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

total:

0.19 cu km/yr (45%/51%/4%)

per capita:

44 cu m/yr (1975)

• 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:

1.08 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.8 male(s)/female

total population:

0.95 male(s)/female (2009 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);
• Senior Minister Shunmugam JAYAKUMAR (since 1 April 2009);
• Minister Mentor LEE Kuan Yew (since 12 August 2004);
• Deputy Prime Minister TEO Chee Huan (since 1 April 2009) and Deputy Prime Minister 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 by 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];
• Reform Party [NG Teck Siong];
• 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 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniel L. SHIELDS III

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%:

4.4%

highest 10%:

23.2% (2008)

• orchids, vegetables;
• poultry, eggs;
• fish, ornamental fish

general assessment:

excellent service

domestic:

• excellent domestic facilities;
• launched 3G wireless service in February 2005;
• combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 175 telephones per 100 persons

international:

• country code - 65;
• numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US;
• satellite earth stations -4;
• supplemented by VSAT coverage (2008)

total:

3,297 km

country comparison to the world: 164

paved:

3,297 km (includes 150 km of expressways) (2007)

• the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships;
• numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
• hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia;
• crews have been murdered or cast adrift

• 18-21 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 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers) (2008)

males age 16-49:

1,033,961

females age 16-49:

1,104,952 (2009 est.)

male:

27,715

female:

26,290 (2009 est.)

• 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