2015 Edition

Background

Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but was ousted 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.

Area

land

687 sq km

total

697 sq km

water

10 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

193 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Bukit Timah 166 m

lowest point

Singapore Strait 0 m

Environment - current issues

industrial pollution; limited natural freshwater 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

81.97 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.19 cu km/yr (47%/53%/0%)

Geographic coordinates

1 22 N, 103 48 E

Geography - note

focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 0.9%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 0%

agricultural land

1%

forest

3.3%

other

95.7% (2011 est.)

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 hazards

NA

Natural resources

fish, deepwater ports

Terrain

lowlying, gently undulating central plateau

Total renewable water resources

0.6 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

13.14% (male 381,404/female 364,424)

15-24 years

17.43% (male 486,979/female 502,159)

25-54 years

50.39% (male 1,393,686/female 1,465,601)

55-64 years

10.16% (male 288,489/female 287,992)

65 years and over

8.88% (male 229,117/female 274,621) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

8.27 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

3.43 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

16.1%

potential support ratio

6.2% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

37.4%

youth dependency ratio

21.4%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic groups

Chinese 74.2%, Malay 13.3%, Indian 9.2%, other 3.3% (2013 est.)

Health expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

2 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

2.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

2.65 deaths/1,000 live births

total

2.48 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Mandarin (official) 36.3%, English (official) 29.8%, Malay (official) 11.9%, Hokkien 8.1%, Tamil (official) 4.4%, Cantonese 4.1%, Teochew 3.2%, other Indian languages 1.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.1%, other 1.1% (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

87.5 years (2015 est.)

male

82.06 years

total population

84.68 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

95% (2015 est.)

male

98.6%

total population

96.8%

Major urban areas - population

SINGAPORE (capital) 5.619 million (2015)

Median age

female

34.1 years (2015 est.)

male

33.9 years

total

34 years

Nationality

adjective

Singapore

noun

Singaporean(s)

Net migration rate

14.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.8% (2014)

Physicians density

1.95 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

5,674,472 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.89% (2015 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 33.9%, Muslim 14.3%, Taoist 11.3%, Catholic 7.1%, Hindu 5.2%, other Christian 11%, other 0.7%, none 16.4% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.97 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.95 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.83 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

0.81 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total

6.7% (2012 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.02% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

none

Capital

geographic coordinates

1 17 N, 103 51 E

name

Singapore

time difference

UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1965; amended several times, last in 2010 (2013)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Singapore

conventional short form

Singapore

local long form

Republic of Singapore

local short form

Singapore

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Kirk W. WAGAR (since 25 September 2013)

embassy

27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508

FAX

[65] 6476-9340

mailing address

FPO AP 96507-0001

telephone

[65] 6476-9100

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Ashok Kumar MIRPURI (since 24 July 2012)

consulate(s)

New York

consulate(s) general

San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 537-0876

telephone

[1] (202) 537-3100

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Cabinet responsible to Parliament

chief of state

President Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 September 2011)

election results

Tony TAN Keng Yam elected president; percent of vote - Tony TAN Keng Yam (independent) 35.2% , TAN Cheng Bock (independent) 34.9%, TAN Jee Say (independent) 25% , TAN Kin Lian (PP) 4.9%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a single 6-year term; election last held on 27 August 2011 (next to be held by August 2017); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime Ministers TEO Chee Hean (since 1 April 2009) and Tharman SHANMUGARATNAM (since 21 May 2011)

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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ADB, AOSIS, APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the president or chief justice and 16 justices and organized into an upper tier Appeal Court and a lower tier High Court)

judge selection and term of office

all judges appointed by the president from candidates recommended by the prime minister after consultation with the chief justice; justices appointed for life

subordinate courts

district, magistrates', juvenile, family, community, and coroners' courts; small claims tribunals

Legal system

English common law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament (99 seats; 75 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by majority party bloc vote, 12 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 9 nominated by the president, and 3 appointed from a "national compensatory" list to ensure political diversity; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PAP 69.9%, WP 12.5%, other 17.6%; seats by party - PAP 83, WP 6

elections

last held on 11 September 2015 (next to be held in 2020); note - Parliament was dissolved on 25 August 2015 amid public concerns over immigration and the rising cost of living, resulting in an early election

National anthem

lyrics/music

ZUBIR Said

name

"Majulah Singapura" (Onward Singapore)

note

adopted 1965; first performed in 1958 at the Victoria Theatre, the anthem is sung only in Malay

National holiday

National Day, 9 August (1965)

National symbol(s)

lion, merlion (mythical half lion-half fish creature), orchid; national colors: red, white

Political parties and leaders

National Solidarity Party or NSP [LIM Tean, acting secretary general]

People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]

Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]

Workers' Party or WP [LOW Thia Khiang]

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture - products

orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs; fish, ornamental fish

Budget

expenditures

$50.37 billion

note

expenditures include both operational and development expenditures (2015 est.)

revenues

$47.45 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.35% (31 December 2014 est.)

5.38% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$58.81 billion (2014 est.)

$54.08 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$0 (2014 est.)

