Singapore

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 1.57 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

state-controlled broadcast media; 6 domestic TV stations operated by state-owned MediaCorp; broadcasts from Malaysian and Indonesian stations available; satellite dishes banned; multi-channel cable TV services available; 19 domestic radio stations, including 11 for MediaCorp, 5 for state-linked Singapore Press Holdings, 2 for Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association, and 1 for BBC Radio; Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations available (2019)

Internet country code

.sg

Internet users

percent of population: 94% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1.912 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 9.96 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 171 (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

chicken, eggs, vegetables, pork, duck, spinach, lettuce, pork offal, cabbages, pork fat (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

revenues: $80.836 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $73.144 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Current account balance

$96.015 billion (2024 est.) $89.403 billion (2023 est.) $93.771 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

high-income, service-based economy; global financial hub; business-friendly policies and open to investment and trade; inflation easing but persistent in services; public investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure; strong human capital development challenged by aging population

Exchange rates

Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar - 1.336 (2024 est.) 1.343 (2023 est.) 1.379 (2022 est.) 1.343 (2021 est.) 1.38 (2020 est.)

Exports

$978.597 billion (2024 est.) $917.683 billion (2023 est.) $947.355 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

integrated circuits, refined petroleum, machinery, vaccines, gold (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Hong Kong 13%, China 11%, USA 10%, Malaysia 9%, S. Korea 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$547.387 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 31.5% (2024 est.) government consumption: 10.6% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.9% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0.3% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 178.8% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -143.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0% (2024 est.) industry: 21.4% (2024 est.) services: 73% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

45.8 (2016)

Imports

$786.02 billion (2024 est.) $728.5 billion (2023 est.) $744.364 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, gold, gas turbines (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 15%, Malaysia 11%, Taiwan 11%, USA 10%, S. Korea 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

4.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, biomedical products, scientific instruments, telecommunication equipment, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, entrepot trade

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2024 est.) 4.8% (2023 est.) 6.1% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

3.722 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Public debt

175.6% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$800.304 billion (2024 est.) $766.662 billion (2023 est.) $752.948 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

4.4% (2024 est.) 1.8% (2023 est.) 4.1% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$132,600 (2024 est.) $129,600 (2023 est.) $133,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

0% of GDP (2023 est.) 0% of GDP (2022 est.) 0% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$383.946 billion (2024 est.) $359.835 billion (2023 est.) $296.629 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues

13.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

3.2% (2024 est.) 3.5% (2023 est.) 3.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 7.8% (2024 est.) male: 5.6% (2024 est.) female: 10.8% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Coal

consumption: 1.153 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 97 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 1.326 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 13.134 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 56.672 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 169.447 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 94.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

643.259 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption: 13.134 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 399.452 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 13.973 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 1.514 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

238.962 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.338 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 210.859 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 25.765 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate

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

Environmental issues

water pollution; industrial pollution; limited freshwater resources; waste disposal problems from limited land availability; air pollution; deforestation; seasonal smoke/haze from forest fires in Indonesia

International environmental agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land: 0.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 22% (2023 est.) other: 77.1% (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

10 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

600 million cubic meters (2022)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 198.207 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 162.624 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2022)

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.87 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 51.7% (2022 est.)

Area

total : 719 sq km land: 709.2 sq km water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Climate

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

Coastline

193 km

Elevation

highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m

Geographic coordinates

1 22 N, 103 48 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 0.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 22% (2023 est.) other: 77.1% (2023 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice

Natural hazards

flash floods

Natural resources

fish, deepwater ports

Population distribution

most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas

Terrain

lowlying, gently undulating central plateau

Administrative divisions

no first-order administrative divisions; five community development councils: Central Singapore Development Council, North East Development Council, North West Development Council, South East Development Council, South West Development Council (2019)

Capital

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 pur (city); according to Malayan folklore, an Indian prince visited Singapore in the 7th century and mistook the first animal he saw for a lion, which is not native to the country

Citizenship

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

Constitution

history: several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1965 amendment process: 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

