Introduction
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 and fell into obscurity. The British founded modern Singapore as a trading colony on the site in 1819. It 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 (its port is one of the world's busiest in terms of tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP among the highest globally.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Geography
Location
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Geographic coordinates
1 22 N, 103 48 E
Map references
Southeast Asia
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.)
arable land: 0.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 3.3% (2018 est.)
other: 95.7% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution
most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas
Natural hazards
flash floods
Geography - note
focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes; consists of about 60 islands, by far the largest of which is Pulau Ujong; land reclamation has removed many former islands and created a number of new ones
People and Society
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%; note - data represent language most frequently spoken at home (2020 est.)
major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)
世界概況 – 不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Mandarin)
Religions
Buddhist 31.1%, Christian 18.9%, Muslim 15.6%, Taoist 8.8%, Hindu 5%, other 0.6%, none 20% (2020 est.)
Demographic profile
Singapore has one of the lowest total fertility rates (TFR) in the world – an average of 1.15 children born per woman – and a rapidly aging population. Women’s expanded educations, widened aspirations, and a desire to establish careers has contributed to delayed marriage and smaller families. Most married couples have only one or two children in order to invest more in each child, including the high costs of education. In addition, more and more Singaporeans, particularly women, are staying single. Factors contributing to this trend are a focus on careers, long working hours, the high cost of living, and long waits for public housing. With fertility at such a low rate and rising life expectancy, the proportion of the population aged 65 or over is growing and the youth population is shrinking. Singapore is projected to experience one of the largest percentage point increases in the elderly share of the population at 21% between 2019 and 2050, according to the UN. The working-age population (aged 15-64) will gradually decrease, leaving fewer workers to economically support the elderly population.
Migration has played a key role in Singapore’s development. As Singapore’s economy expanded during the 19th century, more and more Chinese, Indian, and Malay labor immigrants arrived. Most of Singapore’s pre-World War II population growth was a result of immigration. During World War II, immigration came to a halt when the Japanese occupied the island but revived in the postwar years. Policy was restrictive during the 1950s and 1960s, aiming to protect jobs for residents by reducing the intake of low-skilled foreign workers and focusing instead on attracting professionals from abroad with specialist skills. Consequently, the nonresident share of Singapore’s population plummeted to less than 3%.
As the country industrialized, however, it loosened restrictions on the immigration of manual workers. From the 1980s through the 2000s, the foreign population continued to grow as a result of policies aimed at attracting foreign workers of all skill levels. More recently, the government has instituted immigration policies that target highly skilled workers. Skilled workers are encouraged to stay and are given the opportunity to become permanent residents or citizens. The country, however, imposes restrictions on unskilled and low-skilled workers to ensure they do not establish roots, including prohibiting them from bringing their families and requiring employers to pay a monthly foreign worker levy and security bond. The country has also become increasingly attractive to international students. The growth of the foreign-born population has continued to be rapid; as of 2015, the foreign-born composed 46% of the total population. At the same time, growing numbers of Singaporeans are emigrating for education and work experience in highly skilled sectors such finance, information technology, and medicine. Increasingly, the moves abroad are permanent.
Age structure
0-14 years: 14.82% (male 458,019/female 427,364)
15-64 years: 71.49% (male 2,148,471/female 2,123,102)
65 years and over: 13.7% (2023 est.) (male 379,373/female 439,054)
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: 38.9 years (2023 est.)
male: 37.7 years
female: 40.1 years
comparison ranking: total 67
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)
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: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
30.5 years (2015 est.)
note: data represents median age
Infant mortality rate
total: 1.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 226
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 86.5 years (2023 est.)
male: 83.8 years
female: 89.3 years
comparison ranking: total population 2
Gross reproduction rate
0.57 (2023 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
6.1% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density
2.46 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density
2.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 1.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 132
Tobacco use
total: 16.5% (2020 est.)
male: 28% (2020 est.)
female: 5% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 99
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
54.3% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 18: 0.1% (2022 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)
Environment
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
Environment - 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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
Land use
agricultural land: 1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 3.3% (2018 est.)
other: 95.7% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 7,704,300 tons (2017 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 4,699,623 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 61% (2015 est.)
