President: Tony Tan Prime minister: Lee Hsien Loong
Emir: Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah
Population
5,353,494
2,646,314
Life Expectancy
83.750 years
77.280 years
Capital City
Singapore
Kuwait
Largest city
Singapore (population: 3,547,810)
As Salimiyah (population: 147,649)
Human Development Index
0.918
0.912
GDP per capita
$60,500 US
$42,200 US
Literacy Rate
92.5%
93.3%
Corruption Perception Index
9.2
4.3
Percentage of Women in Parliament
24.5%
3.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
Ng Teng Fong & family ($5.5bn US)
Nasser Al-Kharafi & family ($8.1bn US)
Unemployment Rate
2.000%
2.200%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
parliamentary republic
constitutional emirate
Independence date
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
19 June 1961 (from UK)
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 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%
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)
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Exports
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, mineral fuels
oil and refined products, fertilizers
External Debt
$23,580,000,000 $
$41,730,000,000 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)
Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2679 (2008 est.), 0.2844 (2007), 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.900%
5.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Area
697 km sq
17,818 km sq
Coastline
193 km
499 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
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
