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Background Note: Singapore
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Republic of
Singapore
Geography
Area: 685 sq. km. (264 sq. mi.).
Cities: Capital--Singapore (country is a city-state).
Terrain: Lowland.
Climate: Tropical.
People
Population (2006): 4.48 million (including permanent residents,
foreign workers).
Annual growth rate: 3.3% (total); 1.8% (residents).
Ethnic groups: Chinese 75.2%, Malays 13.6%, Indians 8.8%.
Religions: Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim, Christian, Hindu.
Languages: English, Mandarin and other Chinese dialects, Malay,
Tamil.
Education: Years compulsory--six. Attendance--94%.
Literacy--95.4%.
Health (2006): Infant mortality rate--2.5/1,000.
Life expectancy--78.0 yrs. male, 81.8 yrs. female.
Work force (2006, 2.5 million): Manufacturing--20.7%;
services--68.4%.
Government
Type: Parliamentary republic.
Constitution: June 3, 1959 (amended 1965 and 1991).
Independence: August 9, 1965.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state, 6-yr.
term); prime minister (head of government). Legislative--unicameral
84-member Parliament (maximum 5-yr. term). Judicial--High
Court, Court of Appeal, subordinate courts.
Political parties: People's Action Party (PAP), Workers' Party
(WP), Singapore's Peoples Party (SPP), Singapore Democratic
Party (SDP), Singapore Democratic Alliance.
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory at 21.
Central government budget (FY 2007): $21.6 billion.
Defense (FY 2007): 5.0% of gross domestic product.
National holiday: August 9.
Economy
GDP (2006 real, 2000 prices): $137.5 billion.
Annual real growth rate: 8.8% (2004), 6.6% (2005), 7.9% (2006).
Per capita GNP (2006--purchasing power parity): $29,454.
Natural resources: None.
Agriculture (under 0.5% of GDP): Products--poultry,
orchids, vegetables, fruits, ornamental fish.
Manufacturing (26.9% of real GDP): Types--electronic
and electrical products and components, petroleum products,
machinery and metal products, chemical and pharmaceutical
products, transport equipment (mainly aircraft
repairs/maintenance, shipbuilding/repair and oil rigs), food and
beverages, printing and publishing, textiles and garments,
plastic products/modules, instrumentation equipment.
Trade (2006): Exports--$271 billion: petroleum
products, food/beverages, chemicals, textile/garments,
electronic components, telecommunication apparatus, transport
equipment. Major markets--Malaysia (13.1%), U.S.
(9.9%), EU-15 (10.4%), Hong Kong (10%), Japan (5.5%), and China
(9.7%). Imports--$238.5 billion: aircraft, crude oil
and petroleum products, electronic components, radio and
television receivers/parts, motor vehicles, chemicals,
food/beverages, iron/steel, textile yarns/fabrics. Major
suppliers--Malaysia (13.1%), U.S. (12.5%), Japan (8.3%),
EU-15 (10.9%), and China (11.4%).
PEOPLE
Singapore is one of the most densely populated countries in the
world. The annual growth rate for 2004 was 1.3%, including
resident foreigners. Singapore has a varied linguistic,
cultural, and religious heritage. Malay is the national
language, but Chinese, English, and Tamil also are official
languages. English is the language of administration and also is
widely used in the professions, businesses, and schools.
The government has mandated that English be
the primary language used at all levels of the school systems,
and it aims to provide at least 10 years of education for every
child. In 2005, primary and secondary school students totaled
about 532,225, or 12.2% of the entire population. In 2005,
enrollment at the universities was 43,663 (first degree
full-time/part-time) and 58,880 at the polytechnics. The
Institute of Technical Education for basic technical and
commerce skills has almost 21,600 students. The country's
literacy rate is 95.4%.
Singapore generally allows religious freedom,
although religious groups are subject to government scrutiny,
and some religious sects are restricted or banned. Almost all
Malays are Muslim; other Singaporeans are Taoists, Buddhists,
Confucianists, Christians, Hindus, or Sikhs. |