Singapore

Republic of Singapore

republic within CommonwealthIndependence 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)

Singapore as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 80 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalSingapore

Area632.6 sq km

LocationSoutheastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Populationas each edition published it

2.89 million July 1995 est. · 2.72m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.06% 1995 est. · 1.19% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 34.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

76.16 years 1995 est. · 75.75 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.87 children per woman 1995 est. · 2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

5.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 8 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$19,940 1994 est. · $16,500 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

10.1% 1994 · 5.8% in 1993

Geography

Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

14 fields

Land useshare of 632.6 sq km

arable land 4%permanent crops 7%meadows and pastures 0%forest and woodland 5%other 84%

Area

632.6sq km

land area: 622.6 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

193km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practiceterritorial sea: 3 nm

Location

Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Climate

tropical;
hot, humid, rainy;
no pronounced rainy or dry seasons;
thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days (67% of days in April)

Terrain

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

Environment

current issues:: industrial pollution;
limited natural fresh water resources;
limited land availability presents waste disposal problems
natural hazards:: NA
international agreements:: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Note

focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

People

15 fields

Population

2,890,468

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 1.06% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

15.93Death

5.35Net migration

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years76.16

73.28 · 79.25

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy89%

95% · 83%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

Ethnic divisions

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

Labor force

1.649million

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 23% (female 327,417; male 348,345)
15-64 years:: 70% (female 991,015; male 1,030,668)
65 years and over:: 7% (female 105,081; male 87,942) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Singaporean(s)
adjective:: Singapore

Religions

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

Languages

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

Government

Republic within Commonwealth; President ONG Teng Cheong (since 1 September 1993); Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990)

21 fields

Legislature, 81 seatsone dot, one seat

PAP 77SDP 3WP 1

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Singapore
conventional short form:: Singapore

Constitution

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

Legal system

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

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

chief of state:: President ONG Teng Cheong (since 1 September 1993);
election last held 28 August 1993 (next to be held NA August 1997);
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); Deputy Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990)
cabinet:: Cabinet; appointed by the president, responsible to parliament

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

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), CHEE Soon Juan;
National Solidarity Party (NSP), leader NA;
Barisan Sosialis (BS, Socialist Front), leader NA;
Singapore People's Party (SPP), SIN Kek Tong

APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Sellapan Rama NATHAN
chancery:: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 537-3100

FAX

[1] (202) 537-0876

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Timothy A. CHORBA
embassy:: 30 Hill Street, Singapore 0617
mailing address:: FPO AP 96534
telephone:: [65] 3380251

FAX

[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

Economy

Singapore has an open entrepreneurial economy with strong | service and manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading | links derived from its entrepot history.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$19,940

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

10.1%

(1994)industrial production growth: growth rate 13% (1994 est.); accounts for 28% of GDP (1993)

Inflation, consumer prices

3.6%

(1994)

Unemployment rate

2.6%

(1994)

Budget

Revenues

$11.9 billionExpenditures

$10.5 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $3.9 billion (FY93/94 est.)

Installed generating capacity, 4,510,000 kW

Electricity production

17 billionElectricity consumption per capita

5,590 (1993)

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 10.1% growth in 1994, with prospects for 7.5%-8.5% growth in 1995. In 1994, the manufacturing and financial and business services sectors have led economic growth.

Exports boomed, led by the electronics sector, particularly US demand for disk drives. Rising labor costs continue to be a threat to Singapore's competitiveness, but there are indications that productivity is keeping up. In applied technology, per capita output, investment, and labor discipline, Singapore has key attributes of a developed country.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $57 billion (1994 est.)

Exports

$96.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: computer equipment, rubber and rubber products, petroleum products, telecommunications equipment
partners:: Malaysia 20%, US 19%, Hong Kong 9%, Japan 7%, Thailand 6% (1994)

Imports

$102.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994)

commodities:: aircraft, petroleum, chemicals, foodstuffs
partners:: Japan 22%, Malaysia 16%, US 15%, Taiwan 4%, Saudi Arabia 4% (1994)

External debt

$20 million (1993 est.)

Industries

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

Agriculture

minor importance in the economy;
self-sufficient in poultry and eggs;
must import much of other food;
major crops - rubber, copra, fruit, vegetables

Illicit drugs

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

Economic aid

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $590 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1 billion

Currency

1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1 - 1.4524 (January 1995), 1.5275 (1994), 1.6158 (1993), 1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991), 1.8125 (1990)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 10 in all

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

2,883Railroads

38.6

Highways: paved: 2,796 km · unpaved: 87 km (1991 est.) · Railroads: narrow gauge: 38.6 km 1.000-m gauge

Railroads

total:: 38.6 km
narrow gauge:: 38.6 km 1.000-m gauge

Highways

total:: 2,883 km
paved:: 2,796 km
unpaved:: 87 km (1991 est.)

Ports

Singapore

Merchant marine

total:: 563 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,167,596 GRT/17,845,687 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 96, cargo 121, chemical tanker 16, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 7, container 78, liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 198, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 22

note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 20 countries among which are Japan 35 ships, Denmark 21, Germany 21, Hong Kong 18, Belgium 14, Thailand 11, Sweden 8, US 7, Indonesia 6, and Norway 5; Singapore owns 1 ship under Malaysia registry

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

1,110,000 telephones;
good domestic facilities;
good international service;
good radio and television broadcast coverage

local:: NA
intercity:: NA
international:: submarine cables extend to Malaysia (Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines;
2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) earth stations

Radio

broadcast stations:: AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 0
radios:: NA

Television

broadcast stations:: 2
televisions:: NA

Defense Forces

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