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 cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
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 LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004)
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 2029); 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 (independent) 70.4%, Ng Kok Song (independent) 15.7%, Tan Kin Lian (independent) 13.9%; turnout is 93.4%
2017: HALIMAH Yacob declared president on 13 September 2017, being the only eligible candidate
2011: Tony TAN Keng Yam elected president; percent of vote - Tony TAN Keng Yam (independent) 35.2%, TAN Cheng Bock (independent) 34.9%, TAN Jee Say (independent) 25%, TAN Kin Lian (independent) 4.9%
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Parliament (104 seats statutory, 103 current term; 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); note - the number of nominated members increased to 12 for the 2020 election for the first time
elections: last held on 10 July 2020 (next must be held by 24 November 2025)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 89.2%, WP 10.6%, other 0.2%; seats by party - PAP 83, WP 10; composition of total Parliament - men 73, women 30, percent of women 29.1%
Judicial branch
highest court(s): 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
Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Mohamad Hamim BIN ALIYA]
National Solidarity Party or NSP [Spencer NG]
People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]
People's Power Party or PPP [Goh Meng SENG]
People's Voice or PV [Lim TEAN]
Progress Singapore Party or PSP [Francis YUEN]
Red Dot United or RDU [Ravi PHILEMON]
Reform Party or RP [Kenneth JEYARETNAM]
Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA [Desmond LIM]
Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [Dr. CHEE Soon Juan]
Singapore People's Party or SPP [Steve CHIA]
Singapore United Party or SUP [Andy ZHU]
Workers' Party or WP [Pritam SINGH]
note: the PAP has won every general election since the end of the British colonial era in 1959
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)
chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100
FAX: [1] (202) 537-7086
email address and website:
singemb_was@mfa.sg
https://www.mfa.gov.sg/washington/
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan KAPLAN (since December 2021)
embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
mailing address: 4280 Singapore Place, Washington DC 20521-4280
telephone: [65] 6476-9100
FAX: [65] 6476-9340
email address and website:
singaporeusembassy@state.gov
https://sg.usembassy.gov/
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 symbol(s)
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: Singapore Botanic Gardens
Economy
Economic overview
high-income, service-based Southeast Asian economy; renowned for financial markets and Asian Infrastructure Exchange; business-driven regulations; low unemployment; electronics, oil, and chemicals exporter; continuing education investment
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$578.254 billion (2021 est.)
$537.341 billion (2020 est.)
$560.566 billion (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 38
Real GDP per capita
$106,000 (2021 est.)
$94,500 (2020 est.)
$98,300 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 4
GDP (official exchange rate)
$372.088 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.3% (2021 est.)
-0.18% (2020 est.)
0.57% (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 146
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: AAA (2003)
Moody's rating: Aaa (2002)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1995)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 0% (2017 est.)
industry: 24.8% (2017 est.)
services: 75.2% (2017 est.)
comparison rankings: services 46; industry 111; agriculture 224
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 35.6% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 10.9% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 24.8% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 2.8% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 173.3% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -149.1% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
poultry, eggs, vegetables, pork, duck meat, spinach, pig offals, bird eggs, pig fat, cabbages
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
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 9.1% (2021 est.)
male: 7%
female: 11.8%
comparison ranking: total 164
Average household expenditures
on food: 6.9% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 27.5% (2017)
Budget
revenues: $59.974 billion (2020 est.)
expenditures: $90.264 billion (2020 est.)
note: expenditures include both operational and development expenditures
Public debt
153.41% of GDP (2020 est.)
128.31% of GDP (2019 est.)
110.73% of GDP (2018 est.)
note: Singapore's 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; Singapore has no external public debt
comparison ranking: 4
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
Current account balance
$71.926 billion (2021 est.)
$58.139 billion (2020 est.)
$54.273 billion (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 8
Exports
$733.782 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$627.442 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$658.127 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
comparison ranking: 10
Exports - partners
China 16%, Hong Kong 16%, United States 8%, Malaysia 9%, Indonesia 5% (2021)
Exports - commodities
integrated circuits, refined petroleum, gold, packaged medicines, appliances, photo lab equipment (2021)
Imports
$609.28 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$517.967 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$550.209 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
comparison ranking: 12
Imports - partners
China 16%, Malaysia 11%, United States 9%, Taiwan 7%, Japan 5%, Indonesia 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, gold, gas turbines (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$425.098 billion (31 December 2021 est.)
$369.834 billion (31 December 2020 est.)
$285.478 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 11
Exchange rates
Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
1.343 (2021 est.)
1.38 (2020 est.)
1.364 (2019 est.)
1.349 (2018 est.)
1.381 (2017 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 12.24 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 50,742,380,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 571 million kWh (2019 est.)
