Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest in terms of tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.
Population
4,701,069 (July 2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world:117
Nationality
Noun:Singaporean(s)
Adjective:Singapore
Ethnic groups
Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% (2000 census)
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)
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)
Country Name
Conventional long form:Republic of Singapore
Conventional short form:Singapore
Local long form:Republic of Singapore
Local short form:Singapore
Government Type
parliamentary republic
Capital
Name:Singapore
Geographic coordinates:1 17 N, 103 51 E
Time difference:UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
none
Independence
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
National Holiday
National Day, 9 August (1965)
Constitution
3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on pre-independence State of Singapore Constitution)
Legal system
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch
Chief of state:President S R NATHAN (since 1 September 1999)
note: uses S R NATHAN but his full name and the one used in formal communications is Sellapan RAMANATHAN
Head of government:Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004); Senior Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 12 August 2004); Senior Minister Shunmugam JAYAKUMAR (since 1 April 2009); Minister Mentor LEE Kuan Yew (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime Minister TEO Chee Huan (since 1 April 2009) and Deputy Prime Minister WONG Kan Seng (since 1 September 2005)
Cabinet:appointed by president, responsible to parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
Elections:president elected by popular vote for six-year term; appointed on 17 August 2005 (next election to be held by August 2011); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by president
Election results:Sellapan Rama (S R) NATHAN was appointed president in August 2005 after Presidential Elections Committee disqualified three other would-be candidates; scheduled election not held
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to 9 nominated members; up to three losing opposition candidates who came closest to winning seats may be appointed as "nonconstituency" members
Elections:last held on 6 May 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
Election results:percent of vote by party - PAP 66.6%, WP 16.3%, SDA 13%, SDP 4.1%; seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SDA 1
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals
Political Parties and Leaders
People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]; Reform Party [NG Teck Siong]; Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong]; Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Workers' Party or WP [Sylvia LIM Swee Lian]
note: SDA includes Singapore Justice Party or SJP, Singapore National Malay Organization or PKMS, Singapore People's Party or SPP
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
International organization participation
ADB, AOSIS, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FATF, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIT, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission:Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee
Chancery:3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone:[1] (202) 537-3100
FAX:[1] (202) 537-0876
Consulate(s) general:San Francisco
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission:Ambassador David I. ADELMAN
Embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
Mailing address:FPO AP 96507-0001
Telephone:[65] 6476-9100
FAX: [65] 6476-9340
Flag description
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle
