country comparison to the world: 66
Transnational Issues ::Sierra Leone
Disputes - international:
as domestic fighting among disparate ethnic groups, rebel groups,
warlords, and youth gangs in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and
Sierra Leone gradually abates, the number of refugees in border
areas has begun to slowly dwindle; Sierra Leone considers excessive
Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left
bank boundary of the Makona and Moa rivers and protests Guinea's
continued occupation of these lands including the hamlet of Yenga
occupied since 1998
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 27,311 (Liberia) (2007)
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Singapore (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Singapore
Background:
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.
Geography ::Singapore
Location:
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
1 22 N, 103 48 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 697 sq km
country comparison to the world: 191
land: 687 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
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:
lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment
area and nature preserve
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Natural resources:
fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
arable land: 1.47%
permanent crops: 1.47%
other: 97.06% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
0.6 cu km (1975)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.19 cu km/yr (45%/51%/4%)
per capita: 44 cu m/yr (1975)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited
land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal
smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements:
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
Geography - note:
focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
People ::Singapore
Population:
4,701,069 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Age structure:
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) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.6 years
male: 39.1 years
female: 40 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.863% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Birth rate:
8.65 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Death rate:
4.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Net migration rate:
4.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.077 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 2.32 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 222
male: 2.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.06 years
country comparison to the world: 7
male: 79.45 years
female: 84.87 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.1 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
4,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Nationality:
noun: Singaporean(s)
adjective: Singapore
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% (2000 census)
Religions:
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)
Languages:
Mandarin (official) 35%, English (official) 23%, Malay (official)
14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil (official)
3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8%, other 0.9% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 96.6%
female: 88.6% (2000 census)
Education expenditures:
3.2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 144
Government ::Singapore
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
conventional short form: Singapore
local long form: Republic of Singapore
local short form: Singapore
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)
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
National holiday:
National Day, 9 August (1965)
Constitution:
3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on pre-independence State of
Singapore Constitution)
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President S R NATHAN (since 1 September 1999)
note: uses S R NATHAN but his full name and the one used in formal
communications is Sellapan RAMANATHAN
head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August
2004); Senior Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 12 August 2004); Senior
Minister Shunmugam JAYAKUMAR (since 1 April 2009); Minister Mentor
LEE Kuan Yew (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime Minister TEO Chee
Huan (since 1 April 2009) and Deputy Prime Minister WONG Kan Seng
(since 1 September 2005)
cabinet: appointed by president, responsible to parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term;
appointed on 17 August 2005 (next election to be held by August
2011); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or
leader of majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by
president; deputy prime ministers appointed by president
election results: Sellapan Rama (S R) NATHAN was appointed president
in August 2005 after Presidential Elections Committee disqualified
three other would-be candidates; scheduled election not held
Legislative branch:
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
elections: last held on 6 May 2006 (next to be held by February 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 66.6%, WP 16.3%,
SDA 13%, SDP 4.1%; seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SDA 1
Judicial branch:
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
Political parties and leaders:
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]
note: SDA includes Singapore Justice Party or SJP, Singapore
National Malay Organization or PKMS, Singapore People's Party or SPP
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ADB, AOSIS, APEC, 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee
chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100
FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David I. ADELMAN
embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001
telephone: [65] 6476-9100
FAX: [65] 6476-9340
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 anthem:
name: "Majulah Singapura" (Onward Singapore)
lyrics/music: ZUBIR Said
note: adopted 1965; the anthem, which was first performed in 1958 at
the Victoria Theatre, is sung only in Malay
Economy ::Singapore
Economy - overview:
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 6.9% between 2004 and 2008. The economy
contracted 1.3% in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis,
but rebounded nearly 15% in 2010, on the strength of renewed
exports. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$292.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$255 billion (2009 est.)
$258.3 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$217.4 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
14.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
-1.3% (2009 est.)
1.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$62,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$54,700 (2009 est.)
$56,100 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 27.2%
services: 72.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.09 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 23.8%
services: 76.2% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
2.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
3% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.4%
highest 10%: 23.2% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48.1 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 29
Investment (gross fixed):
27.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Public debt:
102.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
110% of GDP (2009 est.)
note: for Singapore, 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-tradeable; the government has not borrowed to finance deficit
expenditures since the 1980s
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
0.6% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.38% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
5.38% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$80.5 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 35
$64.26 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$295.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$255.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$199.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$166.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$474.8 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 21
$268.6 billion (31 December 2008)
$353.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs; fish, ornamental fish
Industries:
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
Industrial production growth rate:
10.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Electricity - production:
41.72 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Electricity - consumption:
37.94 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
9,667 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Oil - consumption:
878,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Oil - exports:
1.289 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Oil - imports:
2.109 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas - consumption:
8.27 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Natural gas - imports:
8.27 billion cu m
country comparison to the world: 26
note: from Indonesia and Malaysia (2008 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Current account balance:
$40.44 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$32.63 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$358.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$273.4 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods,
pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, mineral fuels
Exports - partners:
Hong Kong 11.6%, Malaysia 11.5%, US 11.2%, Indonesia 9.7%, China
9.7%, Japan 4.6%, Hong Kong 11.6% (2009)
Imports:
$315.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$243.2 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs,
consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 14.7%, Malaysia 11.6%, China 10.5%, Japan 7.6%, Indonesia 5.8%,
South Korea 5.7%, Taiwan 5.22% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$212.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$187.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$21.66 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$20.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$274.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$260.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$172.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$167.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar - 1.3702 (2010), 1.4545
(2009), 1.415 (2008), 1.507 (2007), 1.5889 (2006)
Communications ::Singapore
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.852 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 61
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.652 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 83
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent service
domestic: excellent domestic facilities; launched 3G wireless
service in February 2005; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular
teledensity is more than 180 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 65; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US;
satellite earth stations - 4; supplemented by VSAT coverage (2008)
Broadcast media:
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)
Internet country code:
.sg
Internet hosts:
992,786 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 44
Internet users:
3.235 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 65
Transportation ::Singapore
Airports:
8 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 164
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 106 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 3,356 km
country comparison to the world: 163
paved: 3,356 km (includes 161 km of expressways) (2009)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,422
country comparison to the world: 6
by type: bulk carrier 183, cargo 88, carrier 6, chemical tanker 233,
container 321, liquefied gas 117, petroleum tanker 404, refrigerated
cargo 5, roll on/roll off 13, vehicle carrier 52
foreign-owned: 850 (Australia 11, Bangladesh 2, Bermuda 21, Chile 7,
China 26, Cyprus 3, Denmark 125, France 3, Germany 30, Greece 19,
Hong Kong 38, India 19, Indonesia 53, Italy 3, Japan 146, Malaysia
27, Netherlands 1, Norway 132, Slovenia 1, South Africa 3, South
Korea 9, Sweden 9, Switzerland 4, Taiwan 79, Thailand 30, UAE 10, UK
6, US 33)
registered in other countries: 327 (Australia 2, Bahamas 7,
Bangladesh 3, Belize 7, Cambodia 4, Cyprus 1, Dominica 1, France 3,
Gibraltar 1, Honduras 12, Hong Kong 13, Indonesia 42, Isle of Man 1,
Kiribati 11, Liberia 27, Malaysia 19, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 28,
Mongolia 1, North Korea 2, Panama 79, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and
Nevis 5, Sierra Leone 5, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 25, US 17, unknown 6)
(2010)
Ports and terminals:
Singapore
Transportation - note:
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
Military ::Singapore
Military branches:
Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense)
(2010)
Military service age and obligation:
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)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,266,426 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,027,701
females age 16-49: 1,097,762 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 27,430
female: 25,918 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Transnational Issues ::Singapore
Disputes - international:
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
Illicit drugs:
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
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Sint Maarten (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Sint Maarten
Background:
Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for
Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and set
about exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in
1633, but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally
relinquished the island of Saint Martin to the French and Dutch, who
divided it amongst themselves in 1648. The establishment of cotton,
tobacco, and sugar plantations dramatically expanded slavery on the
island in the 18th and 19th centuries; the practice was not
abolished in the Dutch half until 1863. The island's economy
declined until 1939 when it became a free port; the tourism industry
was dramatically expanded beginning in the 1950s. In 1954, Sint
Maarten and several other Dutch Caribbean possessions became part of
the Kingdom of the Netherlands as the Netherlands Antilles. In a
2000 referendum, the citizens of Sint Maarten voted to become a
self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The
change in status became effective in October of 2010 with the
dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.
Geography ::Sint Maarten
Location:
Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Dutch
part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Sint
Maarten lies east of the US Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates:
18 4 N, 63 4 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 34 sq km
country comparison to the world: 235
land: 34 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin
Area - comparative:
one-fifth the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 15 km
border countries: Saint Martin (France) 15 km
Coastline:
364 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:
tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds,
results in moderate temperatures; average rainfall of 1500 mm/year;
July-November is the hurricane season
Terrain:
low, hilly terrain, volcanic origin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Flagstaff 386 m
Natural resources:
fish, salt