| Introduction :: Singapore |
Background:
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| 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. |
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Location:
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| Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
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Geographic coordinates:
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1 22 N, 103 48 E
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Map references:
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Area:
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total: 697 sq km
country comparison to the world: 199
land:
687 sq km
water:
10 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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193 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone:
within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice
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Climate:
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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
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Terrain:
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lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point:
Bukit Timah 166 m
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Natural resources:
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fish, deepwater ports
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Land use:
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arable land: 1.47%
permanent crops:
1.47%
other:
97.06% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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NA
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Total renewable water resources:
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0.6 cu km (1975)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 0.19 cu km/yr (45%/51%/4%)
per capita:
44 cu m/yr (1975)
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Natural hazards:
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NA
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Environment - current issues:
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industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes |
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Population:
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| 4,657,542 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 14.4% (male 348,382/female 324,050)
15-64 years:
76.7% (male 1,737,972/female 1,833,415)
65 years and over:
8.9% (male 184,393/female 229,330) (2009 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 39 years
male:
38.5 years
female:
39.4 years (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.998% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
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Birth rate:
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8.82 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
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Death rate:
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4.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
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Net migration rate:
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5.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.8 male(s)/female
total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 2.31 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 224
male:
2.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
2.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 81.98 years
country comparison to the world: 4
male:
79.37 years
female:
84.78 years (2009 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.09 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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4,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
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Nationality:
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noun: Singaporean(s)
adjective:
Singapore
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Ethnic groups:
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Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% (2000 census)
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Religions:
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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)
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Languages:
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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)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
92.5%
male:
96.6%
female:
88.6% (2000 census)
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Education expenditures:
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3.7% of GDP (2001)
country comparison to the world: 122
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