Background: A Malay trading port known as Temasek existed on the island of Singapore by the 14th century. The settlement changed hands several times in the ensuing centuries and was eventually burned in the 17th century, falling into obscurity. In 1819, the British founded modern Singapore as a trading colony on the same site and granted it full internal self-government for all matters except defense and foreign affairs in 1959. Singapore joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but was ousted two years later and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries, with strong international trading links and per capita GDP among the highest globally. The People’s Action Party has won every general election in Singapore since the end of the British colonial era, aided by its success in delivering consistent economic growth, as well as the city-state's fragmented opposition and electoral procedures that strongly favor the ruling party.

Geographic coordinates: 1 22 N, 103 48 E

Map reference: Southeast Asia

Area
Total: 719 km²
Land: 709.2 km²
Water: 10 km²
Comparative: slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Country comparison total: 0 km

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 193 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice

Climate: 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: lowlying, gently undulating central plateau

Elevation
Highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m

Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports

Land use
Agricultural land: 1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 0.9% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 3.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 95.7% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 300 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 340 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 600 million m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: flash floods

Geography
Note: focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes; consists of about 60 islands, the largest of which by far is Pulau Ujong; land reclamation has removed many former islands and created a number of new ones

Population
Distribution: most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas
Total: 6,028,459
Male: 3,013,630
Female: 3,014,829 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 0.87% (2024 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Singaporean(s)
Adjective: Singapore

Ethnic groups: Chinese 74.2%, Malay 13.7%, Indian 8.9%, other 3.2% (2021 est.)
Note: data represent population by self-identification; the population is divided into four categories: Chinese, Malay (includes indigenous Malays and Indonesians), Indian (includes Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, or Sri Lankan), and other ethnic groups (includes Eurasians, Caucasians, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese)

Languages: English (official) 48.3%, Mandarin (official) 29.9%, other Chinese dialects (includes Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, Hakka) 8.7%, Malay (official) 9.2%, Tamil (official) 2.5%, other 1.4% (2020 est.)
Major-language samples: Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information. (English); Gheos,990;,028;,351;,335;A,292;,981;,487;,110; ,570;,340;%,325;#,201;,449;,687;,469;,304; (Mandarin)
Note: data represent language most frequently spoken at home

Religions: Buddhist 31.1%, Christian 18.9%, Muslim 15.6%, Taoist 8.8%, Hindu 5%, other 0.6%, none 20% (2020 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 14.6% (male 455,536/female 424,969)
15-64 years: 71.1% (male 2,157,441/female 2,126,799)
65 years and over: 14.3% (2024 est.) (male 400,653/female 463,061)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 35.4
Youth dependency ratio: 16.2
Elderly dependency ratio: 19.1
Potential support ratio: 5.2 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 39.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 38 years
Female: 40.6 years

Population growth rate: 0.87% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 8.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 4.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: 4.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas

Urbanization
Urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 6.081 million SINGAPORE (capital) (2023)

Environment
Current issues: water pollution; industrial pollution; limited natural freshwater resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; air pollution; deforestation; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 13.33 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 37.54 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 4.4 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 30.5 years (2015 est.)
Note: data represents median age

Maternal mortality ratio: 7 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 1.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 86.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 84 years
Female: 89.5 years

Total fertility rate: 1.17 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 100% of population
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 0% of population

Hospital bed density: 2.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 100% of population
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban: 0% of population
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 6.1% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 1.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 16.5% (2020 est.)
Male: 28% (2020 est.)
Female: 5% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: 2.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 97.5%
Male: 98.9%
Female: 96.1% (2019)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 17 years
Male: 16 years
Female: 17 years (2020)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 8.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 10.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
Conventional short form: Singapore
Local long form: Republic of Singapore
Local short form: Singapore
Etymology: name derives from the Sanskrit words 'simha' (lion) and 'pura' (city) to describe the city-state's leonine symbol

