SGD to HKD Live Rate

Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

1 22 N, 103 48 E

22 15 N, 114 10 E

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia

total: 719.2 sq km

land: 709.2 sq km

water: 10 sq km

country comparison to the world: 192

total: 1,108 sq km

land: 1,073 sq km

water: 35 sq km

country comparison to the world: 184

slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

six times the size of Washington, DC

0 km

total: 33 km

regional border(s) (1): China 33 km

193 km

733 km

territorial sea: 3 nm

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

territorial sea: 12 nm

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

subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

lowlying, gently undulating central plateau

hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

mean elevation: NA

elevation extremes: lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m

highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m

mean elevation: NA

elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

fish, deepwater ports

outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

agricultural land: 1%

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

forest: 3.3%

other: 95.7% (2011 est.)

agricultural land: 5%

arable land 3.2%; permanent crops 0.9%; permanent pasture 0.9%

forest: 0%

other: 95% (2011 est.)

0 sq km (2012)

10 sq km (2012)

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

population fairly evenly distributed

flash floods

occasional typhoons

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

air and water pollution from rapid urbanization

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

party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)

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

consists of a mainland area (the New Territories) and more than 200 islands

5,888,926 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 113

7,191,503 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 100

noun: Singaporean(s)

adjective: Singapore

noun: Chinese/Hong Konger

adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong

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.)

Chinese 92%, Filipino 2.5%, Indonesian 2.1%, other 3.4% (2016 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.)

Cantonese (official) 88.9%, English (official) 4.3%, Mandarin (official) 1.9%, other Chinese dialects 3.1%, other 1.9% (2016 est.)

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

Buddhist or Taoist 27.9%, Protestant 6.7%, Roman Catholic 5.3%, Muslim 4.2%, Hindu 1.4%, Sikh 0.2%, other or none 54.3%

note: many people practice Confucianism, regardless of their religion or not having a religious affiliation (2016 est.)

total dependency ratio: 37.3

youth dependency ratio: 21.3

elderly dependency ratio: 16

potential support ratio: 6.2 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio: 35.9

youth dependency ratio: 15.2

elderly dependency ratio: 20.7

potential support ratio: 4.8 (2015 est.)

total: 34.6 years

male: 34.5 years

female: 34.7 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 84

total: 44.4 years

male: 43.5 years

female: 45 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

1.82% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

0.32% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 166

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

country comparison to the world: 214

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

country comparison to the world: 208

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

country comparison to the world: 217

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

country comparison to the world: 117

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

country comparison to the world: 5

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

country comparison to the world: 51

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

population fairly evenly distributed

urban population: 100% of total population (2017)

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

urban population: 100% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 0.64% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

SINGAPORE (capital) 5.619 million (2015)

Hong Kong 7.26 million (2014)

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.)

at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.74 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female

total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

30.5 years

median age (2015 est.)

29.8 years (2008 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: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 3 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 216

total population: 85.2 years

male: 82.6 years

female: 88.1 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

total population: 83 years

male: 80.4 years

female: 85.9 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 7

0.83 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 224

1.19 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 221

4.9% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 144

2.28 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

1.91 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

2.4 beds/1,000 population (2015)

5.33 beds/1,000 population (2016)

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

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

3.3% of GDP (2017)

country comparison to the world: 124

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: 16 years

male: 16 years

female: 16 years (2014)

total: 6.6%

male: 5.6%

female: 7.7% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 142

total: 9.9%

male: 10.9%

female: 8.5% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 129

74.8% (2012)

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

conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

conventional short form: Hong Kong

local long form: Heung Kong Takpit Hangching Ku (Eitel/Dyer-Ball); Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu (Hanyu Pinyin)

local short form: Heung Kong (Eitel/Dyer-Ball); Xianggang (Hanyu Pinyin)

abbreviation: HK

etymology: probably an imprecise phonetic rendering of the Cantonese name meaning "fragrant harbor"

parliamentary republic

presidential limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

name: Singapore

geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E

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

none

none (special administrative region of the People's Republic of China)

9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

none (special administrative region of China)

National Day, 9 August (1965)

National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July (1997) is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

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)

history: several previous (governance documents while under British authority); latest drafted April 1988 to February 1989, approved March 1990, effective 1 July 1997 (Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as the constitution); note - since 1990, China's National People's Congress has interpreted specific articles of the Basic Law

amendments: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the People’s Republic of China State Council, and the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong; submittal of proposals to the NPC requires two-thirds majority vote by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, approval by two-thirds of Hong Kong’s deputies to the NPC, and approval by the Hong Kong chief executive; final passage requires approval by the NPC

English common law

mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and Chinese customary law (in matters of family and land tenure)

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

see China

21 years of age; universal and compulsory

18 years of age in direct elections for half of the Legislative Council seats and all of the seats in 18 district councils; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past 7 years; note - in indirect elections, suffrage is limited to about 220,000 members of functional constituencies for the other half of the legislature and a 1,200-member election committee for the chief executive drawn from broad sectoral groupings, central government bodies, municipal organizations, and elected Hong Kong officials

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%

chief of state: President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)

head of government: Chief Executive Carrie LAM (since 1 July 2017)

cabinet: Executive Council or ExCo appointed by the chief executive

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 5-17 March 2013 (next to be held in March 2018); chief executive indirectly elected by the Election Committee and appointed by the PRC Government for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 March 2017 (next to be held in 2022)

election results: Carrie LAM elected chief executive; Election Committee vote - Carrie LAM 777, John TSANG 365, WOO Kwok-hing 21, invalid 23

note: the Legislative Council voted in June 2010 to expand the Election Committee to 1,200 members

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

description: unicameral Legislative Council or LegCo (70 seats; 35 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; 30 members indirectly elected by the approximately 220,000 members of various functional constituencies based on a variety of methods; five at large “super-seat” members directly elected by all of Hong Kong’s eligible voters who do not participate in a functional constituency; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 4 September 2016; (next to be held in September 2020); note - by-election to be held on 11 March 2018 to fill 4 seats left vacant after 4 legislators were removed from office

election results: percent of vote by block - pro-democracy 36.0%; pro-Beijing 40.2%, localist 19.0%, other 4.8%; seats by block/party - pro-Beijing 40 (DAB 12, BPA 7, FTU 5, Liberal Party 4, NPP 3, other 9); pro-democracy 23 (Democratic Party 7, Civic Party 6, PP-LSD 2, Professional Commons 2, Labor 1, NWSC 1, PTU 1, other democrats 3), localists 6 (ALLin HK 2, CP-PPI-HKRO 1, Demosisto 1, Democracy Groundwork 1, other localist 1), non-aligned independent 1; note - 2 localists were barred from taking office in November 2016 and 4 pro-democracy legislators were removed in July 2017

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

highest court(s): Court of Final Appeal (consists of the chief justice, 3 permanent judges, and 20 non-permanent judges); note - a sitting bench consists of the chief justice and 3 permanent judges and 1 non-permanent judge

judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the Hong Kong Chief Executive upon the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission, an independent body consisting of the Secretary for Justice, other judges, and judicial and legal professionals; permanent judges appointed until normal retirement at age 65, but can be extended; non-permanent judges appointed for renewable 3-year terms without age limit

subordinate courts: High Court (consists of the Court of Appeal and Court of First Instance); District Courts (includes Family and Land Courts); magistrates' courts; specialized 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]

parties:

ALLinHK (alliance of 6 localist groups)

Business and Professional Alliance or BPA [LO Wai-kwok]

Civic Party [Alvin YEUNG]

Civic Passion or CP [CHENG Chung-tai] (part of Civic Passion-Proletariat Political Institute-Hong Kong Resurgence Order alliance or CP-PPI-HKRO that dissolved after the 2016 election)

Democracy Groundwork [LAU Siu-lai]

Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [Starry LEE Wai-king]

Democratic Party [WU Chi-wai]

Demosisto [Nathan LAW]

Federation of Trade Unions or FTU [Stanley NG Chau-pei]

Labor Party [Steven Kwok Wing-kin]

League of Social Democrats or LSD [Avery NG Man-yuen]

Liberal Party [Felix CHUNG Kwok-pan]

Neighborhood and Workers Service Center or NWSC [LEUNG Yui-chung]

New People's Party or NPP [Regina IP Lau Su-yee]

People Power or PP [Raymond CHAN]

Youngspiration [Sixtus "Baggio" LEUNG Chung-hang]

others:

Professional Commons (think tank) [Charles Peter MOK]

Professional Teachers Union or PTU

note: political blocks include: pro-democracy - Civic Party, Democratic Party, Labor Party, LSD, NWSC, PP, Professional Commons, PTU; pro-Beijing - DAB, FTU, Liberal Party, NPP, BPA; localist - ALLinHK, CP, Democracy Groundwork, Demosisto; there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies

none

Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China)

Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong

Civic Act-up (pro-democracy)

Federation of Hong Kong Industries

Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China [Albert HO] (pro-China)

Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council or HKTUC (pro-democracy)

Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce or HKGCC

Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union or HKPTU [FUNG Wai-wah]

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

ADB, APEC, BIS, FATF, ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITUC (NGOs), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, 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

none (Special Administrative Region of China); Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) carries out normal liaison activities and communication with the US Government and other US entities

commissioner: Clement C.M. LEUNG

office: 1520 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] 202 331-8947

FAX: [1] 202 331-8958

HKETO offices: New York, San Francisco

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

chief of mission: Consul General Kurt W. TONG (since 27 August 2016); note - also accredited to Macau

consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong

mailing address: Unit 8000, Box 1, DPO AP 96521-0006

telephone: [852] 2523-9011

FAX: [852] 2845-1598

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

red with a stylized, white, five-petal Bauhinia flower in the center; each petal contains a small, red, five-pointed star in its middle; the red color is the same as that on the Chinese flag and represents the motherland; the fragrant Bauhinia - developed in Hong Kong the late 19th century - has come to symbolize the region; the five stars echo those on the flag of China

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

orchid tree flower; 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

note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China)

special administrative region of the People's Republic of China

Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-market economy. It enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP higher than that of most developed countries. Unemployment is very low. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly of electronics, petroleum products, chemicals, medical and optical devices, pharmaceuticals, and on Singapore’s vibrant transportation, business, and financial services sectors.

The economy contracted 0.6% in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis, but has continued to grow since 2010. Growth from 2012-2017 was slower than during the previous decade, a result of slowing structural growth - as Singapore reached high-income levels - and soft global demand for exports. Growth recovered to 3.6% in 2017 with a strengthening global economy.

The government is attempting to restructure Singapore’s economy to reduce its dependence on foreign labor, raise productivity growth, and increase wages amid slowing labor force growth and an aging population. Singapore has attracted major investments in advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology production and will continue efforts to strengthen its position as Southeast Asia's leading financial and technology hub. Singapore is a signatory of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and a party to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations with nine other ASEAN members plus Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. In 2015, Singapore formed, with the other ASEAN members, the ASEAN Economic Community.

Hong Kong has a free market economy, highly dependent on international trade and finance - the value of goods and services trade, including the sizable share of reexports, is about four times GDP. Hong Kong has no tariffs on imported goods, and it levies excise duties on only four commodities, whether imported or produced locally: hard alcohol, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil, and methyl alcohol. There are no quotas or dumping laws. Hong Kong continues to link its currency closely to the US dollar, maintaining an arrangement established in 1983.

Excess liquidity, low interest rates and a tight housing supply have caused Hong Kong property prices to rise rapidly. The lower and middle-income segments of the population increasingly find housing unaffordable.

Hong Kong's open economy has left it exposed to the global economic situation. Its continued reliance on foreign trade and investment makes it vulnerable to renewed global financial market volatility or a slowdown in the global economy.

The mainland has long been Hong Kong's largest trading partner, accounting for about half of Hong Kong's total trade by value. Hong Kong's natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. As a result of China's easing of travel restrictions, the number of mainland tourists to the territory surged from 4.5 million in 2001 to 47.3 million in 2014, outnumbering visitors from all other countries combined. After peaking in 2014, overall tourist arrivals dropped 2.5% in 2015 and 4.5% in 2016. The tourism sector rebounded in 2017, with visitor arrivals rising 3.2% to 58.47 million. Travelers from Mainland China totaled 44.45 million, accounting for 76% of the total.

The Hong Kong Government is promoting the Special Administrative Region (SAR) as the preferred business hub for renminbi (RMB) internationalization. Hong Kong residents are allowed to establish RMB-denominated savings accounts, RMB-denominated corporate and Chinese government bonds have been issued in Hong Kong, RMB trade settlement is allowed, and investment schemes such as the Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (RQFII) Program was first launched in Hong Kong. Offshore RMB activities experienced a setback, however, after the People’s Bank of China changed the way it set the central parity rate in August 2015. RMB deposits in Hong Kong fell from 1.0 trillion RMB at the end of 2014 to 559 billion RMB at the end of 2017, while RMB trade settlement handled by banks in Hong Kong also shrank from 6.8 trillion RMB in 2015 to 3.9 trillion RMB in 2017.

Hong Kong has also established itself as the premier stock market for Chinese firms seeking to list abroad. In 2015, mainland Chinese companies constituted about 50% of the firms listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and accounted for about 66% of the exchange's market capitalization.

