2020 Edition

Background

A Malay trading port known as Temasek existed on the island of Singapore by the 14th century. The settlement changed hands several times in the ensuing centuries and was eventually burned in the 17th century, falling into obscurity. In 1819, the British founded modern Singapore as a trading colony on the same site and granted it full internal self-government for all matters except defense and foreign affairs in 1959. Singapore 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 and per capita GDP among the highest globally. The People’s Action Party has won every general election in Singapore since the end of the British colonial era, aided by its success in delivering consistent economic growth, as well as the city-state's fragmented opposition and electoral procedures that strongly favor the ruling party.

Area

land

709.2 sq km

total

719 sq km

water

10 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

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

highest point

Bukit Timah 166 m

lowest point

Singapore Strait 0 m

Geographic coordinates

1 22 N, 103 48 E

Geography - note

focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes; consists of about 60 islands, the largest of which by far is Pulau Ujong; land reclamation has removed many former islands and created a number of new ones

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

0.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest

22% (2023 est.)

other

77.1% (2023 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

flash floods

Natural resources

fish, deepwater ports

Population distribution

most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas

Terrain

lowlying, gently undulating central plateau

Age structure

0-14 years

14.6% (male 455,536/female 424,969)

15-64 years

71.1% (male 2,157,441/female 2,126,799)

65 years and over

14.3% (2024 est.) (male 400,653/female 463,061)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

1.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

8.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

0% (2023)

women married by age 18

0.1% (2023)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

43.8% (2020 est.)

Death rate

4.38 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

21.2 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

4.7 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

41.6 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

20.5 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

12% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

Chinese 74.2%, Malay 13.7%, Indian 8.9%, other 3.2% (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.58 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

5.6% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

18.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

1.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

1.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

1.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

English (official) 48.3%, Mandarin (official) 29.9%, other Chinese dialects (includes Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, Hakka) 8.7%, Malay (official) 9.2%, Tamil (official) 2.5%, other 1.4% (2020 est.)

major-language sample(s)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) 世界概況  –  不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Mandarin)

Life expectancy at birth

female

89.5 years

male

84 years

total population

86.7 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

96.4% (2021 est.)

male

98.9% (2021 est.)

total population

97.7% (2021 est.)

Major urban areas - population

6.081 million SINGAPORE (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

40.6 years

male

38 years

total

39.8 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

30.5 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Singapore

noun

Singaporean(s)

Net migration rate

4.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.1% (2016)

Physician density

2.83 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

3,039,683

male

3,040,862

total

6,080,545 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

0.85% (2025 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 31.1%, Christian 18.9%, Muslim 15.6%, Taoist 8.8%, Hindu 5%, other 0.6%, none 20% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2022 est.)

male

17 years (2022 est.)

total

17 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

3.8% (2025 est.)

male

27.6% (2025 est.)

total

16.2% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.18 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

no first-order administrative divisions; five community development councils: Central Singapore Development Council, North East Development Council, North West Development Council, South East Development Council, South West Development Council (2019)

Capital

etymology

name derives from the Sanskrit words simha (lion) and pur (city); according to  Malayan folklore, an Indian prince visited Singapore in the 7th century and mistook the first animal he saw for a lion, which is not native to the country

geographic coordinates

1 17 N, 103 51 E

name

Singapore

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Singapore

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

amendment process

proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote in the second and third readings by the elected Parliament membership and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting sovereignty or control of the Police Force or the Armed Forces requires at least two-thirds majority vote in a referendum

history

several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1965

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Singapore

conventional short form

Singapore

etymology

name derives from the Sanskrit words simha (lion) and pur (city); according to  Malayan folklore, an Indian prince visited Singapore in the 7th century and mistook the first animal he saw for a lion, which is not native to the country

local long form

Republic of Singapore

local short form

Singapore

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Anjani K. SINHA (since 17 November 2025)

email address and website

singaporeusembassy@state.gov https://sg.usembassy.gov/

embassy

27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508

FAX

[65] 6476-9340

mailing address

4280 Singapore Place, Washington DC 20521-4280

telephone

[65] 6476-9100

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador LUI Tuck Yew (since 30 June 2023)

consulate(s)

New York

consulate(s) general

San Francisco

email address and website

singemb_was@mfa.sg https://www.mfa.gov.sg/washington/

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; responsible to Parliament

chief of state

President THARMAN Shanmugaratnam (since 14 September 2023)

election results

2023: THARMAN Shanmugaratnam elected president; percent of vote - THARMAN Shanmugaratnam (independent) 70.4%, NG Kok Song (independent) 15.7%, TAN Kin Lian (independent) 13.9% 2017: HALIMAH Yacob declared president on 13 September 2017, being the only eligible candidate

election/appointment process

president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits); following legislative elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime ministers also appointed by the president

expected date of next election

2029

head of government

Prime Minister Lawrence WONG (since 15 May 2024)

most recent election date

1 September 2023

Flag

description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; a vertical white crescent is on the left side of the red band, with a circle of five five-pointed white stars to the right of the crescent meaning: red stands for brotherhood and equality, and white for purity and virtue; the waxing crescent moon symbolizes a young nation on the ascendancy; the stars represent the national 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, UNOOSA, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (number of judges varies but includes judicial commissioners, judges of appeal, and international judges); the court is organized into an upper-tier Appeal Court and a lower-tier High Court

judge selection and term of office

judges appointed by the president from candidates recommended by the prime minister after consultation with the chief justice; judges usually serve until retirement at age 65, but terms can be extended

subordinate courts

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

Legal system

English common law

Legislative branch

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

May 2030

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Parliament

most recent election date

5/3/2025

number of seats

108 (97 directly elected; 9 appointed)

parties elected and seats per party

People's Action Party (PAP) (87); Workers' Party (WPS) (12)

percentage of women in chamber

32.3%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1959; the anthem is sung only in Malay; first four lines of the melody are used as a presidential salute

lyrics/music

Zubir SAID

title

"Majulah Singapura" (Onward, Singapore)

