| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Southeast Asia |
| Geographical Location |
1° 22' North Latitude
103° 48' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
692.7 sq km |
| Climate |
Tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - Northeastern monsoon from December to March and Southwestern monsoon from June to September;
inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms |
| Natural Resources |
Fish, deepwater ports |
|
| Political Information |
 |
|
| Country Name |
Republic of Singapore |
| Capital City |
Singapore |
| Government Type |
Parliamentary republic |
| Administrative Divisions |
none |
| Independence Day |
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation) |
|
| Demographical Information |
 |
|
| Population |
4,425,720 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Singapore |
| Ethnic Groups |
Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% (2000 census) |
| Religion |
Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%, Catholic 4.8%, other Christian 9.8%, other 0.7%, none 14.8% (2000 census) |
| 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 census) |
| Population Growth Rate |
1.56% (2005 est.) |
|
| Economical Information |
 |
|
| Currency |
Singapore dollar (SGD) |
| 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, entrepot trade |
| Labor Force |
2.18 million (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Manufacturing 18%, construction 6%, transportation and communication 11%, financial, business, and other services 49%, other 16% (2003) |
| Agriculture Products |
Rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables, poultry, eggs, fish, ornamental fish |
| Export Commodities |
Machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, chemicals, mineral fuels |
| Export Partners |
Malaysia 15.2%, US 13%, Hong Kong 9.8%, China 8.6%, Japan 6.4%, Taiwan 4.6%, Thailand 4.3%, South Korea 4.1% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs |
| Import Partners |
Malaysia 15.3%, US 12.7%, Japan 11.7%, China 9.9%, Taiwan 5.7%, South Korea 4.3%, Thailand 4.1% (2004) |
|
| Transportation |
 |
|
| Railways |
- |
| Highways |
3,130 km |
| Pipelines |
Gas 139 km (2004) |
| Airports |
10 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Singapore |
|
| Communication |
 |
|
| Phone Code |
+65 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.sg |
|
| Other |
 |
|
| Short History |
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.
It subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is the world's busiest in terms of
tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe. |
|