Philippines :: People
0-14 years: 34.5% (male 16 million; female 15 million)
Majority of Filipinos are descendants of Philippine natives (Negritos) and early Malay immigrants from Malaysia and Indonesia. Filipinos often communicate with their eyes e.g., eyebrows raised means "yes" to your question.
Population distribution
urban: 40%
rural: 60%;
Luzon, the largest island group, accounts for more than half of the entire population.
Ethnic groups: Tagalog 28.1%,
Cebuano 13.1%,
Ilocano 9%,
Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%,
Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%,
Bikol 6%,
Waray 3.4%,
other 25.3% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 80.9% - The Philippines is the only predominantly Christian nation in Asia.
Muslim 5% - Most of them live in Mindanao.
Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo (Church of Christ) 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%,
other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)
Languages:
Two official languages
• Pilipino (official; based on Tagalog)
• English (official) - The Philippines is the third largest English-speaking country in the world.
eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango and Pangasinan
Literacy rate: 92.6% (of those age 15 and above) can read and write (2000 est.)
Source of statistics: World Factbook, updated August 2007