National color(s)

red, white

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Singapore Botanic Gardens

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

National holiday

National Day, 9 August (1965)

National symbol(s)

lion, merlion (mythical half-lion, half-fish creature), orchid

Political parties

People's Action Party or PAP Workers' Party or WPS there are 13 additional active political parties in Singapore

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agricultural products

chicken, eggs, vegetables, pork, duck, spinach, lettuce, pork offal, cabbages, pork fat (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$73.144 billion (2022 est.)

revenues

$80.836 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

$93.771 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$89.403 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$96.015 billion (2024 est.)

Economic overview

high-income, service-based economy; global financial hub; business-friendly policies and open to investment and trade; inflation easing but persistent in services; public investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure; strong human capital development challenged by aging population

Exchange rates

Currency

Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

1.38 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.343 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.379 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.343 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

1.336 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$947.355 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$917.683 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$978.597 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

integrated circuits, refined petroleum, machinery, vaccines, gold (2023)

Exports - partners

Hong Kong 13%, China 11%, USA 10%, Malaysia 9%, S. Korea 6% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

178.8% (2024 est.)

government consumption

10.6% (2024 est.)

household consumption

31.5% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-143.6% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

21.9% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0% (2024 est.)

industry

21.4% (2024 est.)

services

73% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$547.387 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016

45.8 (2016)

Imports

Imports 2022

$744.364 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$728.5 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$786.02 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, gold, gas turbines (2023)

Imports - partners

China 15%, Malaysia 11%, Taiwan 11%, USA 10%, S. Korea 6% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

4.2% (2024 est.)

Industries

electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, biomedical products, scientific instruments, telecommunication equipment, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, entrepot trade

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.1% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.8% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.4% (2024 est.)

Labor force

3.722 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2023

175.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$752.948 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$766.662 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$800.304 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.1% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.8% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

4.4% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$133,600 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$129,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$132,600 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$296.629 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$359.835 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$383.946 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

13.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

3.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.5% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

3.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

10.8% (2024 est.)

male

5.6% (2024 est.)

total

7.8% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

1.153 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

97 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

1.326 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

56.672 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

13.134 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

169.447 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

94.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

643.259 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

13.134 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

399.452 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

13.973 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

1.514 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

27 (2023 est.)

total

1.57 million (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

state-controlled broadcast media; 6 domestic TV stations operated by state-owned MediaCorp; broadcasts from Malaysian and Indonesian stations available; satellite dishes banned; multi-channel cable TV services available; 19 domestic radio stations, including 11 for MediaCorp, 5 for state-linked Singapore Press Holdings, 2 for Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association, and 1 for BBC Radio; Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations available (2019)

Internet country code

.sg

Internet users

percent of population

94% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

33 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

1.912 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

171 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

9.96 million (2024 est.)

Airports

9 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9V

Heliports

1 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 591, container ship 604, general cargo 107, oil tanker 600, other 1,300

total

3,202 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Jurong Island, Keppel - (East Singapore), Pulau Bukom, Pulau Sebarok

large

2

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

3

small

1

total ports

5 (2024)

very small

1

Military - note

the SAF’s primary responsibility is external defense, particularly maritime security, but it also trains for certain domestic security operations, including joint deterrence patrols with police in instances of heightened terrorism alerts; the Army includes a “people’s defense force,” which is a divisional headquarters responsible for homeland security and counterterrorism; the SAF regularly participates in bilateral and multilateral training exercises Singapore is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; Singapore also has close security ties with the US, including granting the US military access, basing, and overflight privileges the SAF's roots go back to 1854 when the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps was formed under colonial rule; the first battalion of regular soldiers, the First Singapore Infantry Regiment, was organized in 1957; the modern SAF was established in 1965 (2025)

Military and security forces

Singapore Armed Forces (SAF; aka Singapore Defense Force): Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force (includes air defense), Digital and Intelligence Service Ministry of Home Affairs: Singapore Police Force (SPF; includes Police Coast Guard and the Gurkha Contingent) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 55,000 active-duty Armed Forces (40,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force) (2025)

Military deployments

maintains permanent training detachments of military personnel in Australia, France, and the US (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the SAF has a diverse and modern mix of domestically produced and imported Western weapons systems from such suppliers as France, Germany, and the US; Singapore has a small but sophisticated defense industry, which produces armaments such as armored vehicles and naval warships (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

3% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary enlistment for men and women (16.5 for early enlistment program with parental consent); 18-21 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 24-month conscript service obligation (2026)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

1,109 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

2.338 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

25.765 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

210.859 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

238.962 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

water pollution; industrial pollution; limited freshwater resources; waste disposal problems from limited land availability; air pollution; deforestation; seasonal smoke/haze from forest fires in Indonesia

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, 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

Particulate matter emissions

10 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

600 million cubic meters (2022)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

0 cubic meters (2022)

industrial

162.624 million cubic meters (2022)

municipal

198.207 million cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

1.87 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

51.7% (2022 est.)