Location

Situated approx. 137 kilometres north of the Equator, at the tip of the Malaysian Peninsula, between latitudes 1o09’N and 1o29’N and longitudes 103o36’E and 104o25’E; immediate neighbours are Malaysia and Indonesia

Capital

Singapore

Area

710.2 sq. km.  

Climate

Equatorial  with a relatively uniform temperature, abundant rainfall and high humidity.
Average daily temperature 24.7 to 31.1 degrees C.
December and January are generally less warm.
Rains throughout the year; maximum rainfall in November to January. 
Annual rainfall 2,325 mm.
Average daily relative humidity 84.3 per cent

Population

Total population 5.08 million (June 2010)

• Ethnic composition of Resident Population (citizens + PRs)–Chinese 74.1%; Malays 13.4%; Indians 9.2%; others 3.3%  (2010)
• Density 7126 persons per sq km (2010)
• Growth rate of Total Population:1.8% per annum 
• Literacy 95.9% ; Fertility 1.16%;
• Life expectancy: Total 81.4 years, males 79 years, females 83.7 years (2009)

Language

English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay and Tamil are all official languages; the constitution of the Republic of Singapore provides that the national language is Malay and shall be in Roman script; the administrative language is English.

Religion

Buddhism (33%), Taoism (11%), Islam (15%), Christianity (18%), Hinduism (5.1%) {2010 census}.  As a secular state, Singapore constitutionally guarantees freedom of worship.

Political Structure

• Constitutional Republic, with a parliamentary system of Government based on universal adult suffrage. Elections are held once in 5 years.
• Since 1993, Singapore citizens elect the President for a fixed term of six years.
• Executive powers vested in the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister. People’s Action Party (PAP) in power since 1959. Currently it occupies 81 of the 87 elected parliamentary seats.

General elections held on 7th May 2011. 

Head of State

Mr. S.R. Nathan (President)

Head of Govt

Mr. LEE Hsien Loong (Prime Minister)

Some Important Ministers

Mr TEO Chee Hean

Deputy Prime Minister and
Coordinating Minister for National Security and
Minister for Home Affairs

Mr Tharman SHANMUGARATNAM

Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Finance and Minister for Manpower

Mr LIM Hng Kiang

Minister for Trade and Industry

Mr LIM Swee Say

Minister, Prime Minister's Office

Dr YAACOB Ibrahim

Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts

Mr KHAW Boon Wan

Minister for National Development

Dr NG Eng Hen

Minister for Defence

Dr Vivian BALAKRISHNAN

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources

Mr K Shanmugam

Minister for Foreign Affairs and
Minister for Law

Mr GAN Kim Yong

Minister for Health

Mr LUI Tuck Yew

Minister for Transport and
Second Minister for Foreign Affairs

Mr S Iswaran

Minister, Prime Minister's Office and
Second Minister for Home Affairs and
Second Minister for Trade and Industry

Mr HENG Swee Keat

Minister for Education

MG(NS) CHAN Chun Sing

Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and
Minister of State, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts

Singapore Dollar
Rate of Exchange: US$1 = Sing $ 1.2277 (April, 2011) 

Economy

Basically entrepot economy, dependent on foreign trade and investment; Focus on financial services, tourism, oil rig/ship construction, shipping logistics, high tech industries like petro/biofuel refineries, petrochemicals, electronics,  pharma, aircraft MRO,  R&D in biosciences etc.

Per capita  GDP

  US$ 43,867 in 2010

GDP growth

GDP amount

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010(p)

7.3%

8.2%

7.7%

1.1%

-1.3%

14.7%

S$303.652 billion in 2010 at current market prices.
(S$ 284.561 billion in 2010 at 2005 market prices)

Sectoral Growth Rates 2010
(Year-on-Year %)

Goods producing Industries

25.0

Manufacturing                                               

29.7

Construction                  

6.1

Services producing Industries                   

10.1

Whole & Retail Trade                 

15.1

Transport & Storage  

6.0

Hotels & Restaurants         

8.8

Info&Communications                

2.9

Financial Services

12.2

Business Services

5.9

Inflation

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

0.5%

1.0%

2.1%

6.5%

0.2%

2.8%

Unemployment

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010(p)

3.1%

2.7%

2.1%

2.3%

3.0%

2.2%

2008

2009

2010

Jan-Mar
2010

Jan-Mar
2011

Total global Trade

927,655.759

747,417.400

902,062.584

209,812.957

234,782.817

%change y-o-y

           9.57%

-19.43%

20.69%

26.90%

11.90%

Singapore's Imports

450,892.588

356,299,229

423,221.839

99,914.968

110,092.278

%change y-o-y

13.87%

-20.98%

18.78%

25.51%

10.19%

Singapore's Exports

476,762.172

391,118,171

478,840.745

109,897.989

124,690.539

%change y-o-y

5.80%

-17.96%

22.43%

28.19%

13.46%

Singapore’s Domestic Exp Exports

247,617.959

200,003,141

248,609.828

56,297.112

67,233.932

%change y-o-y

5.41%

-19.23%

       22.57%

31.90%

19.43%

Singapore’s Re-Exports

229,144.213

191,115,030

230,230.917

53,600.877

57,456.606

%change y-o-y

6.22%

-16.60%

20.47%

24.51%

7.19%

FDI in Singapore

Major foreign investors (Country-wise FDI) in Singapore
(2009 year-end; in billion Singapore Dollars)

FDI in Singapore
(In billion Singapore Dollars)

Sector-wise figures of FDI in Singapore in 2007
(in billion Singapore Dollars)

Singaporean Investment Abroad

Total Direct Investment abroad by Singapore (2009)

in billion Singapore dollars

Forex Reserves

US$ 242.524 billion in April 2011