Population: 66,117,284 in July 1990 average population density 220 persons per square kilometer annual growth rate 2.5 percent birth rate 29 per 1,000 (in 1991) death rate 7 per 1,000 (in 1991).

Ethnic Groups: 91.5 percent Christian Malay, almost 5 percent Muslim Malay, close to 1 percent Chinese, and 3 percent other, mainly upland tribal groups.

Language: Pilipino (based on Tagalog) and English (official languages). Eleven languages and eighty-seven dialects indigenous to archipelago.

Religion: In 1989 approximately 82 percent Roman Catholic, approximately 9 percent associated with Iglesia ni Kristo and various Protestant denominations, 5 percent Muslim, remainder Buddhist, Daoist (or Taoist), or other religions.

Education: In 1989 six years of compulsory, free elementary education provided to approximately 15 million students, more than 96 percent of age-group. Approximately 290,000 teachers in 34,000 elementary schools. Beginning at age 13, approximately 4 million students, more than 55 percent of age-group, enrolled in 5,500 secondary schools with approximately 80,000 teachers 1.6 million enrolled in 1,675 institutions of higher education with 56,380 instructors. Supervised by Department of Education, Culture, and Sports. Literacy rate nearly 90 percent in 1990.

Health: In 1990 life expectancy 69 years for women, 63 years for men infant mortality rate in 1989 was 51.6 deaths per 1,000 births. Main health hazards: pulmonary, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal disorders. Health care system in 1989 adequate in urban areas, minimal in rural areas 33,000 health professionals, including 9,500 physicians, and 1,700 hospitals with 85,000 beds concentrated in urban areas.

Data as of June 1991