President: Tony Tan Prime minister: Lee Hsien Loong
Interim president: Dioncounda Traore
Population
5,353,494
15,494,466
Life Expectancy
83.750 years
53.060 years
Capital City
Singapore
Bamako
Largest city
Singapore (population: 3,547,810)
Bamako (population: 1,297,280)
Human Development Index
0.918
0.391
GDP per capita
$60,500 US
$1,100 US
Literacy Rate
92.5%
46.4%
Corruption Perception Index
9.2
3.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
24.5%
10.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Ng Teng Fong & family ($5.5bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
2.000%
30.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished in practice
Political System
parliamentary republic
republic
Independence date
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
22 September 1960 (from France)
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 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%
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)
French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Exports
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, mineral fuels
cotton, gold, livestock
External Debt
$23,580,000,000 $
$3,192,000,000 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)
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar 438.77 (2008 est.), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.900%
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Area
697 km sq
1,240,192 km sq
Coastline
193 km
0 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
subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)
