economic growth outstripped population increase in the 1990s, until the 1997–1998 Asian crisis, but efforts to build a stable democracy have been compromised by high-level corruption, leading to the ouster of President Estrada in 2001.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004