Singapore | Facts & Information

Updated September 9, 2022 | Infoplease Staff
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Facts & Figures

  • President: Tony Tan Keng Yam (2011)

    Prime Minister: Lee Hsien Loong (2004)

    Land area: 241 sq mi (624 sq km); total area: 267 sq mi (692.7 sq km)

    Population (2014 est.): 5,567,301 (growth rate: 1.92%); birth rate: 8.1/1000; infant mortality rate: 2.53/1000; life expectancy: 84.38

    Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Singapore, 5,183,700.

    Monetary unit: Singapore dollar

    Current government officials

    Languages: Mandarin (official) 36.3%, English (official) 29.8%, Malay (official) 11.9%, Hokkien 8.1%, Tamil (official) 4.4%, Cantonese 4.1%, Teochew 3.2%, other Indian languages 1.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.1%, other 1.1% (2010 est.)

    Ethnicity/race: Chinese 74.2%, Malay 13.3%, Indian 9.2%, other 3.3% (2013 est.)

    Religions: 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.)

    Literacy rate: 95.9% (2010 est.)

    Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2013 est.): $339 billion; per capita $62,400. Real growth rate: 4.1%. Inflation: 5.2%. Unemployment: 1.9% (2013). Arable land: 0.89%. Agriculture: orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs; fish, ornamental fish. Labor force: 3.444 million (2013 est.); agriculture 1.3%; industry 18.6%; services 80.1 (2013). 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: $410.3 billion (2013 est.): machinery and equipment (including electronics and telecommunications), pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, refined petroleum products, food and beverages. Imports: $373 billion (2013 est.): machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs, consumer goods. Major trading partners: U.S., Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Australia (2012).

    Member of Commonwealth of Nations

    Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 1.99 million (2012); mobile cellular: 8.063 million (2012). Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 18 (2008). Television broadcast stations: 8 (2008). Televisions: 1.33 million (1997). Internet Hosts: 1.96 million (2012). Internet users: 3.235 million (2009).

    Transportation: Railways: total: 38.6 km. Highways: total: 3,425 km; paved: 3,425 km (including 161 km of expressways). Ports and harbors: Singapore. Airports: 9 (2013).

    International disputes: 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.

    Major sources and definitions