{"id":441,"date":"2013-07-18T17:20:15","date_gmt":"2013-07-18T17:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.populationfun.com\/?p=441"},"modified":"2018-12-19T16:47:27","modified_gmt":"2018-12-19T16:47:27","slug":"philippines-population","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.populationfun.com\/philippines-population\/","title":{"rendered":"Philippines"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Philippines_flag\"<\/a>

Philippines flag<\/p><\/div>\n

The Philippines, also officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelago located in Southeastern Asia, between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam. With a total area of 115,831\u00a0square miles, the Philippines is slightly larger than Arizona. By land mass, it is the 73rd<\/sup> largest country in the world. The sovereign island country situated in the western Pacific Ocean has a 2013 population of about 105.7 million people and has a density of 797.2 inhabitants per square mile, making it the 12th<\/sup> most populous country on Earth. Manila is the capital, while the largest city in the Philippines is Quezon City, with a population of approximately 2.7 million people.<\/p>\n

Basic History of the Philippines<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Philippines_map\"<\/a>After being a Spanish colony during the 16th<\/sup> century, the Philippines were ceded to the United Stated of America in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. It was only in 1935 when the republic became a self-governing commonwealth. But in 1942, the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and United States forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. The Republic of the Philippines obtained its independence on 4th<\/sup> of July, 1946. Today, the republic is ruled by president Benigno Aquino III<\/a>, who was elected to a six-year term in May 2010, and by Vice President Jejomar Binay<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Geography of the Philippines<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Philippines_geography\"<\/a>Favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia’s main water bodies – the South China<\/strong><\/a> Sea, Philippine Sea<\/a>, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait -, the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands. Divided into 80 provinces and 39 chartered cities, the Philippines has a total area of 115,831 square miles, being the 73rd<\/sup> largest state in comparison to the world. The climate is tropical marine, consisting of northeast monsoon, from November to April, and southwest monsoon, from May to October. The terrain is mostly mountainous, with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands. The lowest point in the Philippines is the Philippine Sea (-1.6 feet), while the highest peak is Mount Apo (9,692 feet). Due to its location, the Philippines is a victim of natural hazards. The country is usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms each year. Other natural hazards that happen in the Philippines are landslides, volcanic eruptions, destructive earthquakes and tsunamis. In November, 2013 typhoon Haiyan<\/a> claimed at least 4,000 lives though many experts feel that the true death toll may never be fully known.<\/p>\n