Singapore

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

9 (2000)

Internet country code

.sg

Internet users

1.74 million (2000)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 16, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

2.6 million (2000)

Telephone system

general assessment: major consideration given to serving business interests; excellent international service domestic: excellent domestic facilities international: submarine cables to Malaysia (Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.928 million (November 2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.333 million (November 2000)

Television broadcast stations

6 (2000)

Televisions

1.33 million (1997)

Agriculture - products

rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs, fish, ornamental fish

Budget

revenues: $18.1 billion expenditures: $17.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $9.5 billion (FY99/00 est.)

Currency

Singapore dollar (SGD)

Currency code

SGD

Debt - external

$9.7 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Singapore is blessed with a highly developed and successful free-market economy, a remarkably open and corruption-free business environment, stable prices, and the fifth highest per capita GDP in the world. Exports, particularly in electronics and chemicals, and services are the main drivers of the economy. Mainly because of robust exports, especially electronic goods, the economy grew 10.1% in 2000. Forecasters, however, are projecting only 4%-6% growth in 2001 largely because of weaker global demand, especially in the US. The government promotes high levels of savings and investment through a mandatory savings scheme and spends heavily in education and technology. It also owns government-linked companies (GLCs) - particularly in manufacturing - that operate as commercial entities. As Singapore looks to a future increasingly marked by globalization, the country is positioning itself as the region's financial and high-tech hub.

Electricity - consumption

25.464 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

27.381 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates

Singapore dollars per US dollar - 1.7365 (January 2001), 1.7240 (2000), 1.6950 (1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996)

Exports

$137 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment (including electronics), chemicals, mineral fuels

Exports - partners

US 19%, Malaysia 17%, Hong Kong 8%, Japan 7%, Taiwan 5%, Thailand 4%, UK 4%, Netherlands 3.8%, China 3%, South Korea 3%, Germany 3% (1999)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $109.8 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NEGL% industry: 30% services: 70%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $26,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

10.1% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$127 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

US 17%, Japan 17%, Malaysia 16%, Thailand 5%, China 5%, Taiwan 4%, Germany 3%, Saudi Arabia 3% (1999)

Industrial production growth rate

14% (2000 est.)

Industries

electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade, biotechnology

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2000)

Labor force

2.1 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

financial, business, and other services 35%, manufacturing 21%, construction 13%, transportation and communication 9%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

3% (2000 est.)

Area

total: 647.5 sq km land: 637.5 sq km water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - Northeastern monsoon from December to March and Southwestern monsoon from June to September; inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms

Coastline

193 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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

Geographic coordinates

1 22 N, 103 48 E

Geography - note

focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 5% other: 87% (1993 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

fish, deepwater ports

Terrain

lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve

Administrative divisions

none

Capital

Singapore

Constitution

3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution)

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Singapore conventional short form: Singapore

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508 mailing address: PSC Box 470, FPO AP 96534-0001 telephone: [65] 476-9100

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100

Executive branch

chief of state: President Sellapan Rama (S. R.) NATHAN (since 1 September 1999) head of government: Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990) and Deputy Prime Ministers LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990) and Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 August 1995) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 28 August 1999 (next to be held NA August 2005); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Sellapan Rama (S. R.) NATHAN elected president unopposed

FAX

[1] (202) 537-0876 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, San Francisco consulate(s): New York

FAX

[65] 476-9340

Flag description

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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)

International organization participation

APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, Australia Group (observer), BIS, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNTAET, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals

Legal system

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 2 January 1997 (next to be held by 26 August 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 65% (in contested constituencies), other 35%; seats by party - PAP 81, WP 1, SPP 1; note - subsequent to the election, there was a change in the distribution of seats, the new distribution is as follows: PAP 80, WP 1, SPP 1, vacant 1

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 August (1965)

Political parties and leaders

People's Action Party or PAP [GOH Chok Tong, secretary general] - the governing party; Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Singapore People's Party or SPP [CHIAM See Tong]; Workers' Party or WP [J. B. JEYARETNAM]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal and compulsory

Background

Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, Singapore joined Malaysia in 1963, but withdrew two years later and became independent. It subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries, with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest) and with per capita GDP above that of the leading nations of Western Europe.

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$5 billion (FY00/01 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

4.5% (FY00/01 est.)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,316,815 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 959,636 (2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.89% (male 397,124; female 372,058) 15-64 years: 75.16% (male 1,575,381; female 1,656,838) 65 years and over: 6.95% (male 130,815; female 168,203) (2001 est.)

Birth rate

12.8 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate

4.24 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups

Chinese 76.7%, Malay 14%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.19% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

210 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

4,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

3.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages

Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil (official), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.17 years male: 77.22 years female: 83.35 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.5% male: 97% female: 89.8% (1999)

Nationality

noun: Singaporean(s) adjective: Singapore

Net migration rate

26.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population

4,300,419 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate

3.5% (2001 est.)

Religions

Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.22 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Disputes - international

Pedra Branca Island (Pulau Batu Putih) disputed with Malaysia

Illicit drugs

as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, to use as a transit point for Golden Triangle heroin and as a venue for money laundering

Airports

9 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Heliports

1 (2000 est.)

Highways

total: 3,150 km paved: 3,066 km (including 150 km of expressways) unpaved: 84 km (2000)

Merchant marine

total: 879 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,849,168 GRT/33,215,317 DWT ships by type: bulk 134, cargo 111, chemical tanker 63, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 6, container 167, liquefied gas 28, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 295, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 33 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 1, Bermuda 12, Belgium 6, China 9, Denmark 29, Germany 8, Greece 1, Hong Kong 20, Indonesia 9, Japan 32, South Korea 3, Netherlands 2, Norway 9, Russia 1, Sweden 22, Thailand 22, Taiwan 17, UK 3, US 10 (2000 est.)

Ports and harbors

Singapore

Railways

total: 38.6 km narrow gauge: 38.6 km 1.000-m gauge note: there is a 83 km mass transit system with 48 stations

Waterways

none