During the past decade, as Hong Kong's manufacturing industry moved to the mainland, its service industry has grown rapidly. In 2014, Hong Kong and China signed a new agreement on achieving basic liberalization of trade in services in Guangdong Province under the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), adopted in 2003 to forge closer ties between Hong Kong and the mainland. The new measures, which took effect in March 2015, cover a negative list and a most-favored treatment provision. On the basis of the Guangdong Agreement, the Agreement on Trade in Services signed in November 2015 further enhanced liberalization, including extending the implementation of the majority of Guangdong pilot liberalization measures to the whole Mainland, reducing the restrictive measures in the negative list, and adding measures in the positive lists for cross-border services as well as cultural and telecommunications services. In June 2017, the Investment Agreement and the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation (Ecotech Agreement) were signed under the framework of CEPA.

Hong Kong’s economic integration with the mainland continues to be most evident in the banking and finance sector. Initiatives like the Hong Kong-Shanghai Stock Connect, the Hong Kong- Shenzhen Stock Connect the Mutual Recognition of Funds, and the Bond Connect scheme are all important steps towards opening up the Mainland’s capital markets and have reinforced Hong Kong’s role as China’s leading offshore RMB market. Additional connect schemes such as ETF Connect (for exchange-traded fund products) are also under exploration by Hong Kong authorities. In 2017, Chief Executive Carrie LAM announced plans to increase government spending on research and development, education, and technological innovation with the aim of spurring continued economic growth through greater sector diversification.

$513.7 billion (2017 est.)

$501.1 billion (2016 est.)

$491.3 billion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 41

$453 billion (2017 est.)

$437.5 billion (2016 est.)

$428.8 billion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 44

$305.8 billion (2017 est.)

$334.1 billion (2017 est.)

2.5% (2017 est.)

2% (2016 est.)

1.9% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 134

3.5% (2017 est.)

2% (2016 est.)

2.4% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 89

$90,500 (2017 est.)

$89,400 (2016 est.)

$88,800 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 7

$61,000 (2017 est.)

$59,400 (2016 est.)

$58,700 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 18

45% of GDP (2017 est.)

44.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

44.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

24.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

26.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

24.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 52

household consumption: 34.7%

government consumption: 11.4%

investment in fixed capital: 23.5%

investment in inventories: 1.9%

exports of goods and services: 179.2%

imports of goods and services: -150.6% (2017 est.)

household consumption: 66.6%

government consumption: 10%

investment in fixed capital: 22.3%

investment in inventories: 0.7%

exports of goods and services: 191.9%

imports of goods and services: -191.3% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 0%

industry: 26%

services: 74% (2016 est.)

agriculture: 0.1%

industry: 7.2%

services: 92.7% (2017 est.)

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

fresh vegetables and fruit; poultry, pork; fish

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

trading and logistics, financial services, professional services, tourism, cultural and creative, clothing and textiles, shipping, electronics, toys, clocks and watches

3% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 101

3% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 103

3.668 million

note: excludes non-residents (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 99

3.965 million (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 95

agriculture: 0.96%

industry: 15.5%

services: 83.5%

note: excludes non-residents (2016 est.)

manufacturing: 3.8%

construction: 2.8%

wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels: 53.3%

financing, insurance, and real estate: 12.5%

transport and communications: 10.1%

community and social services: 17.1%

note: above data exclude public sector (2013 est.)

2.2% (2017 est.)

2.1% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 18

2.6% (2017 est.)

2.7% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 24

NA%

19.6% (2012 est.)

lowest 10%: 1.7%

highest 10%: 26% (2016 est.)

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

45.8 (2016 est.)

46.3 (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 37

53.7 (2011 est.)

53.3 (2007 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

revenues: $53.4 billion

expenditures: $56.49 billion

note: expenditures include both operational and development expenditures (2017 est.)

revenues: $66.19 billion

expenditures: $62.86 billion (2017 est.)

17.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 174

19.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 155

-1% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 60

1% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 15

114.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

112.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: Singapore's public debt consists largely of Singapore Government Securities (SGS) issued to assist the Central Provident Fund (CPF), which administers Singapore's defined contribution pension fund; special issues of SGS are held by the CPF, and are non-tradable; the government has not borrowed to finance deficit expenditures since the 1980s; Singapore has no external public debt

country comparison to the world: 11

43.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

44.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 122

1 April - 31 March

1 April - 31 March

0.9% (2017 est.)

-0.5% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 33

2% (2017 est.)

2.6% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 93

1.17% (2016 est.)

1.21% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 127

0.5% (31 December 2013 est.)

0.5% (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 133

5.4% (31 December 2017 est.)

5.35% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 136

5.1% (31 December 2017 est.)

5% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 144

$134.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$119.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

$310.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$285.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 17

$437.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$388.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

$1.736 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.613 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 10

$455.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$383.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 28

$719.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$676.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 22

$654.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$640 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$752.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 17

$3.185 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

$3.233 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.101 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

$59.79 billion (2017 est.)

$56.5 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

$10.06 billion (2017 est.)

$14.88 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 21

$396.4 billion (2017 est.)

$361.6 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 14

$540 billion (2017 est.)

$502.5 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

machinery and equipment (including electronics and telecommunications), pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, refined petroleum products, foodstuffs and beverages

electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, watches and clocks, toys, "jewelry, goldsmiths' and silversmiths' wares, and other articles of precious or semi-precious materials"; Hong Kong plays an important role as entrep?t to the Chinese mainland; in 2017, 58% of Hong Kong’s re-exports originated in mainland China, and 54% were destined for the Chinese mainland

China 12.8%, Hong Kong 12.6%, Malaysia 10.5%, Indonesia 7.8%, US 6.8%, Japan 4.5%, South Korea 4.4% (2016)

China 54.3%, US 8.5%, India 4.1% (2016)

$309.7 billion (2017 est.)

$278.8 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 16

$561.4 billion (2017 est.)

$520.1 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs, consumer goods

raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is reexported)

China 14.3%, Malaysia 11.4%, US 10.8%, Japan 7%, South Korea 6.1%, Indonesia 4.8% (2016)

China 45.5%, Taiwan 9.8%, South Korea 6.7%, Japan 6.3%, US 4.4% (2016)

$266.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$246.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 12

$398.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$386.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

$482.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$504.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

$494.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$505.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

$1.158 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.096 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 10

$1.901 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.786 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

$725.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$682.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 15

$1.806 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.723 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar -

1.39 (2017 est.)

1.38 (2016 est.)

1.38 (2015 est.)

1.37 (2014 est.)

1.27 (2013 est.)

Hong Kong dollars (HKD) per US dollar -

7.8 (2017 est.)

7.76 (2016 est.)

7.76 (2015 est.)

7.75 (2014 est.)

7.75 (2013 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

47.48 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

35.75 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 61

46.6 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 54

41.74 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 197

1.205 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 201

11.62 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

13.28 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

12.63 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

98.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 36

100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

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: 107

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 203

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 180

1.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 124

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 187

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 194

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 148

11,460 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 59

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 136

831,300 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 13

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 139

0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 193

0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 147

955,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 22

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 156

1.34 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 17

388,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 39

1.718 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

9,625 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 84

2.153 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

332,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

0 cu m (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 194

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 148

19.73 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 43

4.49 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

250 million cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 47

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 120

12.37 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 24

3.243 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 42

0 cu m (1 January 2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 195

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 151

205 million Mt (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

90 million Mt (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 43

total subscriptions: 1,998,400

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

country comparison to the world: 59

total subscriptions: 4,318,346

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 36

total: 8,460,700

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

country comparison to the world: 96

total: 17,584,969

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 245 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 62

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)

general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services

domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network

international: country code - 852; multiple international submarine cables provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East, and Western Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China (2015)

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

4 commercial terrestrial TV networks each with multiple stations; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; 3 licensed broadcasters of terrestrial radio, one of which is government funded, operate about 12 radio stations; note - 4 digital radio broadcasters operated in Hong Kong from 2010 to 2017, but all digital radio services were terminated in September 2017 due to weak market demand (2018)

.sg

.hk

total: 4,683,200

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

country comparison to the world: 81

total: 6.066 million

percent of population: 85% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

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)

number of registered air carriers: 7 (registered in China)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 253 (registered in China)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 41,867,157

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 11.294 billion mt-km (2015)

9V (2016)

B-H (2016)

9 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 158

2 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 201

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)

total: 2

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 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: 2,100 km

paved: 2,100 km (2015)

country comparison to the world: 174

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

total: 2,576

by type: bulk carrier 1,142, container ship 471, general cargo 226, oil tanker 346, other 391 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 9

major seaport(s): Singapore

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

LNG terminal(s) (import): Singapore

major seaport(s): Hong Kong

9 (2013)

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)

no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLA Army, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Southern Command (2016)

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

defense is the responsibility of China

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

Hong Kong plans to reduce its 2,800-hectare Frontier Closed Area (FCA) to 400 hectares by 2015; the FCA was established in 1951 as a buffer zone between Hong Kong and mainland China to prevent illegal migration from and the smuggling of goods

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

despite strenuous law enforcement efforts, faces difficult challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people