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

• water pollution;
• industrial pollution;
• limited natural freshwater resources;
• limited land availability presents waste disposal problems;
• air pollution;
• deforestation;
• 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:

0.96 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

0.95 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.85 male(s)/female

total population:

0.96 male(s)/female (2020 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 "simha" (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)

etymology:

name derives from the Sanskrit words "simha" (lion) and "pura" (city), thus creating the city's epithet "lion city"

history:

several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1965

amendments:

• proposed by Parliament;
• passage requires two-thirds majority vote in the second and third readings by the elected Parliament membership and assent of the president of the republic;
• passage of amendments affecting sovereignty or control of the Police Force or the Armed Forces requires at least two-thirds majority vote in a referendum;
• amended many times, last in 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;
• HALIMAH is Singapore's first female president;
• the head of the Council of Presidential Advisors, J.Y. PILLAY, served as acting president until HALIMAH was sworn in as president on 14 September 2017

head of government:

Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004, reelected 10 July 2020); Deputy Prime Ministers HENG Swee Keat (since 1 May 2019) (2019)

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 fixed term of 6-years (there are no term limits);
• election last held on 13 September 2017 (next to be held in 2023);
• following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition 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 on 27 August 2011;
• percent of vote - Tony TAN Keng Yam (independent) 35.2% , TAN Cheng Bock (independent) 34.9%, TAN Jee Say (independent) 25%, TAN Kin Lian (independent) 4.9%

description:

• unicameral Parliament (104 seats; 93 members directly elected by popular vote, up to 9 nominated by a parliamentary selection committee and appointed by the president, and up to 12 non-constituency members from opposition parties to ensure political diversity; members serve 5-year terms);
• note - the number of nominated members will increase to 12 for the 2020 election for the first time (2020)

elections:

last held on 10 July 2020 (next must be held by 2025)

election results:

• percent of vote by party - PAP 61.2%, WP 11.2%, PSP 10.2%;
• seats by party - PAP 83, WP 10, PSP 2;
• composition - men 79, women 25, percent of women 24%

highest courts:

• Supreme Court (although the number of judges varies - as of April 2019, the court totaled 20 judges, 7 judicial commissioners, 4 judges of appeal, and 16 international judges);
• the court is organized into an upper tier Appeal Court and a lower tier High Court

judge selection and term of office:

• judges appointed by the president from candidates recommended by the prime minister after consultation with the chief justice;
• judges usually serve until retirement at age 65, but terms can be extended

subordinate courts:

• district, magistrates', juvenile, family, community, and coroners' courts;
• small claims tribunals;
• employment claims tribunals

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 Rafik MANSOUR (since July 2019)

telephone:

[65] 6476-9100

embassy:

27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508

mailing address:

FPO AP 96507-0001

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

Fitch rating:

AAA (2003)

Moody's rating:

Aaa (2002)

Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1995)

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

agriculture:

0.7%

industry:

25.6%

services:

73.7% (2017)

note: excludes non-residents

lowest 10%:

1.6%

highest 10%:

27.5% (2017)

• state controls broadcast media;
• 6 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 services available;
• a total of 19 domestic radio stations broadcasting, with MediaCorp operating 11, Singapore Press Holdings, also government-linked, another 5, 2 controlled by the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association and one owned by BBC Radio;
• Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations are available as is BBC;
• a number of Internet service radio stations are also available (2019)

number of registered air carriers:

4 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 230

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:

40,401,515 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:

5,194,900,000 mt-km (2018)

total:

3,500 km (2017)

paved:

3,500 km (includes 164 km of expressways) (2017)

major seaport(s):

Singapore

container port(s) (TEUs):

Singapore (33,666,000) (2017)

LNG terminal(s) (import):

Singapore

Singapore Armed Forces:

• Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force (includes air defense);
• Police Coast Guard (subordinate to the Singapore Police Force) (2019)

• the SAF has a diverse and largely modern mix of domestically-produced and imported weapons;
• Singapore has the most developed arms industry in Southeast Asia and is also the largest importer of weapons;
• the chief suppliers since 2010 are France, Germany, Spain, and the US (2019 est.)

• 18-21 years of age for male compulsory military service;
• 16 1/2 years of age for voluntary enlistment (with parental consent);
• 2-year conscript service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers) (2019)

• 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;
• the Singapore Straits saw three attacks against commercial vessels in 2018, a slight decrease from the four attacks in 2017 (2018)

• disputes with Malaysia over territorial waters, airspace, the price of fresh water delivered to Singapore from Malaysia, 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