Government type: parliamentary republic

Capital
Name: Singapore
Geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E
Time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: name derives from the Sanskrit words simha (lion) and pura (city), thus creating the city's epithet 'lion city'

Administrative divisions: no first order administrative divisions; there are five community development councils: Central Singapore Development Council, North East Development Council, North West Development Council, South East Development Council, South West Development Council (2019)

Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965)

Constitution
History: several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1965
Amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote in the second and third readings by the elected Parliament membership and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting sovereignty or control of the Police Force or the Armed Forces requires at least two-thirds majority vote in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2020

Legal system: English common law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Singapore
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch
Chief of state: President THARMAN Shanmugaratnam (since 14 September 2023)
Head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence WONG (since 15 May 2024)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Cabinet responsible to Parliament
Elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits); election last held on 1 September 2023 (next to be held in 2,029); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition appointed prime minister by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
Election results: 2023: THARMAN Shanmugaratnam elected president; percent of vote - THARMAN Shanmugaratnam (independent) 70.4%, NG Kok Song (independent) 15.7%, TAN Kin Lian (independent) 13.9%; 2017: HALIMAH Yacob declared president on 13 September 2017, being the only eligible candidate

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament (104 seats statutory; 93 members directly elected by simple majority popular vote, up to 9 nominated by a parliamentary selection committee and appointed by the president, and up to 12 non-constituency members from opposition parties to ensure political diversity; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: last held on 10 July 2020 (next must be held by 24 November 2025)
Elections results: percent of vote by party - PAP 89.2%, WP 10.6%, other 0.2%; seats by party - PAP 79, WP 10, PSP 2, independent 9; composition - men 70, women 29, percentage women 29.3%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (although the number of judges varies - as of April 2019, the court totaled 20 judges, 7 judicial commissioners, 4 judges of appeal, and 16 international judges); the court is organized into an upper tier Appeal Court and a lower tier High Court
Judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president from candidates recommended by the prime minister after consultation with the chief justice; judges usually serve until retirement at age 65, but terms can be extended
Subordinate courts: district, magistrates', juvenile, family, community, and coroners' courts; small claims tribunals; employment claims tribunals

Political parties and leaders: People's Action Party or PAP , Progress Singapore Party or PSP , Workers' Party or WP

International organization participation: ADB, AOSIS, APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador LUI Tuck Yew (since 30 June 2023)
In the us chancery: 3,501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 537-3,100
In the us fax: [1] (202) 537-0876
In the us email address and website: singemb_was@mfa.sg; [link]
In the us consulates general: San Francisco
In the us consulates: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan KAPLAN (since December 2021)
From the us embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258,508
From the us mailing address: 4,280 Singapore Place, Washington DC 20,521-4,280
From the us telephone: [65] 6,476-9,100
From the us fax: [65] 6,476-9,340
From the us email address and website: singaporeusembassy@state.gov; [link]

Flag description: 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 symbols: lion, merlion (mythical half lion-half fish creature), orchid; national colors: red, white

National anthem
Name: 'Majulah Singapura' (Onward Singapore)
Lyrics/music: ZUBIR Said
Note: adopted 1965; first performed in 1958 at the Victoria Theatre, the anthem is sung only in Malay

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected world heritage site locales:

Economy overview: high-income, service-based economy; global financial hub; business-friendly policies and open to investment and trade; inflation easing but persistent in services; public investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure; strong human capital development challenged by aging population

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $754.758 billion (2023 est.); $746.73 billion (2022 est.); $719.13 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 1.08% (2023 est.); 3.84% (2022 est.); 9.69% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $127,500 (2023 est.); $132,500 (2022 est.); $131,900 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 31.3% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 10.2% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 22.2% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: -1.2% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 174.3% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -136.9% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 0% (2023 est.)
Industry: 22.4% (2023 est.)
Services: 72.4% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: chicken, eggs, pork, vegetables, duck, spinach, pork offal, pork fat, cabbages, lettuce (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries: electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, biomedical products, scientific instruments, telecommunication equipment, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, entrepot trade

