Geography
Area: 685 sq. km. (264 sq. mi.).
Cities: Capital--Singapore (country is a city-state).
Terrain: Lowland.
Climate: Tropical.
People
Population (2004): 4.24 million (including permanent residents,
foreign workers).
Annual growth rate: 1.3% (total); 1.4% (residents).
Ethnic groups: Chinese 77%, Malays 14%, Indians 8%.
Religions: Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim, Christian, Hindu.
Languages: English, Mandarin and other Chinese dialects, Malay,
Tamil.
Education: Years compulsory--six. Attendance--94%.
Literacy--94.2%.
Health (2003): Infant mortality rate--2.5/1,000. Life
expectancy--77 yrs. male, 81 yrs. female.
Work force (June 2004, 2.16 million): Manufacturing and commerce--37%;
services--41%.
Government
Type: Parliamentary republic.
Constitution: June 3, 1959 (amended 1965 and 1991).
Independence: August 9, 1965.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state, 6-yr. term);
prime minister (head of government). Legislative--unicameral
84-member Parliament (maximum 5-yr. term). Judicial--High
Court, Court of Appeal, subordinate courts.
Political parties: People's Action Party (PAP), Workers' Party (WP),
Singapore's Peoples Party (SPP), Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory at 21.
Central government budget (FY 2004 est.): $18.2 billion.
Defense (FY 2004 est.): 5.4% of gross domestic product.
National holiday: August 9.
Economy
GDP (2004 real, 1995 prices): $110 billion.
Annual real growth rate: 2.2% (2002); 1.1% (2003), 8.4% (2004).
Per capita GNP (2004--purchasing power parity): $24,560.
Natural resources: None.
Agriculture (under 0.5% of GDP): Products--poultry, orchids,
vegetables, fruits, ornamental fish.
Manufacturing (27% of real GDP): Types--electronic and
electrical products and components, petroleum products, machinery
and metal products, chemical and pharmaceutical products, transport
equipment (mainly aircraft repairs/maintenance, shipbuilding and
repair), food and beverages, printing and publishing, textiles and
garments, plastic products/modules, instrumentation equipment.
Trade (2004): Exports--$185 billion: petroleum products,
food/beverages, chemicals, textile/garments, electronic components,
telecommunication apparatus, transport equipment. Major markets--Malaysia
(15%), U.S. (12%), EU (14%), Hong Kong (10%), Japan (6%), and China
(10%). Imports--$169 billion: aircraft, crude oil and
petroleum products, electronic components, radio and television
receivers/parts, motor vehicles, chemicals, food/beverages,
iron/steel, textile yarns/fabrics. Major suppliers--Malaysia
(15%), U.S. (13%), Japan (12%), EU (13%), and China (10%).
.