2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

none

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.3% (male 411,656; female 385,575) 15-64 years: 75.5% (male 1,687,217; female 1,793,783) 65 years and over: 7.2% (male 144,277; female 186,087) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs, fish, ornamental fish

Airports

9 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

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

total

9

under 914 m

1 (2002) Military Singapore

Area

land

682.7 sq km

total

692.7 sq km

water

10 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

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. It subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe. Geography Singapore

Birth rate

12.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$19.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.4 billion (FY 00/01 est.)

revenues

$27.9 billion

Capital

Singapore

Climate

tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - Northeastern monsoon from December to March and Southwestern monsoon from June to September; inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms

Coastline

193 km

Constitution

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

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Singapore

conventional short form

Singapore

Currency

Singapore dollar (SGD)

Currency code

SGD

Death rate

4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$8.2 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Franklin L. LAVIN

embassy

27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508

mailing address

PSC Box 470, FPO AP 96507-0001

telephone

[65] 6476-9100

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee

consulate(s)

New York

consulate(s) general

San Francisco

Disputes - international

disputes with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation works on Johor, maritime boundaries, and Singapore-occupied Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Putih persist - parties agree to ICJ arbitration on island dispute within three years

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Singapore, a highly developed and successful free market economy, enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and one of the highest per capita GDPs in the world. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in electronics and manufacturing. It was hard hit in 2001-2002 by the global recession and the slump in the technology sector. The government hopes to establish a new growth path that will be less vulnerable to the external business cycle than the current export-led model but is unlikely to abandon efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub.

Electricity - consumption

28.35 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

30.48 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Bukit Timah 166 m

lowest point

Singapore Strait 0 m

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Chinese 76.7%, Malay 14%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4%

Exchange rates

Singapore dollars per US dollar - 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.72 (2000), 1.69 (1999), 1.67 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament

chief of state

President Sellapan Rama (S. R.) NATHAN (since 1 September 1999)

election results

Sellapan Rama (S. R.) NATHAN elected president unopposed

elections

president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 28 August 1999 (next to be held by August 2005); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990) and Deputy Prime Ministers Brig. Gen. (Ret.) LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990) and TAN Keng Yam Tony (since 1 August 1995)

Exports

$127 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, chemicals, mineral fuels

Exports - partners

Malaysia 17.4%, US 15.3%, Hong Kong 9.2%, Japan 7.1%, China 5.5%, Taiwan 4.9%, Thailand 4.6%, South Korea 4.2% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 537-0876

[65] 6476-9340

chancery

3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 537-3100

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Singapore

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 Economy Singapore

GDP

purchasing power parity - $112.4 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

NEGL%

industry

33%

services

67% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $25,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.2% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

1 22 N, 103 48 E

Geography - note

focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes People Singapore

Government type

parliamentary republic

Highways

paved

3,066 km (including 150 km of expressways)

total

3,066 km

unpaved

0 km (1999)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

140 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,400 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, to be used as a transit point for Golden Triangle heroin and as a venue for money laundering This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$113 billion (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Malaysia 18.2%, US 14.3%, Japan 12.5%, China 7.6%, Thailand 4.6%, Taiwan 4.6% (2002)

Independence

9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

Industrial production growth rate

-9.8% (2002 est.)

Industries

electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade, biotechnology

Infant mortality rate

female

3.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

3.87 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.57 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.4% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Internet country code

.sg

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

9 (2000)

Internet users

2.31 million (2002) Transportation Singapore

Irrigated land

NA sq km

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

Labor force

2.19 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

financial, business, and other services 35%, manufacturing 21%, construction 13%, transportation and communication 9%, other 22%

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

1.64%

other

98.36% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0%

Languages

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to nine nominated members; the losing opposition candidate who came closest to winning a seat may be appointed as a "nonconstituency" member

election results

percent of vote by party - PAP 75.3% (in contested constituencies), other 24.7%; seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SDA 1

elections

last held 3 November 2001 (next to be held 25 June 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.6 years (2003 est.)

male

77.46 years

total population

80.42 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

89.7% (2003 est.) Government Singapore

male

96.7%

total population

93.2%

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

Median age

female

34.8 years (2002)

male

34.3 years

total

34.5 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Australia 7, Belgium 6, China 12, Denmark 27, Germany 17, Greece 4, Hong Kong 44, Indonesia 8, Japan 52, Malaysia 4, Monaco 22, Netherlands 2, Norway 42, Philippines 6, Russia 3, Slovenia 1, South Korea 10, Sweden 13, Switzerland 7, Taiwan 46, Tanzania 2, Thailand 22, UAE 4, UK 14, US 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 125, cargo 85, chemical tanker 87, combination bulk 6, combination ore/oil 8, container 176, liquefied gas 38, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 2, petroleum tanker 277, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 12, vehicle carrier 31

total

859 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,836,021 GRT/32,765,063 DWT

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$4.47 billion (FY01 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

4.9% (FY01) Transnational Issues Singapore

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

1,392,740 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

1,012,498 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 August (1965)

Nationality

adjective

Singapore

noun

Singaporean(s)

Natural gas - consumption

2.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

fish, deepwater ports

Net migration rate

25.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

700,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

gas 139 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

governing party

People's Action Party or PAP [GOH Chok Tong];

opposition parties

Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [leader NA]; National Solidarity Party or NSP [Steve CHIA]; Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong] (includes SPP, PKMS, NSP, SJP); Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Singapore Justice Party or SJP [leader NA]; Singapore National Malay Organization or PKMS [Muhammad ALI Aman]; Singapore People's Party or SPP [CHIAM See Tong]; Workers' Party or WP [LOW Thia Kiang]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

4,608,595 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

3.42% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Singapore

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 16, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

2.6 million (2000)

Railways

narrow gauge

38.6 km 1.000-m gauge

note

there is also an 83 km mass transit system with 48 stations

total

38.6 km

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.08 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal and compulsory

Telephone system

domestic

excellent domestic facilities

general assessment

major consideration given to serving business interests; excellent international service

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 - main lines in use

1.95 million (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.74 million (2000)

Television broadcast stations

6 (2000)

Televisions

1.33 million (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.24 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.6% (2002 est.)

Waterways

none