Library of Congress – Federal Research Division Country Profile: Singapore, July 2006 

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COUNTRY PROFILE: SINGAPORE 

July 2006

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COUNTRY

Formal Name: Republic of Singapore (English-language name). 

Also, in other official languages: Republik Singapura (Malay), 

Xinjiapo Gongheguo― 新加坡共和国 (Chinese), and Cingkappãr 

Short Form: Singapore. 

Term for Citizen(s): Singaporean(s). 

Capital: Singapore. 

Major Cities: Singapore is a city-state. The city of Singapore is located on the south-central 

coast of the island of Singapore, but urbanization has taken over most of the territory of the 

island. 

Date of Independence: August 31, 1963, from Britain; August 9, 1965, from the Federation of 

Malaysia. 

National Public Holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1); Lunar New Year (movable date in 

January or February); Hari Raya Haji (Feast of the Sacrifice, movable date in February); Good 

Friday (movable date in March or April); Labour Day (May 1); Vesak Day (June 2); National 

Day or Independence Day (August 9); Deepavali (movable date in November); Hari Raya Puasa 

(end of Ramadan, movable date according to the Islamic lunar calendar); and Christmas 

(December 25). 

Flag: Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; a vertical white 

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crescent (closed portion toward the hoist side), partially enclosing five 

white-point stars arranged in a circle, positioned near the hoist side of the 

red band. The red band symbolizes universal brotherhood and the equality 

of men; the white band, purity and virtue. The crescent moon represents 

a young nation on the rise, while the five stars stand for the ideals of 

democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality. 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Early History: The island of Singapore was known to mariners at least by the third century A.D. 

By the seventh century, when a succession of maritime states arose throughout the Malay 

Archipelago, Singapore probably was one of the many trading outposts serving as an entrepôt 

Kudiyarasu (Tamil) சி u க ~ a    யர ச . 
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and supply point for Malay, Thai, Javanese, Chinese, Indian, and Arab traders. A fourteenthcentury Javanese chronicle referred to the island as Temasek, and a seventeenth-century Malay 

annal noted the 1299 founding of the city of Singapura (“lion city”) after a strange, lion-like 

beast that had been sighted there. Singapura was controlled by a succession of regional empires 

and Malayan sultanates. 

European Arrivals: Portuguese explorers captured the port of Melaka (Malacca) in 1511, 

forcing the reigning sultan to flee south, where he established a new regime, the Johore 

Sultanate, that incorporated Singapura. The Portuguese burned down a trading post at the mouth 

of the Temasek (Singapore) River in 1613; after that, the island was largely abandoned and 

trading and planting activities moved south to the Riau Islands and Sumatra. However, planting 

activities had returned to Temasek by the early nineteenth century. In 1818 Temasek was settled 

by a Malay official of the Johore Sultanate and his followers, who shared the island with several 

hundred indigenous tribal people and Chinese planters. The year 1819 marked the arrival of Sir 

Thomas Stamford Raffles, the lieutenant governor of the British enclave of Bencoolen 

(Bengkulu on the west coast of Sumatra) and an agent of the British East India Company, who 

obtained permission from the local Malay official to establish a trading post. He called it 

Singapore, after its ancient name, and opened the port to free trade and free immigration on the 

south coast of the island at the mouth of the Singapore River. At the time, Singapore had about 

1,000 inhabitants. By 1827 Chinese had become the most numerous of Singapore’s various 

ethnic groups. They came from Malacca, Penang, Riau, and other parts of the Malay 

Archipelago. More recent Chinese migrants came from the South China provinces of Guangdong 

and Fujian. 

British Colonial Period: During the 50 years following Raffles’s establishment of his free-trade 

port, Singapore grew in size, population, and prosperity. In 1824 the Dutch formally recognized 

British control of Singapore, and London acquired full sovereignty over the island. From 1826 to 

1867, Singapore, along with two other trading ports on the Malay Peninsula—Penang and 

Malacca—and several smaller dependencies, were ruled together as the Straits Settlements from 

the British East India Company headquarters in India. In 1867 the British needed a better 

location than fever-ridden Hong Kong to station their troops in Asia, so the Straits Settlements 

were made a crown colony and its capital Penang, ruled directly from London. The British 

installed a governor and executive and legislative councils. By that time, Singapore had 

surpassed the other Straits Settlements in importance, as it had grown to become a bustling 

seaport with 86,000 inhabitants. Singapore also dominated the Straits Settlements Legislative 

Council. After the Suez Canal opened in 1869 and steamships became the major form of ocean 

transport, British influence increased in the region, bringing still greater maritime activity to 

Singapore. Later in the century and into the twentieth century, Singapore became a major point 

of disembarkation for hundreds of thousands of laborers brought in from China, India, the Dutch 

East Indies, and the Malay Archipelago, bound for tin mines and rubber plantations to the north. 

During the first half of the twentieth century, Singapore prospered as financial institutions, 

transportation, communications, and government infrastructure expanded rapidly to support the 

booming trade and industry of the British Empire. Although Singapore was largely unaffected by 

World War I (1914–18), still it experienced the same postwar boom and depression as the rest of 

the world. Along with the influx of Chinese migrants over the previous decades came secret 
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societies and kinship and place-name associations that grew to have great influence on society. 

Political activities surfaced in Singapore among the large Chinese population, first in the early 

1900s between advocates of reform and revolution in China. Then, in the 1930s there was 

increased interest in developments in China, and many supported either the Chinese Communist 

Party or the Chinese Nationalist Party (Guomindang). The Malayan Communist Party (MCP) 

was established in 1930 and competed with local branches of the Guomindang. Both sides, 

however, strongly supported China against the rising tide of Japanese aggression. Some years 

earlier, in 1923, in reaction to Japan’s increasing naval power, the British began building a large 

naval base at Singapore. It was costly and unpopular, but when completed in 1941, this 

“Gibraltar of the East” posed an attractive target for Japan. 

Japan attacked Malaya in December 1941, and by February 1942 the Japanese had taken control 

of both Malaya and Singapore. They renamed Singapore ShÇnan (“Light of the South”) and set 

about dismantling the British establishment. Singapore suffered greatly during the war, first from 

the Japanese attack and then from Allied bombings of its harbor facilities. By the war’s end, the 

colony was in poor shape, with a high death rate, rampant crime and corruption, and severe 

infrastructure damage. During the 1942–45 occupation period, a favorable view of the colonial 

relationship had lapsed among the local population, as it had in other British colonies, and upon 

the return of the British, resulted in demands for self-rule. In 1946 Singapore became a separate 

crown colony with a civil administration. When the Federation of Malaya was established in 

1948 as a move toward self-rule, Singapore continued as a separate crown colony. The same 

year, the MCP launched an insurrection in Malaya and Singapore, and the British declared a 

State of Emergency that was to continue until 1960. The worldwide demand for tin and rubber 

had brought economic recovery to Singapore by this time, and the Korean War (1950–53) 

brought even further economic prosperity to the colony. However, strikes and student 

demonstrations organized by the MCP throughout the 1950s continued to arouse fears of a 

communist takeover in Malaya. 

In 1953 a British commission recommended partial internal self-government for Singapore. In 

this milieu, other political parties began to form in 1954. One was the Labour Front led by David 

Marshall, who called for immediate independence and merger with Malaya. The same year, the 

People’s Action Party (PAP) was established under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew, a 

Cambridge-educated lawyer. The PAP also campaigned for an end to colonialism and a merger 

with Malaya. Following Legislative Assembly elections in 1955, a coalition government was 

formed with Marshall as chief minister. As a result of further talks with London, Singapore was 

granted internal self-government while the British continued to control defense and foreign 

affairs. In 1957 Malaya was granted independence, and the next year the British Parliament 

elevated the status of Singapore from colony to state and provided for new local elections. 

