OFW guide: Fast facts on top 10 destinations of Pinoys abroad

GMA News Online has compiled a list of essential information on the top 10 destinations of Filipinos overseas. Included here are links to the official websites and social media accounts of both the Philippine embassies in these countries, as well as the embassies of the destination countries here in the Philippines. Number of Filipinos: 3,430,864* For nearly 50 years, from 1898 to 1946, the Philippines was a colony of the United States, the world's foremost military and economic power. According to a country profile posted on the BBC news site, the gross domestic product of the US accounts for close to a quarter of the world total. Its military budget, on the other hand, is said to be almost equivalent to the rest of the world's defense spending put together. Capital: Washington DC Area: 9.8 million square kilometers Language: English Population: 317.6 million (United Nations, 2010) United States Embassy in Manila Official website Facebook account Twitter account Philippine Embassy in the US Official website Facebook account Twitter account Number of Filipinos: 1,550,572 Saudi Arabia is one of the main players in the Arab world. According to BBC, Saudi Arabia sits on more than 25 percent of the world's known oil reserves and can produce more than 10 million barrels per day. Capital: Riyadh Area: 2.24 million square kilometers Population: 28 million (UN, 2011) Language: Arabic Saudi Arabian Embassy in Manila Official website Philippine Embassy in Saudi Official website Facebook account Twitter account Number of Filipinos: 842,651 Canada is the world's second largest country after Russia although Canada's population is only about one-fifth of Russia's., BBC said. Around 90% of Canadians live within 200 kilometers of the country's border with the United States. Capital: Ottawa Area: 9.9 million square kilometer Population: 34.3 million (UN, 2011) Languages: English, French (both official) Canadian Embassy in Manila Official website Philippine Embassy in Canada Official website Number of Filipinos: 679,819 The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven states formed in 1971, BBC said. The seven states are: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al Qaiwain. Before oil was discovered in the country in the 1950s, UAE mainly depended on its fishing and pearl industry. Capital: Abu Dhabi Area: 77,700 square kilometers Population: 7.9 million (UN, 2011) Language: Arabic UAE Embassy in Manila Official website Philippine Embassy in the UAE: Official website Number of Filipinos: 569,081 Malaysia has one of the most vibrant economies in Asia, BBC noted. Although it is multi-ethnic and multi-religious, majority of its population are Muslims. Ethnic Malays make up around 60% of the population. Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories. Capital: Kuala Lumpur Area: 329,847 square kilometers Population: 28.8 million (UN, 2011) Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam Malaysian Embassy in Manila Official website Philippine Embassy in Malaysia Official website Facebook account Number of Filipinos: 384, 637 In all the world, Australia ranks as one of the best places to live in, BBC said. It is the sixth-largest country in the world by land mass. Australia has a strong, services-based economy, BBC said, adding that mining and agriculture make up a huge share of exports Capital: Canberra Area: 7.7 million square kilometers Population: 22.6 million (UN, 2011) Language: English Australian Embassy in Manila Official website Facebook account Philippine Embassy in Australia Official website Number of Filipinos: 342,442 Qatar was once a pearl-fishing center and one of the poorest among the Gulf states, BBC said. However, due to the development of large oil and gas fields in thte 1940s, Qatar is now one of the richest countries in the region, BBC said. Capital: Doha Area: 11,437 square kilometers Population: 1.9 million (UN, 2011) Language: Arabic Philippine Embassy in Qatar: Official website Number of Filipinos: 220,882 BBC noted that Japan has the world's third-largest economy and is a major aid donor and a source of capital and credit. Capital: Tokyo Area: 377,864 square kilometers Population: 126.5 million (UN, 2011) Language: Japanese Japanese Embassy in Manila Official website Facebook account Philippine Embassy in Japan Official website Number of Filipinos: 220,000 The United Kingdom — made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — was the world's first industrialized country, BBC said. It is a major player in international affairs, playing vital roles in the EU, UN and Nato. Capital: London Area: 242,514 square kilometers Population: 62.4 million (UN, 2011) Language: English British Embassy Manila Official website Facebook account Twitter account Philippine Embassy in UK Official website Facebook account Twitter account Number of Filipinos: 186,750 Kuwait, a small, oil-rich country was the first Arab country in the Gulf to have an elected parliament, BBC said. One of the world's leading oil producers, Kuwait was invaded and occupied by Iraq in 1990. This incident became a springboard for the invasion of Iraq in 2003, BBC said. Capital: Kuwait Area: 17,818 sq km Population: 2.8 million (UN, 2011) Language: Arabic Philippine Embassy in Kuwait: Official website - Compiled by Andrei Medina and Veronica Pulumbarit, GMA News * Based on the 2011 Stock Estimate of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas