Singapore
Republic of Singapore
republic within CommonwealthIndependence 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)
Singapore as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 86 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
15 fieldsLand useshare of 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)
Terrain
lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve
- lowest point:
- Singapore Strait 0 m
- highest point:
- Bukit Timah 166 m
Environment
- current issues:
- industrial pollution;
- limited natural fresh water resources;
- limited land availability presents waste disposal problems
- natural hazards:
- NA
- 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
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Male · female(1996 est.)
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.)
Sex ratio
- 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
- all ages:
- 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Government
Republic within Commonwealth; President ONG Teng Cheong (since 1 September 1993) was elected for a six-year term by popular vote; 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
21 fieldsLegislature, 81 seatsone dot, one seat
Executive branch
- 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
- cabinet:
- Cabinet was 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
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
Political parties and leaders
- government:
- People's Action Party (PAP), GOH Chok Tong, secretary general
- opposition:
- Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), CHEE Soon Juan;
- Workers' Party (WP), J. B. JEYARETNAM;
- National Solidarity Party (NSP), leader NA;
- Barisan Sosialis (BS, Socialist Front), leader NA;
- Singapore People's Party (SPP), SIN Kek Tong
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
Diplomatic representation in US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Sellapan Rama NATHAN
- chancery:
- 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 537-3100
US diplomatic representation
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Timothy A. CHORBA
- embassy:
- 30 Hill Street, Singapore 0617
- mailing address:
- FPO AP 96534
- telephone:
- [65] 3380251
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.
21 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 4,510,000 kW
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.
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)
Industries
petroleum refining, electronics, oil drilling equipment, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade, financial services, biotechnology
Illicit drugs
transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe, and the Third World; also a money-laundering center
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)
Imports
$125.9 billion (1995)
- commodities:
- aircraft, petroleum, chemicals, foodstuffs
- partners:
- Japan 22%, Malaysia 16%, US 15%, Taiwan 4%, Saudi Arabia 4% (1994)
Exchange rates
Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1 - 1.4214 (January 1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994), 1.6158 (1993), 1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991)
Transportation
5 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 8 in all
Networkskm
Merchant marine
- total:
- 646 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,915,788 GRT/20,292,580 DWT
- 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
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.)
Communications
Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police | Force
9 fieldsTelephone 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)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Singapore.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/singapore/1996.