Page last updated on January 31, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest in terms of tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 22 N, 103 48 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Southeast Asia
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 697 sq km
country comparison to the world: 192
land: 687 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
193 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 0.89%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 98.97% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.6 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 0.19 cu km/yr (47%/53%/0%)
per capita: 81.97 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
industrial pollution; limited natural freshwater resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Singaporean(s)
adjective: Singapore
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Chinese 74.2%, Malay 13.3%, Indian 9.2%, other 3.3% (2012 est.)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Mandarin (official) 36.3%, English (official) 29.8%, Hokkien 8.1%, Tamil (official) 4.4%, Cantonese 4.1%, Teochew 3.2%, Malay (official) 1.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.1%, other 1.7% (2010 est.)
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Buddhist 33.9%, Muslim 14.3%, Taoist 11.3%, Catholic 7.1%, Hindu 5.2%, other Christian 11%, other 0.7%, none 16.4% (2010 est.)
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5,460,302 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 13.6% (male 381,145/female 363,504)
15-24 years: 18.2% (male 490,526/female 505,713)
25-54 years: 50.1% (male 1,336,298/female 1,401,106)
55-64 years: 9.9% (male 269,411/female 269,137)
65 years and over: 8.1% (male 200,602/female 242,860) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 35.6 %
youth dependency ratio: 21.8 %
elderly dependency ratio: 13.8 %
potential support ratio: 7.2 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 33.6 years
male: 33.5 years
female: 33.7 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.96% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.91 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.41 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 100% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 1.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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: 0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
29.4 (2008 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 182
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2.59 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 221
male: 2.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 84.07 years
country comparison to the world: 4
male: 81.67 years
female: 86.64 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.79 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
62%
note: percent of women aged 15-44 (1997)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.6% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 150
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.92 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3,400 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.1% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 142
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.3% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 108
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.3% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 132
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.9%
male: 98%
female: 93.8% (2010 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 6.7% (2012)
country comparison to the world: 131
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
conventional short form: Singapore
local long form: Republic of Singapore
local short form: Singapore
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Singapore
geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
National Day, 9 August (1965)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1965; amended several times, last in 2010 (2013)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
English common law
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
21 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: President Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 September 2011)
head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime Minister TEO Chee Hean (since 1 April 2009) and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman SHANMUGARATNAM (since 21 May 2011)
cabinet: appointed by president, responsible to parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term; election last held on 27 August 2011 (next to be held by August 2017); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by president
election results: Tony TAN Keng Yam elected president from a field of four candidates with 35.2% of the votes cast
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
unicameral Parliament (87 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to nine nominated members (NMP) and up to nine Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMP); traditionally, members of parties that came closest to winning seats may be appointed as NCMPs; NMPs are appointed by the president to ensure that a wide range of community views are present in Parliament; NMPs are independent and non-partisan members
elections: last held on 7 May 2011 (next to be held in May 2016)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 60.1%, WP 12.8%, NSP 12.1%, others 15%; seats by party - PAP 81, WP 6; (seats as of February 2013 PAP 80, WP 7)
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the president or chief justice and 16 justices and organized into an upper tier Appeal Court and a lower tier High Court)
judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the president from candidates recommended by the prime minister after consultation with the chief justice; justices appointed for life
subordinate courts: district, magistrates', juvenile, family, community, and coroners' courts; small claims tribunals
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
National Solidarity Party or NSP [Hazel POA]
note: SDA includes Singapore Justice Party or SJP and Singapore National Malay Organization or PKMS
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FATF, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIT, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Ashok Kumar MIRPURI (since 24 July 2012)
chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100
FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876
consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Kirk WAGER (since 4 September 2013)
embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001
telephone: [65] 6476-9100
FAX: [65] 6476-9340
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lion, merlion (mythical half lion-half fish creature)
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Majulah Singapura" (Onward Singapore)
lyrics/music: ZUBIR Said
note: adopted 1965; the anthem, which was first performed in 1958 at the Victoria Theatre, is sung only in Malay
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in consumer electronics, information technology products, pharmaceuticals, and on a growing financial services sector. Real GDP growth averaged 8.6% between 2004 and 2007. The economy contracted 0.8% in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis, but rebounded 14.8% in 2010, on the strength of renewed exports, before slowing to 5.2% in 2011 and 1.3% in 2012, largely a result of soft demand for exports during the second European recession. Over the longer term, the government hopes to establish a new growth path that focuses on raising productivity, which has sunk to an average of about 1.0% in the last decade. Singapore has attracted major investments in pharmaceuticals and medical technology production and will continue efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$323 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$272.8 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$60,800 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