The PAP swept the elections held in May 1959, and Lee Kuan Yew was installed as the first 

prime minister. The PAP’s strongest opponents were communists operating in both legal and 

illegal organizations. The most prominent was the Barisan Sosialis (Socialist Front), a left-wing 

party that retained favor in the 1960s and early 1970s. There also were fears that communists 

within the PAP would seize control of the government, but moderates led by Lee held sway. In 

1962 Singaporean voters approved the PAP’s merger plan with Malaya, and on September 16, 

1963, Singapore joined Malaya and the former British territories on the island of Borneo—Sabah 
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and Sarawak—to form the independent Federation of Malaysia. Only Brunei opted out of the 

federation. 

Singapore as Part of Malaysia: Between 1963 and 1965, Singapore was an integral part of the 

Federation of Malaysia. Union with Malaya had always been a goal of Lee Kuan Yew and the 

moderate wing of the PAP. Once the PAP ranks were firmly under Lee’s control, he met with the 

leaders of Malaya, Sabah, and Sarawak to sign the Malaysia Agreement on July 9, 1963, under 

which the independent nation of Malaysia was formed. Lee declared Singapore’s independence 

from Britain on August 31, 1963; dissolved the Legislative Assembly; and called for an election 

to obtain a new mandate for the PAP pro-merger government. Many political opponents of the 

merger were jailed, and the PAP won a majority of seats in the assembly. Despite threats of 

military confrontation (Konfrontasi) from Indonesia and actual raids on Sabah and Sarawak by 

Indonesian commandos, the merger took place on September 16, 1963. The new federation was 

based on an uneasy alliance between Malays and ethnic Chinese. Communal rioting ensued in 

various parts of the new nation, including usually well controlled Singapore. In the end, the 

merger failed. As a state, Singapore did not achieve the economic progress it had hoped for, and 

political tensions escalated between Chinese-dominated Singapore and Malay-dominated Kuala 

Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Fearing greater Singaporean dominance of the federation and 

further violence between the Muslim and Chinese communities, the government of Malaysia 

decided to separate Singapore from the fledgling federation. 

Independent Singapore: After separation from Malaysia on August 9, 1965, Singapore was 

forced to accept the challenge of forging a viable nation—the Republic of Singapore—on a small 

island with few resources beyond the determination and talent of its people. Under the leadership 

of Lee Kuan Yew and the PAP, the new nation met the challenge. Konfrontasi with Indonesia 

ended in 1966, while trade with Japan and the United States increased substantially, especially 

with the latter, since Singapore became a supply center for the increasing U.S. involvement in 

the Second Indochina War (1954–75). In 1967 Singapore joined Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the 

Philippines, and Thailand in forming the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 

the purpose of promoting regional stability, economic development, and cultural exchange. In 

1968 Britain announced its decision to withdraw from its military bases in Singapore within 

three years. Because of defense implications and the amount of British spending (accounting for 

about 25 percent of the gross national product [GNP] of Singapore), this was sobering news. The 

government called for new elections, seeking a new mandate to proceed. Because the PAP won 

all 58 parliamentary seats, the government was able to pass stricter labor legislation and thus 

help overcome the nation’s reputation for frequent labor disputes and strikes. Former British 

naval base workers were retrained to work in what became the Sembawang Shipyard, and 

eventually a major shipbuilding and ship repair center. By the 1970s, Singapore had achieved 

status as a world leader in shipping, air transport, and oil refining. No longer was Singapore as 

dependent on peninsular Malaysia for its economic prosperity. 

Economic Success: In the 1970s through the 1990s, Singapore experienced sustained economic 

growth. Along with Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan, it was called one of the “Four 

Tigers” of Asian economic prosperity. Labor-intensive industries were relocated to other 

ASEAN nations and were replaced by high-technology industries and services. The PAP 

developed a stable and corruption-free government, marked by strong central development 
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planning and social policies. Despite paternalistic and at times authoritarian governmental 

practices and one-party dominance, the PAP maintained its large popular mandate. A 

Singaporean identity, distinct from that of the Malay and Chinese, emerged as the nation 

increasingly integrated itself into the global economy. In 1990 Lee Kuan Yew stepped down as 

prime minister, and Goh Chok Tong, the first deputy prime minister and first minister of defense, 

took over as part of the succession to a new generation of leaders. The Asian economic crisis of 