Industrial production growth rate: -2.89% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 3.619 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 3.47% (2023 est.); 3.59% (2022 est.); 4.64% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 8.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 10.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $80.855 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $75.448 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 12.03% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 150.14% of GDP (2021 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Revenue
From forest resources: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4.82% (2023 est.); 6.12% (2022 est.); 2.3% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance: $99.128 billion (2023 est.); $89.701 billion (2022 est.); $86.137 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $873.989 billion (2023 est.); $925.952 billion (2022 est.); $794.47 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Hong Kong 14%, China 13%, Malaysia 9%, US 8%, Indonesia 6% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, machinery, gold, gas turbines (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $686.656 billion (2023 est.); $733.876 billion (2022 est.); $637.165 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 17%, Malaysia 13%, US 10%, Taiwan 9%, South Korea 5% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, gold, machinery (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $359.835 billion (2023 est.); $296.629 billion (2022 est.); $425.098 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: (2019)

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 12.538 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 57.029 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 656.085 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 94.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 784,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 595,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 1.47 million bbl/day (2022 est.)

Natural gas
Consumption: 13.724 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Exports: 352.812 million m³ (2022 est.)
Imports: 15.124 billion m³ (2022 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 241.71 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 1.558 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 213.229 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 26.923 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 653.844 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1.906 million (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 9.351 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2022 est.)

Military expenditures: 3% of GDP (2024 est.); 3% of GDP (2023 est.); 3% of GDP (2022 est.); 3% of GDP (2021 est.); 3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security forces: Singapore Armed Forces (SAF; aka Singapore Defense Force): Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force (includes air defense), Digital and Intelligence Service; Ministry of Home Affairs: Singapore Police Force (SPF; includes Police Coast Guard and the Gurkha Contingent) (2024)
Note 1: the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) was stood up as the fourth SAF service in October of 2022
Note 2: the Gurkha Contingent of the Singapore Police Force (GCSPF) is a paramilitary unit for riot control and acts as a rapid reaction force
Note 3: in 2009, Singapore established a multi-agency national Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) to work with law enforcement and maritime agencies to guard Singapore’s waters, including conducting daily patrols, as well as boarding and escort operations in the Singapore Strait; the MSTF is subordinate to the Singapore Navy

Military service age and obligation: 18-21 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 16.5 years of age for voluntary enlistment (with parental consent); 24-month conscript service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers); women are not conscripted, but they are allowed to volunteer for all services and branches, including combat arms (2023)
Note 1: under the Enlistment Act, all male Singaporean citizens and permanent residents, unless exempted, are required to enter National Service (NS) upon attaining the age of 18; most NS conscripts serve in the Armed Forces, but some go into the Police Force or Civil Defense Force; conscripts comprise over half of the defense establishment
Note 2: women began serving in the SAF in 1986; as of 2022, women made up about 8% of the regular force
Note 3: the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) also has a uniformed volunteer auxiliary branch known as the Volunteer Corps (SAFVC); the SAFVC allows citizens and residents not subject to the National Service obligation, including Singaporean women, first generation permanent residents, and naturalized citizens, to contribute towards Singapore's defense; the volunteers must be 18-45 and physically fit
Note 4: members of the Gurkha Contingent (GC) of the Singapore Police Force are mostly recruited from a small number of hill tribes in Nepal; the GC was formed in 1949 originally from selected ex-British Army Gurkhas

National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 230
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 40,401,515 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 5,194,900,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9V

Airports: 9 (2024)

Heliports: 1 (2024)

Pipelines: 3,220 km domestic gas (2014), 1,122 km cross-border pipelines (2017), 8 km refined products (2013)

Roadways
Total: 3,500 km
Paved: 3,500 km (2017) (includes 164 km of expressways)

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Stateless persons: 1,109 (2022)

Illicit drugs: drug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement efforts, including carrying out death sentences; as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money laundering