1996 Edition

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

Location

1 22 N, 103 48 E -- Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC

land area

622.6 sq km

total area

632.6 sq km

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

current issues

industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change

natural hazards

NA

Geographic coordinates

1 22 N, 103 48 E

Geographic note

focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

International disputes

two islands in dispute with Malaysia

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

4%

forest and woodland

5%

meadows and pastures

0%

other

84%

permanent crops

7%

Location

Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone

within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice

territorial sea

3 nm

Natural resources

fish, deepwater ports

Terrain

lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve

highest point

Bukit Timah 166 m

lowest point

Singapore Strait 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 22% (male 379,076; female 358,739) 15-64 years: 72% (male 1,220,131; female 1,219,412) 65 years and over: 6% (male 97,882; female 121,684) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

16.28 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

4.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3%

Infant mortality rate

4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil (official), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.39 years (1996 est.)

male

75.07 years

total population

78.13 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

86.3%

male

95.9%

total population

91.1%

Nationality

adjective

Singapore

noun

Singaporean(s)

Net migration rate

7.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

3,396,924 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.9% (1996 est.)

Religions

Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist

Sex ratio

all ages

1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.65 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

none

Capital

Singapore

Constitution

3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution)

Data code

SN

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Sellapan Rama NATHAN

telephone

[1] (202) 537-3100

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament

chief of state

President ONG Teng Cheong (since 1 September 1993) was elected for a six-year term by popular vote; election last held 28 August 1993 (next to be held NA August 1999); results - ONG Teng Cheong was elected with 59% of the vote in the country's first popular election for president

head of government

Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990) and Deputy Prime Ministers LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990) and Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 August 1995) were appointed by the president

FAX

[1] (202) 537-0876

[65] 3384550

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

Independence

9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)

International organization participation

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

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

Legal system

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Singapore

conventional short form

Singapore

National holiday

National Day, 9 August (1965)

Parliament

elections last held 31 August 1991 (next to be held by 31 August 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total) PAP 77, SDP 3, WP 1

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Type of government

republic within Commonwealth

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Timothy A. CHORBA

embassy

30 Hill Street, Singapore 0617

mailing address

FPO AP 96534

telephone

[65] 3380251

Agriculture

rubber, copra, fruit, vegetables; poultry

Budget

expenditures

$12.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.5 billion (FY95/96 est.)

revenues

$17.3 billion

Currency

1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

$NA

Economic 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 registered 8.9% growth in 1995, with prospects for 7%-8% growth in 1996. In 1995, the manufacturing and financial and business services sectors led economic growth. Rising labor costs continue to be a threat to Singapore's competitiveness, and the government's strategy to address this problem includes increasing productivity, improving infrastructure, and encouraging higher value-added industries. In applied technology, per capita output, investment, and labor discipline, Singapore has key attributes of a developed country.

Electricity

capacity

4,510,000 kW

consumption per capita

5,590 kWh (1993)

production

17 billion kWh

Exchange rates

Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1 - 1.4214 (January 1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994), 1.6158 (1993), 1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991)

Exports

$119.6 billion (1995)

commodities

computer equipment, rubber and rubber products, petroleum products, telecommunications equipment

partners

Malaysia 20%, US 19%, Hong Kong 9%, Japan 7%, Thailand 6% (1994)

External debt

$3.2 million (1994)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $66.1 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NEGL%

industry

28%

services

72%

GDP per capita

$22,900 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

8.9% (1995)

Illicit drugs

transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe, and the Third World; also a money-laundering center

Imports

$125.9 billion (1995)

commodities

aircraft, petroleum, chemicals, foodstuffs

partners

Japan 22%, Malaysia 16%, US 15%, Taiwan 4%, Saudi Arabia 4% (1994)

Industrial production growth rate

10% (1995)

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)

1.7% (1995)

Labor force

1.649 million (1994)

by occupation

financial, business, and other services 33.5%, manufacturing 25.6%, commerce 22.9%, construction 6.6%, other 11.4% (1994)

Unemployment rate

2.6% (1995 est.)

Branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $3.9 billion, 4.3% of GDP (1995 est.)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

1,025,300

males fit for military service

752,382 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

good domestic facilities; good international service

domestic

NA

international

submarine cables to Malaysia (Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)

Telephones

1.23 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1987 est.)

Televisions

1.05 million (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

8

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

3

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

1

with paved runways over 3 047 m

2

with paved runways under 914 m

1 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

2,905 km (including 111.6 km of expressways)

total

2,989 km

unpaved

84 km (1994 est.)

Merchant marine

note

a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 22 countries among which are Japan 39, Hong Kong 27, Denmark 24, Germany 20, Sweden 14, Thailand 14, Belgium 12, Norway 9, Indonesia 7, and US 7 (1995 est.)

ships by type

bulk 110, cargo 118, chemical tanker 18, combination bulk 3, combination ore/oil 8, container 92, liquefied gas tanker 13, multifunction large-load carrier 4, oil tanker 234, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 24

total

646 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,915,788 GRT/20,292,580 DWT

Ports

Singapore

Railways

narrow gauge

38.6 km 1.000-m gauge

total

38.6 km