Country name

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 pur (city); according to Malayan folklore, an Indian prince visited Singapore in the 7th century and mistook the first animal he saw for a lion, which is not native to the country

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Anjani K. SINHA (since 17 November 2025) embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508 mailing address: 4280 Singapore Place, Washington DC 20521-4280 telephone: [65] 6476-9100 FAX: [65] 6476-9340 email address and website: singaporeusembassy@state.gov https://sg.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador LUI Tuck Yew (since 30 June 2023) chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100 FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876 email address and website: singemb_was@mfa.sg https://www.mfa.gov.sg/washington/ consulate(s) general: San Francisco consulate(s): New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President THARMAN Shanmugaratnam (since 14 September 2023) head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence WONG (since 15 May 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; responsible to Parliament election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits); following legislative elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime ministers also appointed by the president most recent election date: 1 September 2023 election results: 2023: THARMAN Shanmugaratnam elected president; percent of vote - THARMAN Shanmugaratnam (independent) 70.4%, NG Kok Song (independent) 15.7%, TAN Kin Lian (independent) 13.9% 2017 : HALIMAH Yacob declared president on 13 September 2017, being the only eligible candidate expected date of next election: 2029

Flag

description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; a vertical white crescent is on the left side of the red band, with a circle of five five-pointed white stars to the right of the crescent meaning: red stands for brotherhood and equality, and white for purity and virtue; the waxing crescent moon symbolizes a young nation on the ascendancy; the stars represent the national ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ADB, AOSIS, APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNOOSA, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (number of judges varies but includes judicial commissioners, judges of appeal, and 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

Legal system

English common law

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 108 (97 directly elected; 9 appointed) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 5/3/2025 parties elected and seats per party: People's Action Party (PAP) (87); Workers' Party (WPS) (12) percentage of women in chamber: 32.3% expected date of next election: May 2030

National anthem(s)

title: "Majulah Singapura" (Onward, Singapore) lyrics/music: Zubir SAID history: adopted 1959; the anthem is sung only in Malay; first four lines of the melody are used as a presidential salute

National color(s)

red, white

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Singapore Botanic Gardens

National holiday

National Day, 9 August (1965)

National symbol(s)

lion, merlion (mythical half-lion, half-fish creature), orchid

Political parties

People's Action Party or PAP Workers' Party or WPS there are 13 additional active political parties in Singapore note: the PAP has won every general election since the end of the British colonial era in 1959

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal and compulsory

Background

A Malay trading port known as Temasek existed on the island of Singapore by the 14th century. The settlement changed hands several times in the ensuing centuries and was eventually burned in the 17th century, falling into obscurity. In 1819, the British founded modern Singapore as a trading colony on the same site and granted it full internal self-government for all matters except defense and foreign affairs in 1959. Singapore 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 and per capita GDP among the highest globally. The People s Action Party has won every general election in Singapore since the end of the British colonial era, aided by its success in delivering consistent economic growth, as well as the city-state's fragmented opposition and electoral procedures that strongly favor the ruling party.

Military - note

the SAF s primary responsibility is external defense, particularly maritime security, but it also trains for certain domestic security operations, including joint deterrence patrols with police in instances of heightened terrorism alerts; the Army includes a people s defense force, which is a divisional headquarters responsible for homeland security and counterterrorism; the SAF regularly participates in bilateral and multilateral training exercises Singapore is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; Singapore also has close security ties with the US, including granting the US military access, basing, and overflight privileges the SAF's roots go back to 1854 when the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps was formed under colonial rule; the first battalion of regular soldiers, the First Singapore Infantry Regiment, was organized in 1957; the modern SAF was established in 1965 (2025)

Military and security forces

Singapore Armed Forces (SAF; aka Singapore Defense Force): Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force (includes air defense), Digital and Intelligence Service Ministry of Home Affairs: Singapore Police Force (SPF; includes Police Coast Guard and the Gurkha Contingent) (2025) note 1: the Gurkha Contingent of the Singapore Police Force (GCSPF) is a paramilitary unit for riot control and acts as a rapid reaction force note 2: the Navy includes the multi-agency standing Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF), which assists the Police Coast Guard in conducting maritime security operations