1997–98 was not the major setback for Singapore that it was for other Southeast Asian nations; 

the regional economic downturn did bring fluctuating growth rates to Singapore but no serious 

problems. Except for oil-rich Brunei, Singapore remained the most prosperous nation in the 

region. After 14 years in office, in 2004 Goh stepped down in favor of Lee Hsien Loong, the 

minister of finance and son of Lee Kuan Yew. The elder Lee agreed to stay on as minister 

mentor and Goh as senior minister in order to oversee the transition of the new generation of 

leaders. Lee Hsien Loong was confirmed in office in a democratic election held on May 6, 2006. 

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GEOGRAPHY

Location: Singapore is located in Southeast Asia between Malaysia 

and Indonesia at the narrowest point of the Strait of Malacca, one of 

the world’s strategic sea routes connecting the Indian Ocean with the 

South China Sea. Lying off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, 

Singapore is connected to Malaysia by a causeway. 

Size: The land area claimed by the government in 2004 was 699 square kilometers; the water 

area was 10 square kilometers, for a total national area of 709 square kilometers. The area has 

increased through land reclamation and landfill projects along the coast. Since 1988 the total 

land area has increased by some 63 square kilometers. 

Land Boundaries: Singapore is an island nation with no land boundaries. Malaysia lies to the 

north across the Johore Strait and Indonesia to the south across the Strait of Malacca. 

Length of Coastline: Singapore comprises one main island and 58 islets. The total coastline in 

2005 was 193 kilometers. Since 1988, the coastline has increased by 55 kilometers as a result of 

extensive land reclamation and landfill projects. 

Maritime Claims: Singapore claims a territorial sea of three nautical miles, as well as an 

exclusive fishing zone beyond the territorial sea as defined in treaties and practice. 

Topography: Singapore is mainly low-lying, with rounded granite hills, especially in the 

island’s center. At 166 meters above sea level, the highest point is Bukit Timah Peak. Low but 

steep ridges are found in the west and southwest. To the east is a large region of generally flat 

alluvial soils, where streams have cut steep-sided valleys and gullies. Singapore was once 

covered with tropical rain forest and surrounded by mangrove swamps, but as the island 

urbanized, hills were leveled and swamps drained. By 2005 forest covered only about 4,000 

hectares, or 6.6 percent of the land area. The gently undulating central plateau contains a water 

catchment area and a nature preserve. 
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Principal Rivers: The Singapore River is only 4.1 kilometers in length but historically was an 

important resource for early settlers and traders. The Singapore River has five tributaries: the 

Geylang, Kallang, Pelton, Rochor, and Whampoa rivers. Also there are other small streams, 

some of which flow directly into the sea through mangrove swamps, lagoons, or broad estuaries. 

Several of the large streams have been damned at their mouths to form freshwater reservoirs. 

Singapore has 10 major reservoirs, both coastal and inland. 

Climate: Only two degrees north of the equator, Singapore has a tropical climate; elevated 

temperatures are moderated by sea breezes and high humidity. There are two monsoon seasons, 

the northeastern (dry) monsoon from December to March and the southwestern (wet) monsoon 

from June to September. Even between the monsoon seasons, afternoon and early evening 

thunderstorms frequently occur. 

Natural Resources: Fish and deepwater ports. 

Land Use: Only 1.6 percent of the land is arable. In 1967, 25 percent of the land was in 

agricultural use, but by 1988, despite increases through land reclamation, that percentage had 

decreased to 8.5 percent and is predicted to shrink to 3.2 percent by 2030. Singapore has no 

irrigated land, and none of the land is planted to permanent crops. More than 60 percent of the 

land is devoted to residential, industrial, commercial, institutional, and infrastructure spaces. 

Environmental Factors: The major environmental issues are industrial pollution, limited 

freshwater resources, waste disposal, and seasonal smoke and haze resulting from forest fires in 

Indonesia. 

Time Zone: Singapore is in a single time zone, eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. 

