President: Tony Tan Prime minister: Lee Hsien Loong
President: Michel Suleiman
Population
5,353,494
4,140,289
Life Expectancy
83.750 years
75.230 years
Capital City
Singapore
Largest city
Singapore (population: 3,547,810)
Beirut (population: 1,916,100)
Human Development Index
0.918
0.796
GDP per capita
$60,500 US
Literacy Rate
92.5%
87.4%
Corruption Perception Index
9.2
3
Percentage of Women in Parliament
24.5%
4.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Ng Teng Fong & family ($5.5bn US)
Najib Mikati ($2.0bn US)
Unemployment Rate
2.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
parliamentary republic
republic
Independence date
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
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 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3% note: 17 religious sects recognized
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), French, English, Armenian
Exports
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, mineral fuels
External Debt
$23,580,000,000 $
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
1
0
Location
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Area
697 km sq
10,400 km sq
Coastline
193 km
225 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
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
