1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 632.6 km2 land area: 622.6 km2 comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no pronounced rainy or dry seasons; thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days (67% of days in April)
Coastline
193 km
Environment
mostly urban and industrialized
International disputes
two islands in dispute with Malaysia
Irrigated land
NA km2
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 4% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 5% other: 84%
Location
Southeast Asia, between Malaysia and Indonesia
Map references
Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural resources
fish, deepwater ports
Note
focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
Terrain
lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve
People and Society
Birth rate
17.12 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
5.25 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3%
Infant mortality rate
5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
1,485,800 by occupation: financial, business, and other services 30.2%, manufacturing 28.4%, commerce 22.0%, construction 9.0%, other 10.4% (1990)
Languages
Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil (official), English (official)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.75 years male: 73.07 years female: 78.63 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 88% male: 93% female: 84%
Nationality
noun: Singaporean(s) adjective: Singapore
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
2,826,331 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
1.19% (1993 est.)
Religions
Buddhist (Chinese), Atheist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist
Total fertility rate
1.89 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none
Capital
Singapore
Chief of State
President WEE Kim Wee (since 3 September 1985)
Constitution
3 June 1959, amended 1965; based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution
Digraph
SN
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador S. R. NATHAN
Executive branch
president, prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, Cabinet
FAX
[65] 338-4550
Flag
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
Head of Government
Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990); Deputy Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990); Deputy Prime Minister ONG Teng Cheong (since 2 January 1985)
Independence
9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Legal system
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament
Member of
APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, COCOM (cooperating country), CP, ESCAP, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Names
conventional long form: Republic of Singapore conventional short form: Singapore
National holiday
National Day, 9 August (1965)
Parliament
last held 31 August 1991 (next to be held 31 August 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total) PAP 77, SDP 3, WP 1
Political parties and leaders
government: People's Action Party (PAP), GOH Chok Tong, secretary general opposition: Workers' Party (WP), J. B. JEYARETNAM; Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), CHIAM See Tong; National Solidarity Party (NSP), leader NA; Barisan Sosialis (BS, Socialist Front), leader NA
President
last held 31 August 1989 (next to be held NA August 1993); results - President WEE Kim Wee was reelected by Parliament without opposition
Suffrage
20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Type
republic within Commonwealth
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Jon M. HUNTSMAN, Jr. embassy: 30 Hill Street, Singapore 0617 mailing address: FPO AP 96534 telephone: [65] 338-0251
Economy
Agriculture
occupies a position of minor importance in the economy; self-sufficient in poultry and eggs; must import much of other food; major crops - rubber, copra, fruit, vegetables
Budget
revenues $10.4 billion; expenditures $9.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993)
Currency
1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $590 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.0 billion
Electricity
4,860,000 kW capacity; 18,000 million kWh produced, 6,420 kWh per capita (1992)
Exchange rates
Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1 - 1.6531 (January 1993), 1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991), 1.8125 (1990), 1.9503 (1989), 2.0124 (1988)
Exports
$61.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: computer equipment, rubber and rubber products, petroleum products, telecommunications equipment partners: US 21%, Malaysia 13%, Hong Kong 8%, Japan 7%, Thailand 6%
External debt
$0 Singapore is a net creditor
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
Illicit drugs
transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe, and the Third World; also a major money-laundering center
Imports
$66.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: aircraft, petroleum, chemicals, foodstuffs partners: Japan 21%, US 16%, Malaysia 14%, Taiwan 4%
Industrial production
growth rate 2.3% (1992); accounts for 28% of GDP
Industries
petroleum refining, electronics, oil drilling equipment, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade, financial services, biotechnology
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.3% (1992)
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $45.9 billion (1992)
National product per capita
$16,500 (1992)
National product real growth rate
5.8% (1992)
Overview
Singapore has an open entrepreneurial economy with strong service and manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading links derived from its entrepot history. The economy appears to have pulled off a soft landing from the 9% growth rate of the late 1980s, registering higher than expected growth in 1992 while stemming inflation. Economic activity slowed early in 1992, primarily as a result of slackened demand in Singapore's export markets. But after bottoming out in the second quarter, the economy picked up in line with a gradual recovery in the United States. The year's best performers were the construction and financial services industries and manufacturers of computer-related components. Rising labor costs continue to be a threat to Singapore's competitiveness, but there are indications that productivity is catching up. Government surpluses and the rate of gross national savings remain high. In technology, per capita output, and labor discipline, Singapore is well on its way toward its goal of becoming a developed country.
Unemployment rate
2.7% (June 1992)
Communications
Airports
total: 10 usable: 10 with permanent-surface runways: 10 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 3
Highways
2,644 km total (1985)
Merchant marine
492 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,763,511 GRT/15,816,384 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 125 cargo, 72 container, 7 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 4 refrigerated cargo, 18 vehicle carrier, 1 livestock carrier, 165 oil tanker, 8 chemical tanker, 7 combination ore/oil, 2 specialized tanker, 5 liquefied gas, 74 bulk, 3 combination bulk; note - many Singapore flag ships are foreign owned
Ports
Singapore
Railroads
38 km of 1.000-meter gauge
Telecommunications
good domestic facilities; good international service; good radio and television broadcast coverage; 1,110,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 13 AM, 4 FM, 2 TV; submarine cables extend to Malaysia (Sabah and peninsular Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
Military and Security
Branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, 4% of GDP (1990 est.)
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 853,440; fit for military service 629,055 (1993 est.)