SGD Rates Now (2023-06-05 02:23 (GMT -4:00))

Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

1 22 N, 103 48 E

Southeast Asia

total: 719.2 sq km

land: 709.2 sq km

water: 10 sq km

country comparison to the world: 192

slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

0 km

193 km

territorial sea: 3 nm

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

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

lowlying, gently undulating central plateau

mean elevation: NA

elevation extremes: lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m

highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m

fish, deepwater ports

agricultural land: 1%

arable land 0.9%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 0%

forest: 3.3%

other: 95.7% (2011 est.)

0 sq km (2012)

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

flash floods

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

5,888,926 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 113

noun: Singaporean(s)

adjective: Singapore

Chinese 74.3%, Malay 13.4%, Indian 9%, other 3.2%

note: individuals self-identify; the population is divided into four categories: Chinese, Malay (includes Malays and Indonesians), Indian (includes Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, or Sri Lankan), and other ethnic groups (includes Eurasians, Caucasians, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese (2017 est.)

English (official) 36.9%, Mandarin (official) 34.9%, other Chinese dialects (includes Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew) 12.2%, Malay (official) 10.7%, Tamil (official) 3.3%, other 2%

note:: data represent language most frequently spoken at home (2015 est.)

Buddhist 33.2%, Christian 18.8%, Muslim 14%, Taoist 10%, Hindu 5%, other 0.6%, none 18.5% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio: 37.3

youth dependency ratio: 21.3

elderly dependency ratio: 16

potential support ratio: 6.2 (2015 est.)

total: 34.6 years

male: 34.5 years

female: 34.7 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 84

1.82% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

8.6 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 214

3.5 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 217

13.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

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

urban population: 100% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

SINGAPORE (capital) 5.619 million (2015)

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 (2017 est.)

30.5 years

median age (2015 est.)

10 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 148

total: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 2.6 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 222

total population: 85.2 years

male: 82.6 years

female: 88.1 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

0.83 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 224

4.9% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 144

2.28 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

2.4 beds/1,000 population (2015)

improved:

urban: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

NA

NA

NA

note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

6.1% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 170

2.9% of GDP (2013)

country comparison to the world: 140

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97%

male: 98.7%

female: 98.2% (2016 est.)

total: 13 years

male: 13 years

female: 13 years (2009)

total: 6.6%

male: 5.6%

female: 7.7% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 142

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

parliamentary republic

name: Singapore

geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E

time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

none

9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

National Day, 9 August (1965)

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 by the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles on fundamental liberties, the president, or constitutional amendment procedures also requires at least two-thirds majority vote in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2016 (2017)

English common law

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

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

21 years of age; universal and compulsory

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); 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 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 (101 seats; 89 members directly elected by popular vote, up to 9 nominated by a parliamentary selection committee and appointed by the president, and up to 9 but currently 3 non-constituency members from opposition parties to ensure political diversity; members serve 5-year terms)

elections: last held on 11 September 2015 (next to be held in 2020)

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

highest court(s): Supreme Court (although the number varies, as of Feb 2018 it had a total of 21 judges, 7 judicial commissioners, 4 senior judges and 15 international judges; the court is organized into an upper tier Appeal Court and a lower tier High Court)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president from candidates recommended by the prime minister after consultation with the chief justice; lower court judges appointed by the president from candidates recommended by the chief justice; judges usually serve until retirment at age 65 but can be extended; other appointments are for a fixed term

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

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 [Pritam SINGH]

none

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, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

lion, merlion (mythical half lion-half fish creature), orchid; national colors: red, white

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

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

47.48 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

46.6 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 54

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 197

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 201

13.28 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

98.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 36

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 182

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 203

1.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 124

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 194

11,460 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 59

831,300 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 13

0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 193

955,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 22

1.34 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 17

1.718 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

2.153 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

0 cu m (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 194

19.73 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 43

250 million cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 47

12.37 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 24

0 cu m (1 January 2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 195

205 million Mt (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

total subscriptions: 1,998,400

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 59

total: 8,460,700

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 144 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 96

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; 7 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 18 domestic radio stations broadcasting, with MediaCorp operating 11, Singapore Press Holdings, also government-linked, another 5, and another 2 controlled by the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association; Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations are available as is BBC; a number of Internet service radio stations are also available

.sg

total: 4,683,200

percent of population: 81.0% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 81

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)

9V (2016)

9 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 158

total: 9

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2017)

domestic gas 3,220 km (2014); cross-border pipelines 1,122 km (2017); refined products 8 km (2013)

total: 3,496 km

paved: 3,496 km (includes 164 km of expressways) (2014)

country comparison to the world: 163

total: 3,558

by type: bulk carrier 592, container ship 504, general cargo 134, oil tanker 722, other 1,606 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 6

major seaport(s): Singapore

container port(s) (TEUs): Singapore (30,922,000) (2015)

LNG terminal(s) (import): Singapore

3.35% of GDP (2016)

3.16% of GDP (2015)

3.11% of GDP (2014)

3.09% of GDP (2013)

3.17% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 24

Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense) (2013)

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 each country’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; in 2017, Malaysia filed a challenge to the 2008 ruling and applied for ownership of South Ledge; 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