Singapore

• 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 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

• focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes;
• consists of about 60 islands, by far the largest of which is Pulau Ujong;
• land reclamation has removed many former islands and created a number of new ones

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 (2016 est.)

conventional long form:

Republic of Singapore

conventional short form:

Singapore

local long form:

Republic of Singapore

local short form:

Singapore

etymology:

name derives from the Sanskrit words "singa" (lion) and "pura" (city) to describe the city-state's leonine symbol

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 many times, last in 2015 (2016)

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

at least one parent must be a citizen of Singapore

dual citizenship recognized:

no

residency requirement for naturalization:

10 years

chief of state:

• President Halimah YACOB (since 14 September 2017);
• note - President TAN's term ended on 31 August 2017;
• YACOB is Singapore's first female president;
• the head of the Council of Presidential Advisors, J.Y. PILLAY, served as acting president until YACOB was sworn in as president on 14 September 2017

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 on 23 September 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:

• Halimah YACOB was declared president on 13 September 2017, being the only eligible candidate;
• Tony TAN Keng Yam elected president in the previous contested election;
• 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%

• National Solidarity Party or NSP
• People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]
• Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [Dr. CHEE Soon Juan]
• Workers' Party or WP [LOW Thia Khiang]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Ashok Kumar MIRPURI (since 30 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Stephanie SYPTAK-RAMNATH (since 20 January 2017)

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:

0.96%

industry:

15.5%

services:

83.5%

note: excludes non-residents (2016)

lowest 10%:

1.7%

highest 10%:

26% (2016)

general assessment:

excellent service

domestic:

• excellent domestic facilities;
• combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity more than 180 telephones per 100 persons;
• multiple providers of high-speed Internet connectivity

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 (2016)

• 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

number of registered air carriers:

5; inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 197

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:

33,290,544

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:

6,154,365,275 mt-km (2015)

total:

3,425 km

paved:

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

country comparison to the world: 163

major seaport(s):

Singapore

container port(s) (TEUs):

Singapore (30,922,000) (2015)

LNG terminal(s) (import):

Singapore

• 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)

• 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;
• in the Singapore Straits there were nine attacks against commercial vessels in 2015, declining to only two attacks in 2016

• 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