President: Tony Tan Prime minister: Lee Hsien Loong
President: Bamir Topi Prime minister: Sali Berisha
Population
5,353,494
3,002,859
Life Expectancy
83.750 years
77.590 years
Capital City
Singapore
Tirana (Tirane)
Largest city
Singapore (population: 3,547,810)
Tirana (population: 374,801)
Human Development Index
0.918
0.807
GDP per capita
$60,500 US
$7,800 US
Literacy Rate
92.5%
98.7%
Corruption Perception Index
9.2
3.4
Percentage of Women in Parliament
24.5%
7.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
Ng Teng Fong & family ($5.5bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
2.000%
13.300%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
parliamentary republic
emerging democracy
Independence date
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
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)
Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note: percentages are estimates; there are no available current statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice
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)
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, mineral fuels
textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
External Debt
$23,580,000,000 $
$5,700,000,000 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)
leke (ALL) per US dollar - 79.546 (2008 est.), 92.668 (2007), 98.384 (2006), 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.900%
1.490%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north
Area
697 km sq
28,748 km sq
Coastline
193 km
362 km
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
mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
