Republic of Singapore

President: S. R. Nathan (1999)

Prime Minister: Lee Hsien Loong (2004)

Land area: 264 sq mi (683 sq km); total area: 268 sq mi (693 sq km)

Population (2006 est.): 4,492,150 (growth rate: 1.4%); birth rate: 9.3/1000; infant mortality rate: 2.3/1000; life expectancy: 81.7; density per sq mi: 18,645

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Singapore, 3,438,600

Monetary unit: Singapore dollar

Languages: Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8%, other 0.9% (2000)

Ethnicity/race: Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% (2000)

Religions: Buddhist 43%, Islam 15%, Taoist 9%, Hindu 4%, Catholic 5%, other Christian 10%, none 15% (2000)

Literacy rate: 93% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $132.3 billion; per capita $29,900. Real growth rate: 5.7%. Inflation: 1%. Unemployment: 3.3%. Arable land: 2%. Agriculture: rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs; fish, ornamental fish. Labor force: 2.28 million (Sept. 2005 est.); manufacturing 18%, construction 6%, transportation and communication 11%, financial, business, and other services 39%, other 26% (2003). Industries: electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, life sciences, entrepôt trade. Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports. Exports: $204.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs. Imports: $188.3 billion (2005 est.): machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs. Major trading partners: Malaysia, U.S., Hong Kong, China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea (2004).

Member of Commonwealth of Nations

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 1.95 million (2000); mobile cellular: 2.74 million (2000). Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 5 (1998). Radios: 2.6 million (2000). Television broadcast stations: 6 (2000). Televisions: 1.33 million (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 9 (2000). Internet users: 2.31 million (2002).

Transportation: Railways: total: 38.6 km. Highways: total: 3,066 km; paved: 3,066 km (including 150 km of expressways); unpaved: 0 km (1999). Ports and harbors: Singapore. Airports: 9 (2002).

International disputes: disputes with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation works on Johor, maritime boundaries, and Singapore-occupied Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Putih persist - parties agree to ICJ arbitration on island dispute within three years.


 

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