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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of Singapore



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Singapore Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest in terms of tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.
   Geography    Singapore Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
1 22 N, 103 48 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Southeast Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 692.7 sq km
land: 682.7 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
193 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - Northeastern monsoon (December to March) and Southwestern monsoon (June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 1.47%
permanent crops: 1.47%
other: 97.06% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
0.6 cu km (1975)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 0.19 cu km/yr (45%/51%/4%)
per capita: 44 cu m/yr (1975)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
   People    Singapore Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,608,167 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 14.8% (male 353,333/female 329,005)
15-64 years: 76.5% (male 1,717,357/female 1,809,462)
65 years and over: 8.7% (male 177,378/female 221,632) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 38.4 years
male: 38 years
female: 38.8 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.135% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.99 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 2.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 81.89 years
male: 79.29 years
female: 84.68 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,100 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Singaporean(s)
adjective: Singapore
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% (2000 census)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%, Catholic 4.8%, other Christian 9.8%, other 0.7%, none 14.8% (2000 census)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8%, other 0.9% (2000 census)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 96.6%
female: 88.6% (2000 census)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.7% of GDP (2001)
   Government    Singapore Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
conventional short form: Singapore
local long form: Republic of Singapore
local short form: Singapore
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Singapore
geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
none
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
National Day, 9 August (1965)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
21 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President S R NATHAN (since 1 September 1999)
note: uses S R NATHAN but his full name and the one used in formal communications is Sellapan RAMANATHAN
head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004); Senior Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 12 August 2004); Minister Mentor LEE Kuan Yew (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime Ministers Shunmugam JAYAKUMAR (since 12 August 2004) and WONG Kan Seng (since 1 September 2005)
cabinet: appointed by president, responsible to parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term; appointed on 17 August 2005 (next election to be held by August 2011); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by president
election results: Sellapan Rama (S R) NATHAN appointed president in August 2005 after Presidential Elections Committee disqualified three other would-be candidates; scheduled election not held
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to nine nominated members; up to three losing opposition candidates who came closest to winning seats may be appointed as "nonconstituency" members
elections: last held on 6 May 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 66.6%, WP 16.3%, SDA 13%, SDP 4.1%; seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SDA 1
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]; Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong]; Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Workers' Party or WP [Sylvia LIM Swee Lian]
note: SDA includes Singapore Justice Party or SJP, Singapore National Malay Organization or PKMS, Singapore People's Party or SPP
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
UNFEM [Saleeman ISMAIL]
other: investment companies; news organizations
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIT, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee
chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100
FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia L. HERBOLD
embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001
telephone: [65] 6476-9100
FAX: [65] 6476-9340
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle
   Economy    Singapore Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-market economy. It enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP equal to that of the four largest West European countries. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in consumer electronics and information technology products. It was hard hit from 2001-03 by the global recession, by the slump in the technology sector, and by an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, which curbed tourism and consumer spending. Fiscal stimulus, low interest rates, a surge in exports, and internal flexibility led to vigorous growth in 2004-07 with real GDP growth averaging 7% annually. The government hopes to establish a new growth path that will be less vulnerable to the global demand cycle for information technology products - it has attracted major investments in pharmaceuticals and medical technology production - and will continue efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$227.1 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$161.3 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.7% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$49,900 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 0%
industry: 31.2%
services: 68.8% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.751 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
manufacturing 21%, construction 5%, transportation and communication 7%, financial, business, and other services 42%, other 25% (2006)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.1% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 32.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
52.2 (2005)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
24.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $27 billion
expenditures: $21.5 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
96.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.1% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.33% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$44.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$162.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$129.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs; fish, ornamental fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, life sciences, entrepot trade
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.4% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
38.68 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
35.13 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9,836 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
834,600 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.203 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.003 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.5 billion cu m
note: from Indonesia and Malaysia (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$46.39 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$302.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, chemicals, mineral fuels
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Malaysia 12.9%, Hong Kong 10.5%, Indonesia 9.8%, China 9.7%, US 8.9%, Japan 4.8%, Thailand 4.1% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$252 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Malaysia 13.1%, US 12.5%, China 12.1%, Japan 8.2%, Taiwan 5.9%, Indonesia 5.6%, South Korea 4.9% (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$163 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$25.59 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$214.5 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$111.2 billion (2005)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$382.4 billion (2007)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Singapore dollar (SGD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar - 1.507 (2007), 1.5889 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003)
   Communications    Singapore Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.859 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.619 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: excellent service
domestic: excellent domestic facilities; launched 3G wireless service in February 2005; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 165 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 65; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations -4; supplemented by VSAT coverage (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 0, FM 17, shortwave 2 (2003)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (broadcasting on six channels); additional reception of numerous UHF and VHF signals originating in Malaysia and Indonesia (2006)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.sg
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
837,559 (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.105 million (2007)
   Transportation    Singapore Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 139 km; refined products 8 km (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 3,262 km
paved: 3,262 km (includes 150 km of expressways) (2006)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1,292
by type: bulk carrier 167, cargo 87, carrier 5, chemical tanker 209, container 273, liquefied gas 96, petroleum tanker 386, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 53
foreign-owned: 774 (Australia 12, Bangladesh 2, Belgium 8, Chile 6, China 14, Cyprus 1, Denmark 87, France 1, Germany 24, Greece 15, Hong Kong 47, India 13, Indonesia 66, Italy 5, Japan 131, South Korea 3, Malaysia 27, Norway 143, Slovenia 1, Sweden 20, Switzerland 2, Taiwan 72, Thailand 23, UAE 12, UK 17, US 22)
registered in other countries: 331 (Australia 1, Bahamas 17, Belize 2, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 4, Cayman Islands 10, Comoros 1, Cyprus 3, Dominica 7, France 2, Honduras 12, Hong Kong 18, Indonesia 27, Isle of Man 1, Kiribati 4, Liberia 32, Malaysia 16, Marshall Islands 18, Mongolia 9, Norway 1, Panama 100, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Thailand 2, Tuvalu 23, US 12, unknown 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Singapore
Transportation - note:
Definition Field Listing
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift
   Military    Singapore Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18-21 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 2-year conscript service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers) (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 1,277,862 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 1,038,603 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 27,742
female: 26,325 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Singapore Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
disputes persist with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's extensive land reclamation works, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in November 2007, the ICJ will hold public hearings as a consequence of the Memorials and Countermemorials filed by the parties in 2003 and 2005 over sovereignty of Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
drug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement efforts; as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money laundering

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


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