President: Tony Tan Prime minister: Lee Hsien Loong
Population
18,056,072
5,353,494
Life Expectancy
54.590 years
83.750 years
Capital City
Singapore
Largest city
Luanda (population: 2,776,170)
Singapore (population: 3,547,810)
Human Development Index
0.484
0.918
GDP per capita
$60,500 US
Literacy Rate
67.4%
92.5%
Corruption Perception Index
1.9
9.2
Percentage of Women in Parliament
37.3%
24.5%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Ng Teng Fong & family ($5.5bn US)
Unemployment Rate
2.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Legal
Political System
republic; multiparty presidential regime
parliamentary republic
Independence date
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
Religions
indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)
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
Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
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)
Exports
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, mineral fuels
External Debt
$23,580,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar - 1.415 (2008 est.), 1.507 (2007), 1.5889 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
1
Location
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Area
1,246,700 km sq
697 km sq
Coastline
1,600 km
193 km
Climate
semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
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