45.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 39.2%
government consumption: 9.7%
investment in fixed capital: 24.1%
investment in inventories: 2.9%
exports of goods and services: 200.7%
imports of goods and services: -178.5%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 0%
industry: 26.8%
services: 73.2% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs; fish, ornamental fish
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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, entrepot trade
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.362 million
country comparison to the world: 100
note: excludes non-residents (2012 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 19.6%
services: 80.3%
note: excludes non-residents (2011)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 4.4%
highest 10%: 23.2% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
47.8 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 26
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $43.44 billion
expenditures: $37.83 billion
note: expenditures include both operational and development expenditures (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
111.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
note: for Singapore, 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
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.38% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$115 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$400.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$281.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$709.4 billion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 21
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$51.44 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$435.8 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
machinery and equipment (including electronics and telecommunications), pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, refined petroleum products
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Malaysia 12.3%, Hong Kong 10.9%, China 10.8%, Indonesia 10.6%, US 5.5%, Japan 4.6%, Australia 4.2%, South Korea 4% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$374.9 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Malaysia 10.6%, China 10.3%, US 10.2%, South Korea 6.8%, Japan 6.2%, Indonesia 5.3%, Saudi Arabia 4.5%, UAE 4.1% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$259.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.174 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$741 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$416.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
44.41 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
40.62 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.25 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
99.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20,170 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.137 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 185
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.357 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.25 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.14 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.348 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.778 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.78 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 192
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
212.4 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.99 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 58
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.063 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 92
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: excellent service
domestic: excellent domestic facilities; launched 3G wireless service in February 2005; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity more than 180 telephones per 100 persons; multiple providers of high-speed Internet connectivity and the government is close to completing an island-wide roll out of a high-speed fiber-optic broadband network
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 (2011)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
state controls broadcast media; 8 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 service available; a total of 18 domestic radio stations broadcasting with MediaCorp operating more than a dozen and another 4 stations are closely linked to the ruling party or controlled by the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association; many Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations are available
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.sg
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.96 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 39
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.235 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 65
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 158
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 (2013)
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gas 122 km; refined products 8 km (2013)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3,425 km
country comparison to the world: 163
paved: 3,425 km (includes 161 km of expressways) (2012)
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,599
country comparison to the world: 6
by type: bulk carrier 247, cargo 109, carrier 6, chemical tanker 256, container 339, liquefied gas 131, petroleum tanker 436, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 57
foreign-owned: 966 (Australia 12, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 1, Bermuda 25, Brazil 9, Chile 6, China 29, Cyprus 6, Denmark 149, France 3, Germany 32, Greece 22, Hong Kong 46, India 21, Indonesia 60, Italy 5, Japan 164, Malaysia 27, Netherlands 1, Norway 153, Russia 2, South Africa 13, South Korea 3, Sweden 11, Switzerland 3, Taiwan 77, Thailand 33, UAE 10, UK 6, US 36)
registered in other countries: 344 (Australia 2, Bahamas 7, Bangladesh 7, Belize 4, Cambodia 3, Cyprus 1, France 3, Honduras 11, Hong Kong 13, Indonesia 46, Italy 1, Kiribati 9, Liberia 22, Malaysia 13, Maldives 4, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 30, Mongolia 3, North Korea 1, Panama 92, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 10, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Sierra Leone 9, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 19, US 16, Vanuatu 2, unknown 5) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Singapore
major container port(s) (TEUs): Singapore
Transportation - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense) (2013)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,255,902 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,018,839
females age 16-49: 1,087,134 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 27,098
female: 25,368 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.52% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 44
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
disputes persist with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore'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; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait