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Introduction - Singapore
Background:
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
Location:
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
1 22 N, 103 48 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 697 sq km
country comparison to the world: 192
land: 687 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
193 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in
treaties and practice
Climate:
Current Weather
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:
lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and
nature preserve
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Natural resources:
fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
arable land: 1.47%
permanent crops: 1.47%
other: 97.06% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
0.6 cu km (1975)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.19 cu km/yr (45%/51%/4%)
per capita: 44 cu m/yr (1975)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
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:
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:
focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
People - Singapore
Population:
4,701,069 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.1% (male 343,424/female 319,277)
15-64 years: 76.9% (male 1,758,670/female 1,856,862)
65 years and over: 9% (male 188,667/female 234,169) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.6 years
male: 39.1 years
female: 40 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.863% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Birth rate:
8.65 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Death rate:
4.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Net migration rate:
4.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.077 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 2.32 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 223
male: 2.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.06 years
country comparison to the world: 6
male: 79.45 years
female: 84.87 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.1 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
4,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Nationality:
noun: Singaporean(s)
adjective: Singapore
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% (2000 census)
Religions:
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:
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: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 96.6%
female: 88.6% (2000 census)
Education expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2001)
country comparison to the world: 123
Government - Singapore
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
conventional short form: Singapore
local long form: Republic of Singapore
local short form: Singapore
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
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:
none
Independence:
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
National holiday:
National Day, 9 August (1965)
Constitution:
3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on pre-independence State of Singapore
Constitution)
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
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); Senior Minister Shunmugam
JAYAKUMAR (since 1 April 2009); Minister Mentor LEE Kuan Yew (since 12 August
2004); Deputy Prime Minister TEO Chee Huan (since 1 April 2009) and Deputy Prime
Minister WONG Kan Seng (since 1 September 2005)
cabinet: appointed by president, responsible to parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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 usually
appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by
president
election results: Sellapan Rama (S R) NATHAN was appointed president in August
2005 after Presidential Elections Committee disqualified three other would-be
candidates; scheduled election not held
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to 9 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:
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:
People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]; Reform Party [NG Teck Siong];
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:
none
International organization participation:
ADB, AOSIS, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FATF, 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, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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:
chief of mission: Ambassador David I. ADELMAN
embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001
telephone: [65] 6476-9100
FAX: [65] 6476-9340
Flag description:
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; red denotes brotherhood and equality; white signifies purity and virtue;
the waxing crescent moon symbolizes a young nation on the ascendancy; the five
stars represent the nation's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice, and
equality
Economy - Singapore
Economy - overview:
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 higher than that of most developed countries. The economy depends heavily on
exports, particularly in consumer electronics, information technology products,
pharmaceuticals, and on a growing financial services sector. Real GDP growth
averaged 6.8% between 2004 and 2008, but contracted 2.1% in 2009 as a result of
the global financial crisis. The economy has begun to rebound in 2010 and the
government predicts growth of 3-5% for the year. Over the longer term, the
government hopes to establish a new growth path that focuses on raising
productivity growth, which has sunk to 1% per year in the last decade. Singapore
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):
$235.7 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$240.7 billion (2008 est.)
$238.1 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$165 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
1.1% (2008 est.)
7.8% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$50,300 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$52,200 (2008 est.)
$52,300 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 27.6%
services: 72.4% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
3.03 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 23.8%
services: 76.2% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
2.2% (2008)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.4%
highest 10%: 23.2% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48.1 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 29
Investment (gross fixed):
28.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Budget:
revenues: $21.29 billion
expenditures: $24.14 billion
note: expenditures exclude public debt, financial transfers, and development
estimates (2009 est.)
Public debt:
113.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
95.9% of GDP (2008 est.)
note: for Singapore, public debt consists largely of Singapore Government
Securities (SGS) issued to assist the Central Provident Fund (CPF), which
administers Singapore's defined contribution pension fund; special issues of SGS
are held by the CPF, and are non-tradeable; the government has not borrowed to
finance deficit expenditures for more than 20 years
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
6.6% (2008 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.38% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
5.38% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:
$52.57 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 25
$44.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$179 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 18
$162.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$143.6 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 36
$129.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$474.8 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 22
$268.6 billion (31 December 2008)
$353.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs; fish, ornamental fish
Industries:
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:
-1.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Electricity - production:
41.72 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Electricity - consumption:
37.94 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
9,667 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Oil - consumption:
878,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Oil - exports:
1.289 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Oil - imports:
2.109 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas - consumption:
8.27 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Natural gas - imports:
8.27 billion cu m
country comparison to the world: 26
note: from Indonesia and Malaysia (2008 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Current account balance:
$25.35 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$27.18 billion (2008)
Exports:
$274.5 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$344.4 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, pharmaceuticals
and other chemicals, mineral fuels
Exports - partners:
Hong Kong 11.57%, Malaysia 11.47%, China 9.76%, Indonesia 9.67%, US 6.57%, South
Korea 4.65%, Japan 4.56% (2009)
Imports:
$240.5 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$313.5 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 11.88%, Malaysia 11.61%, China 10.56%, Japan 7.63%, Indonesia 5.8%, South
Korea 5.72%, Taiwan 5.22% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$187.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$174.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$19.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$25.52 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$275.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$255.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$190.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$178.8 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar - 1.4545 (2009), 1.415 (2008), 1.507
(2007), 1.5889 (2006), 1.6644 (2005)
Communications - Singapore
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.857 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 59
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.375 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 77
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent service
domestic: excellent domestic facilities; launched 3G wireless service in
February 2005; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 175
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 (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 19, shortwave 1 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (broadcasting on 8 channels); additional reception of numerous UHF and VHF
signals originating in Malaysia and Indonesia (2008)
Internet country code:
.sg
Internet hosts:
864,943 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 43
Internet users:
3.37 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 55
Transportation - Singapore
Airports:
8 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 164
Airports - with paved runways:
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 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 106 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 3,325 km
country comparison to the world: 163
paved: 3,325 km (includes 161 km of expressways) (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,292
country comparison to the world: 5
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:
Singapore
Transportation - note:
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
Military branches:
Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
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:
males age 16-49: 1,266,426 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,027,701
females age 16-49: 1,097,762 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 27,430
female: 25,918 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Transnational Issues - Singapore
Disputes - international:
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 2008, ICJ awards sovereignty
of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore, and�Middle
Rocks to Malaysia, but does not rule on maritime regimes, boundaries, or
disposition of 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:
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
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