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.

Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

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

lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve

fish, deepwater ports

industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

4,657,542 (July 2010 est.)

8.82 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

4.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

5.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

1.1 children born/woman (2010 est.)

fewer than 200 (2007 est.)

Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% (2000 census)

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)

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)

parliamentary republic

9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

National Day, 9 August (1965)

3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on pre-independence State of Singapore Constitution)

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

21 years of age; universal and compulsory

unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to 9 nominated members; up to three losing opposition candidates who came closest to winning seats may be appointed as "nonconstituency" members

Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals

People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]; Reform Party [NG Teck Siong]; Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong]; Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Workers' Party or WP [Sylvia LIM Swee Lian]

ADB, AOSIS, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FATF, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIT, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

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 6.8% between 2004 and 2008, but contracted 2.1% in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis. The economy has begun to rebound in 2010 and the government predicts growth of 3-5% for the year. Over the longer term, the government hopes to establish a new growth path that focuses on raising productivity growth, which has sunk to 1% per year 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.

$243.2 billion (2009 est.)

$246.4 billion (2008 est.)

$242 billion (2007 est.)

$177.1 billion (2009 est.)

3.03 million (2009 est.)

28.9% of GDP (2009 est.)

113.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

95.9% of GDP (2008 est.)

5.38% (31 December 2009 est.)

5.38% (31 December 2008)

$52.57 billion (31 December 2008)

$44.4 billion (31 December 2007)

$179 billion (31 December 2008)

$162.2 billion (31 December 2007)

$143.6 billion (31 December 2008)

$129.2 billion (31 December 2007)

$474.8 billion (31 December 2009)

$268.6 billion (31 December 2008)

$353.5 billion (31 December 2007)

orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs; fish, ornamental fish

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

41.72 billion kWh (2008 est.)

37.94 billion kWh (2008 est.)

9,667 bbl/day (2009 est.)

878,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

1.289 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

2.109 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

8.27 billion cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

$25.35 billion (2009 est.)

$27.18 billion (2008)

$274.5 billion (2009 est.)

$344.4 billion (2008 est.)

machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, mineral fuels

Hong Kong 11.57%, Malaysia 11.47%, China 9.76%, Indonesia 9.67%, US 6.57%, South Korea 4.65%, Japan 4.56% (2009)

$240.5 billion (2009 est.)

$313.5 billion (2008 est.)

machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs, consumer goods

US 11.88%, Malaysia 11.61%, China 10.56%, Japan 7.63%, Indonesia 5.8%, South Korea 5.72%, Taiwan 5.22% (2009)

$187.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$174.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$19.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$25.52 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$275.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$255.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$190.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$178.8 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar - 1.4545 (2009), 1.415 (2008), 1.507 (2007), 1.5889 (2006), 1.6644 (2005)

1.857 million (2008)

6.375 million (2008)

state controls broadcast media; 8 domestic TV stations operated by MediaCorp, wholly owned by a state investment company; broadcasts from Malaysian and Indonesian stations available; satellite dishes banned; multi-channel cable TV service is accessible; 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; large number of Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations are available (2008)

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

Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense) (2010)

18-21 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 2-year conscript service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers) (2008)

4.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

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 awards sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore, and�Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but does 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

drug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement efforts; as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money laundering