comparison rankings: imports 154; installed generating capacity 57; transmission/distribution losses 127; exports 142; consumption 49
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 96.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 423,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 424,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 1.448 million bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 13,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 1,121,200 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 13,396,282,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 550.818 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
imports: 14,727,709,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
238.983 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.588 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 211.115 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 26.28 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 28
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 1,906,200 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 55
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 9,350,700 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 95
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: a wealthy city-state, Singapore has a highly developed ICT infrastructure; government supported near universal home broadband penetration and free public access to wireless network; the government's telecommunication regulator, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), issued awards in mid-2020 to telecom operators with the goal of having at least 50% of the city-state covered with a standalone 5G network by the end of 2022; government actively promoting Smart Nation initiative supporting digital innovation; government oversees service providers and controls Internet content; well served by submarine cable and satellite connections (2021)
domestic: fixed-line is 32 per 100 and mobile-cellular 146 per 100 teledensity (2021)
international: country code - 65; landing points for INDIGO-West, SeaMeWe -3,-4,-5, SIGMAR, SJC, i2icn, PGASCOM, BSCS, IGG, B3JS, SAEx2, APCN-2, APG, ASC, SEAX-1, ASE, EAC-C2C, Matrix Cable System and SJC2 submarine cables providing links throughout Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3, Bukit Timah, Seletar, and Sentosa; supplemented by VSAT coverage (2019 )
Broadcast media
state controls broadcast media; 6 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 services available; a total of 19 domestic radio stations broadcasting, with MediaCorp operating 11, Singapore Press Holdings, also government-linked, another 5, 2 controlled by the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association and one owned by BBC Radio; Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations are available as is BBC; a number of Internet service radio stations are also available (2019)
Internet users
total: 5.369 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 91% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 88
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 1,509,700 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 66
Transportation
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
Airports - with paved runways
9
civil airports: 0
military airports: 2
joint use (civil-military) airports: 3
other airports: 4
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Pipelines
3,220 km domestic gas (2014), 1,122 km cross-border pipelines (2017), 8 km refined products (2013) (2013)
Roadways
total: 3,500 km (2017)
paved: 3,500 km (2017) (includes 164 km of expressways)
comparison ranking: total 158
Merchant marine
total: 3,227 (2022)
by type: bulk carrier 574, container ship 542, general cargo 99, oil tanker 633, other 1,379
comparison ranking: total 7
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Singapore
container port(s) (TEUs): Singapore (37,470,000) (2021)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Singapore
Military and Security
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 (includes Police Coast Guard and the Gurkha Contingent) (2023)
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 expenditures
3% of GDP (2022 est.)
3% of GDP (2021 est.)
3% of GDP (2020)
2.9% of GDP (2019)
2.9% of GDP (2018)
comparison ranking: 29
Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies; approximately 60,000 active-duty troops (45,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force) (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the SAF has a diverse and largely modern mix of domestically produced and imported Western weapons systems; in recent years, France and the US have been the chief suppliers of arms; Singapore has the most developed arms industry in Southeast Asia and is also its largest importer of weapons (2023)
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: as of 2019, women made up about 8% of the active 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
Military deployments
maintains permanent training detachments of military personnel in Australia, France, and the US (2023)
Military - note
the SAF's roots go back to 1854 when the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps was formed under colonial rule; the first battalion of regular soldiers, the First Singapore Infantry Regiment, was organized in 1957; the modern SAF was established in 1965 and is today widely viewed as the best equipped military in Southeast Asia; the SAF’s primary responsibility is external defense, but it has trained for certain domestic security operations, including joint deterrence patrols with police in instances of heightened terrorism alerts; the Army is organized into 3 combined arms divisions and a “people’s defense force,” a divisional headquarters responsible for homeland security and counterterrorism; the Army is based largely on 2-year conscripts and reservists with a small cadre of professional soldiers, and Army units are comprised of a mix of active duty and cadre/reserve battalions that are filled out by reservists upon mobilization; the Air Force and Navy are primarily comprised of professionals; the Air Force has over 100 modern US-origin combat aircraft, plus squadrons for anti-submarine warfare, maritime patrol, early warning, surveillance, and logistical support, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles and attack helicopters; the Navy’s principal combat vessels are a mix of about 20 frigates, corvettes, and littoral combat ships (comparable to a corvette in capabilities), plus a few submarines
Singapore is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily (2023)
Space
Space agency/agencies
no national government agency; Office for Space Technology and Industry (OSTin) was established in 2013 as a non-government space economic development program with the role of coordinating local space-related industry, universities, international businesses, and government agencies to encourage the development of space technologies in the private sector; the Center for Remote Sensing and Processing (CRISP) is under the National University of Singapore and established with funding from the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research of Singapore; CRISP’s mission is to develop an advanced capability in remote sensing (RS) to meet the scientific, operational, and business requirements of Singapore and the region (2023)
Space program overview
space program and capabilities are largely commercial with a focus on acquiring or developing and manufacturing small RS (including optical and microwave) satellites, other satellite-related capabilities, such as data processing, and rockets capable of placing small satellites in low Earth orbit; manufactures and operates satellites; has a considerable civil/commercial and university-based research and development program; has established relations with the space agencies and industries of China, the European Space Agency, India, Japan, and the US; has over 50 companies involved in space-related technology development and manufacturing (2023)
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait
Singapore-Indonesia: Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; subsequent treaties were signed in 2009 (ratified in 2010) and 2014 (ratified in 2017) settling the two countries’ boundaries in the Singapore Strait
Singapore-Malaysia: disputes with Malaysia over territorial waters, airspace, the price of fresh water delivered to Singapore from Malaysia, Singapore's extensive land reclamation works, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in 2008, the International Court of Justice 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, which is only visible at low tide
https://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/singapore-and-indonesia-signed-landmark-maritime-boundary-treaty
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia%E2%80%93Singapore_border
https://www.iseas.edu.sg/media/commentaries/indonesia-ratifies-maritime-border-treaty-with-singapore-a-commentary-by-mustafa-izzuddin/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedra_Branca_dispute
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Malaysia-in-transition/Singapore-and-Malaysia-make-major-breakthrough-in-maritime-dispute
https://thediplomat.com/2021/09/the-1962-johor-singapore-water-agreement-lessons-learned/
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