Singapore

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

• 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

• 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, 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

at birth:

1.08 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.073 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.797 male(s)/female

total population:

0.954 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

noun:

Singaporean(s)

adjective:

Singapore

conventional long form:

Republic of Singapore

conventional short form:

Singapore

local long form:

Republic of Singapore

local short form:

Singapore

name:

Singapore

geographic coordinates:

1 17 N, 103 51 E

time difference:

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

chief of state:

President S R NATHAN (since 1 September 1999)

note: uses S R NATHAN but his full name and the one used in formal communications is Sellapan RAMANATHAN

head of government:

• Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004);
• Senior Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 12 August 2004);
• Minister Mentor LEE Kuan Yew (since 12 August 2004);
• Deputy Prime Ministers Shunmugan JAYAKUMAR (since 12 August 2004) and WONG Kan Seng (since 1 September 2005)

cabinet:

appointed by president, responsible to parliament

elections:

• president elected by popular vote for six-year term;
• appointed on 17 August 2005 - (next election to be held by August 2011);
• following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by president;
• deputy prime ministers appointed by president

election results:

Sellapan Rama (S R) NATHAN appointed president in August 2005 after Presidential Elections Committee disqualified three other would-be candidates; scheduled election not held

• unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms);
• note - in addition, there are up to nine nominated members;
• up to three losing opposition candidates who came closest to winning seats may be appointed as "nonconstituency" members

elections:

last held on 6 May 2006 (next to be held in 2011)

election results:

percent of vote by party - PAP 66.6%, WP 16.3%, SDA 13%, SDP 4.1%; seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SDA 1

• People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong];
• Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong];
• Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan];
• Workers' Party or WP [Sylvia LIM Swee Lian]

note: SDA includes National Solidarity Party or NSP, Singapore Justice Party or SJP, Singapore National Malay Organization or PKMS, Singapore People's Party or SPP

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) general:

San Francisco

consulate(s):

New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador Patricia L. HERBOLD

embassy:

27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508

mailing address:

FPO AP 96507-0001

telephone:

[65] 6476-9100

FAX:

[65] 6476-9340

• 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% (1998)

• rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables;
• poultry, eggs;
• fish, ornamental fish

general assessment:

excellent service

domestic:

excellent domestic facilities; launched 3G wireless service in February 2005

international:

• country code - 65;
• 9 submarine cables provide direct connection to more than 100 countries;
• satellite earth stations -4;
• supplemented by VSAT coverage (2003)

total:

3,234 km

paved:

3,234 km (includes 150 km of expressways) (2005)

• 18 years of age for male compulsory military service;
• 16 years of age for volunteers;
• 2-year conscript service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 40 for enlisted or age 50 for officers (2007)

• 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 November 2007, the ICJ will hold public hearings as a consequence of the Memorials and Countermemorials filed by the parties in 2003 and 2005 over sovereignty of Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and 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

• drug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement efforts;
• as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money laundering