Singapore

Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, Singapore joined Malaysia in 1963, but withdrew 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 above that of the leading nations of Western Europe.

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

• industrial pollution;
• limited natural fresh water resources;
• limited land availability presents waste disposal problems;
• seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

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

0-14 years:

18% (male 390,352; female 365,730)

15-64 years:

75% (male 1,520,875; female 1,590,355)

65 years and over:

7% (male 124,413; female 159,539) (2000 est.)

at birth:

1.08 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.78 male(s)/female

total population:

0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

noun:

Singaporean(s)

adjective:

Singapore

conventional long form:

Republic of Singapore

conventional short form:

Singapore

chief of state:

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

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)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament

elections:

• president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
• election last held 28 August 1999 (next to be held NA 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

election results:

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

• National Solidarity Party or NSP [C. K. TAN];
• People's Action Party or PAP [GOH Chok Tong, secretary general] - the governing party;
• Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan];
• Singapore People's Party or SPP [CHIAM See Tong];
• Workers' Party or WP [J. B. JEYARETNAM and LOW Thia Khiang]

chief of mission:

Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee

chancery:

3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 537-3100

FAX:

[1] (202) 537-0876

consulate(s):

New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador Steven J. GREEN

embassy:

27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508

mailing address:

FPO AP 96507

telephone:

[65] 476-9100

FAX:

[65] 476-9340

• 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

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

total:

38.6 km

narrow gauge:

38.6 km 1.000-m gauge

note: there is a 83 km mass transit system with 48 stations

total:

3,122 km

paved:

3,038 km (including 150 km of expressways)

unpaved:

84 km (1998)

• transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to North America, Western Europe, and the Third World;
• also a money-laundering center [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]