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 55,000 active-duty Armed Forces (40,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force) (2025) note: the Army is comprised mostly of conscripts and reservists with a small core of professional soldiers, while the Air Force and Navy are staffed mainly by professional personnel

Military deployments

maintains permanent training detachments of military personnel in Australia, France, and the US (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the SAF has a diverse and modern mix of domestically produced and imported Western weapons systems from such suppliers as France, Germany, and the US; Singapore has a small but sophisticated defense industry, which produces armaments such as armored vehicles and naval warships (2025)

Military expenditures

3% of GDP (2024 est.) 3% of GDP (2023 est.) 3% of GDP (2022 est.) 3% of GDP (2021 est.) 3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary enlistment for men and women (16.5 for early enlistment program with parental consent); 18-21 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 24-month conscript service obligation (2026) note 1: all male Singaporean citizens and permanent residents, unless exempted, are required to enter National Service (NS) upon attaining the age of 18; most NS conscripts serve in the Armed Forces, but some go into the Police Force or Civil Defense Force; conscripts comprise over half of the defense establishment note 2: the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) also has a uniformed volunteer auxiliary branch known as the Volunteer Corps (SAFVC); the SAFVC allows citizens and residents not subject to the National Service obligation, including Singaporean women, first generation permanent residents, and naturalized citizens, to contribute towards Singapore's defense; the volunteers must be 18-45 and physically fit note 3: members of the Gurkha Contingent (GC) of the Singapore Police Force are mostly recruited from a small number of hill tribes in Nepal; the GC was formed in 1949 originally from selected ex-British Army Gurkhas

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.6% (male 455,536/female 424,969) 15-64 years: 71.1% (male 2,157,441/female 2,126,799) 65 years and over: 14.3% (2024 est.) (male 400,653/female 463,061)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 1.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

8.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 0% (2023) women married by age 18: 0.1% (2023)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

43.8% (2020 est.)

Death rate

4.38 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 41.6 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 20.5 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 21.2 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 4.7 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

2.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 12% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

Chinese 74.2%, Malay 13.7%, Indian 8.9%, other 3.2% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by self-identification; the population is divided into four categories: Chinese, Malay (includes indigenous Malays and Indonesians), Indian (includes Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, or Sri Lankan), and other ethnic groups (includes Eurasians, Caucasians, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese)

Gross reproduction rate

0.58 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

5.6% of GDP (2021) 18.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 1.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official) 48.3%, Mandarin (official) 29.9%, other Chinese dialects (includes Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, Hakka) 8.7%, Malay (official) 9.2%, Tamil (official) 2.5%, other 1.4% (2020 est.) major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) 世界概況 不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Mandarin) note: data represent language most frequently spoken at home

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 86.7 years (2024 est.) male: 84 years female: 89.5 years

Literacy

total population: 97.7% (2021 est.) male: 98.9% (2021 est.) female: 96.4% (2021 est.)

Major urban areas - population

6.081 million SINGAPORE (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 39.8 years (2025 est.) male: 38 years female: 40.6 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

30.5 years (2015 est.) note: data represents median age

Nationality

noun: Singaporean(s) adjective: Singapore

Net migration rate

4.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.1% (2016)

Physician density

2.83 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

total: 6,080,545 (2025 est.) male: 3,040,862 female: 3,039,683

Population distribution

most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas

Population growth rate

0.85% (2025 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 31.1%, Christian 18.9%, Muslim 15.6%, Taoist 8.8%, Hindu 5%, other 0.6%, none 20% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years (2022 est.) male: 17 years (2022 est.) female: 17 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 16.2% (2025 est.) male: 27.6% (2025 est.) female: 3.8% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.18 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 1,109 (2024 est.)

Airports

9 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9V

Heliports

1 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 3,202 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 591, container ship 604, general cargo 107, oil tanker 600, other 1,300

Ports

total ports: 5 (2024) large: 2 medium: 1 small: 1 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Jurong Island, Keppel - (East Singapore), Pulau Bukom, Pulau Sebarok