Singapore

Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but was ousted 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 (47%/53%/0%)

per capita:

81.97 cu m/yr (2005)

• industrial pollution;
• limited natural freshwater 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

noun:

Singaporean(s)

adjective:

Singapore

at birth:

1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

0.97 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

0.95 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.83 male(s)/female

total population:

0.96 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

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)

• several previous;
• latest adopted 22 December 1965;
• amended several times, last in 2010 (2013)

chief of state:

President Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 September 2011)

head of government:

Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime Ministers TEO Chee Hean (since 1 April 2009) and Tharman SHANMUGARATNAM (since 21 May 2011)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Cabinet responsible to Parliament

elections/appointments:

• president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a single 6-year term;
• election last held on 27 August 2011 (next to be held by August 2017);
• following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by president;
• deputy prime ministers appointed by the president

election results:

Tony TAN Keng Yam elected president; percent of vote - Tony TAN Keng Yam (independent) 35.2% , TAN Cheng Bock (independent) 34.9%, TAN Jee Say (independent) 25% , TAN Kin Lian (PP) 4.9%

description:

unicameral Parliament (99 seats; 75 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by majority party bloc vote, 12 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 9 nominated by the president, and 3 appointed from a "national compensatory" list to ensure political diversity; members serve 5-year terms)

elections:

• last held on 11 September 2015 (next to be held in 2020);
• note - Parliament was dissolved on 25 August 2015 amid public concerns over immigration and the rising cost of living, resulting in an early election

election results:

percent of vote by party - PAP 69.9%, WP 12.5%, other 17.6%; seats by party - PAP 83, WP 6

• National Solidarity Party or NSP [LIM Tean, acting secretary general]
• People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]
• Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]
• Workers' Party or WP [LOW Thia Khiang]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Ashok Kumar MIRPURI (since 24 July 2012)

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 Kirk W. WAGAR (since 25 September 2013)

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;
• red denotes brotherhood and equality;
• white signifies purity and virtue;
• the waxing crescent moon symbolizes a young nation on the ascendancy;
• the five stars represent the nation's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality

name:

"Majulah Singapura" (Onward Singapore)

lyrics/music:

ZUBIR Said

note: adopted 1965; first performed in 1958 at the Victoria Theatre, the anthem is sung only in Malay

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

agriculture:

1.3%

industry:

14.8%

services:

83.9%

note: excludes non-residents (2014)

lowest 10%:

2.3%

highest 10%:

11% (2014)

general assessment:

excellent service

domestic:

• excellent domestic facilities;
• launched 3G wireless service in February 2005;
• combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity more than 180 telephones per 100 persons;
• multiple providers of high-speed Internet connectivity and the government is close to completing an island-wide roll out of a high-speed fiber-optic broadband network

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 (2011)

• state controls broadcast media;
• 8 domestic TV stations operated by MediaCorp which is wholly owned by a state investment company;
• broadcasts from Malaysian and Indonesian stations available;
• satellite dishes banned;
• multi-channel cable TV service available;
• a total of 18 domestic radio stations broadcasting with MediaCorp operating more than a dozen and another 4 stations are closely linked to the ruling party or controlled by the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association;
• many Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations are available

total:

3,425 km

paved:

3,425 km (includes 161 km of expressways) (2012)

country comparison to the world: 164

major seaport(s):

Singapore

container port(s) (TEUs):

Singapore (31,649,400)

LNG terminal(s) (import):

Singapore

• 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 1/2 years of age for volunteers;
• 2-year conscript service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers) (2012)

males age 16-49:

1,018,839

females age 16-49:

1,087,134 (2010 est.)

male:

27,098

female:

25,368 (2010 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 2008, ICJ awarded sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore, and Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but did not rule on maritime regimes, boundaries, or disposition of 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, including carrying out death sentences;
• as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money laundering