$0 (2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

46.4 (2014)

46.3 (2013)

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. Unemployment is very low. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly of consumer electronics, information technology products, medical and optical devices, pharmaceuticals, and on its vibrant transportation, business, and financial services sectors. The economy contracted 0.6% in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis, but has continued to grow since 2010 on the strength of renewed exports. Growth in 2014 was slower at 2.9%, largely a result of soft demand for exports amid a sluggish global economy and weak growth in Singapore’s manufacturing sector. The government is attempting to restructure Singapore’s economy by weaning its dependence on foreign labor, addressing weak productivity, and increasing Singaporean wages. Singapore has attracted major investments in pharmaceuticals and medical technology production and will continue efforts to strengthen its position as Southeast Asia's leading financial and high-tech hub. Singapore is a member of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations with the nine other ASEAN members plus Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand, and in 2015, Singapore will form, with the other ASEAN members, the ASEAN Economic Community.

Exchange rates

Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar -

1.2671 (2014 est.)

1.2513 (2013 est.)

1.25 (2012 est.)

1.258 (2011 est.)

1.3635 (2010 est.)

Exports

$409.5 billion (2014 est.)

$410.3 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment (including electronics and telecommunications), pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, refined petroleum products, foodstuffs and beverages

Exports - partners

China 12.6%, Malaysia 12%, Hong Kong 11%, Indonesia 9.4%, US 5.9%, Japan 4.1%, South Korea 4.1% (2014)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

187.6%

government consumption

10%

household consumption

36.8%

imports of goods and services

-162.2%

investment in fixed capital

25.4%

investment in inventories

2.3%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0%

industry

25%

services

75% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$82,800 (2014 est.)

$80,400 (2013 est.)

$77,000 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.9% (2014 est.)

4.4% (2013 est.)

3.4% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$308.1 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$445.2 billion (2014 est.)

$432.6 billion (2013 est.)

$414.4 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

46.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

46.9% of GDP (2013 est.)

47.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

11% (2014)

lowest 10%

2.3%

Imports

$366 billion (2014 est.)

$373 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners

China 12.1%, Malaysia 10.7%, US 10.3%, South Korea 5.9%, Japan 5.5%, Indonesia 5.1%, UAE 4.2%, Saudi Arabia 4% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

3.7% (2014 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2014 est.)

2.4% (2013 est.)

Labor force

3.623 million

note

excludes non-residents (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

1.3%

industry

14.8%

note

excludes non-residents (2014)

services

83.9%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$787.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$751.1 billion (31 December 2013)

$747.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

103.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

99.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

note

Singapore's 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-tradable; the government has not borrowed to finance deficit expenditures since the 1980s; Singapore has no external public debt

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$256.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$273.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$413.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$405.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$517.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$497.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$900.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$837.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$479.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$458.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$126.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$123.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

15.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

2% (2014 est.)

1.9% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

208 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

1.137 million bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

500 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

47.18 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

95.3% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

3.9% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

10.49 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

49.31 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

9.38 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

9.38 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1.292 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

1.36 million bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

1.357 million bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

state controls broadcast media; 8 domestic TV stations operated by MediaCorp which is wholly owned by a state investment company; broadcasts from Malaysian and Indonesian stations available; satellite dishes banned; multi-channel cable TV service available; a total of 18 domestic radio stations broadcasting with MediaCorp operating more than a dozen and another 4 stations are closely linked to the ruling party or controlled by the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association; many Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations are available

Internet country code

.sg

Internet users

percent of population

80.7% (2014 est.)

total

4.5 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 19, shortwave 1 (2008)

Telephone system

domestic

excellent domestic facilities; launched 3G wireless service in February 2005; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity more than 180 telephones per 100 persons; multiple providers of high-speed Internet connectivity and the government is close to completing an island-wide roll out of a high-speed fiber-optic broadband network

general assessment

excellent service

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 (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

35 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

1.96 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

157 (2014 est.)

total

8.7 million

Television broadcast stations

1 (broadcasting on 8 channels); additional reception of numerous UHF and VHF signals originating in Malaysia and Indonesia (2008)

Airports

9 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

1

over 3,047 m

2

total

9

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 247, cargo 109, carrier 6, chemical tanker 256, container 339, liquefied gas 131, petroleum tanker 436, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 57

foreign-owned

966 (Australia 12, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 1, Bermuda 25, Brazil 9, Chile 6, China 29, Cyprus 6, Denmark 149, France 3, Germany 32, Greece 22, Hong Kong 46, India 21, Indonesia 60, Italy 5, Japan 164, Malaysia 27, Netherlands 1, Norway 153, Russia 2, South Africa 13, South Korea 3, Sweden 11, Switzerland 3, Taiwan 77, Thailand 33, UAE 10, UK 6, US 36)

registered in other countries

344 (Australia 2, Bahamas 7, Bangladesh 7, Belize 4, Cambodia 3, Cyprus 1, France 3, Honduras 11, Hong Kong 13, Indonesia 46, Italy 1, Kiribati 9, Liberia 22, Malaysia 13, Maldives 4, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 30, Mongolia 3, North Korea 1, Panama 92, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 10, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Sierra Leone 9, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 19, US 16, Vanuatu 2, unknown 5) (2010)

total

1,599

Pipelines

gas 122 km; refined products 8 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Singapore (31,649,400)

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Singapore

major seaport(s)

Singapore

Roadways

paved

3,425 km (includes 161 km of expressways) (2012)

total

3,425 km

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49

1,255,902 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

1,087,134 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,018,839

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

25,368 (2010 est.)

male

27,098

Military branches

Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense) (2013)

Military expenditures

3.52% of GDP (2012)

3.47% of GDP (2011)

3.52% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-21 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 1/2 years of age for volunteers; 2-year conscript service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers) (2012)

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 awarded sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore, and Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but did 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, including carrying out death sentences; as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money laundering