Philippines

 

In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected President and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during WWII, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Philippines attained their independence.  In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998, but was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and widespread demonstrations led to his ouster. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term in May 2004. The Philippine Government faces threats from armed communist insurgencies and from Muslim separatists in the south

Population:    87,857,473 (July 2005 est.) 

Age structure:  

0-14 years: 35.4% (male 15,869,636/female 15,255,588)

15-64 years: 60.6% (male 26,503,785/female 26,722,511)

65 years and over: 4% (male 1,523,213/female 1,982,740) (2005 est.) 

Median age:  

total: 22.27 years

male: 21.77 years

female: 22.8 years (2005 est.) 

Population growth rate:   1.84% (2005 est.) 

Birth rate:   

25.31 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 

Death rate:   

5.47 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)