SOCIETY

Population: Singapore’s population was reported by the government at 4,351,400 in July 2005, 

an increase of some 333,660 since the 2000 census. Of this total, 3,553,500 were citizens or 

permanent residents. Foreign estimates for July 2006 put the total population at 4,492,150. In 

2005 the annual population growth rate, based on total residents, was 1.9 percent, and population 

density was estimated at 6,222 persons per square kilometer. 

Demography: According to Singapore’s official demographic statistics for 2005, the national 

age structure was as follows: 19.7 percent 0–14 years of age, 72.0 percent 15–64 years of age, 

and 8.3 percent 65 and older. The birthrate was 10.0 births per 1,000 population, and the death 

rate was 4.3 deaths per 1,000. Life expectancy at birth was estimated at 81.6 years for women 

and 77.9 years for men—or 79.7 years total. The infant mortality rate was estimated at 2.1 per 

1,000 live births, while the total fertility rate was estimated at about 1.24 children born per 

woman. The gender ratio at birth was 0.987 males per female. 

Ethnic Groups: According to the 2000 census, ethnic Chinese make up 76.8 percent of the 

population. The largest group are descendants of Hokkien-speaking migrants from southern 
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Fujian Province in China. The second largest group are descendants of Teochiu speakers from 

northeastern Guangdong Province in China. The third largest group are those whose Yue-dialect 

ancestors came from the Guangzhou area of Guangdong Province. The Chinese population also 

includes Hakka (guest family) from upland areas of both Guangdong and Fujian and other 

groups from coastal areas of Fujian. The remainder of Singapore’s population is Malay (13.9 

percent), Indian (mostly Tamil, 7.9 percent), or other (1.4 percent). 

Languages: Singaporeans speak many different languages, and the majority speak at least two 

languages. Malay is the national language and one of the four official languages, along with 

Chinese, Tamil, and English. Chinese is the majority language, spoken by about 76 percent of 

the population. The major Chinese dialect is Minnan, followed by Yue (Cantonese), Mandarin, 

Hakka, Mindong, Puxian, and Minbei. Although the postindependence generation and most 

Chinese migrants to Singapore over the centuries spoke southern Chinese dialects, since 1979 the 

government has promoted fluency in Mandarin Chinese. Other languages, in order of use, are 

Malay (about 15 percent), English (about 9 percent), and Tamil (about 4 percent). Less 

frequently spoken languages, in order of use, include Malayalam, Baba Malay (a Malay-Chinese 

creole), Punjabi, Madurese, Sinhala, Gujarati, and Javanese. 

Religion: According to the 2000 census, 2.9 million Singaporeans professed adherence to a 

religious faith. Of these, Buddhists and Daoists made up 51.0 percent of the total, or 64.4 percent 

of the Chinese population and 13.9 percent of the “other” ethnic composition. Islam had the 

second largest following at 14.9 percent, or 99.6 percent of the Malay population. Christians 

represented 14.6 percent of religious believers and 53.3 percent of the “other” ethnic category. 

Hindus made up 4.0 percent of believers, or about 55.5 percent of the Indian population. Other 

religions made up only 0.4 percent of the total, and 14.8 percent professed no religious 

affiliation. 

Education and Literacy: The British-inspired education system includes six years of 

compulsory primary school, four years of secondary school, and two years of junior college for 

those aspiring to higher education. All children between age six and 14 are required to attend 

school, and school attendance in 2005 was almost universal at both primary and secondary 

levels. English is the primary medium of instruction. In 2003 Singapore claimed 175 schools, 

299,993 students, and 12,025 teachers at the primary level and 162 schools, 206,426 students, 

and 10,830 teachers at the secondary level. At the postsecondary level, Singapore maintained 

two centralized institutes with 851 students and 103 teachers and 16 junior colleges with 23,708 

students and 1,956 faculty members. Postsecondary education also includes Singapore 

Polytechnic, which in 2004–5 had 13,738 full-time students; the Institute of Technical Education 

with 21,796 students; and the National Institute of Education with 5,092 students. Singapore has 

two public universities: the National University of Singapore, founded in 1905, with 31,735 

undergraduate and graduate students in academic year 2005–6; and Nanyang Technical 

University, founded in 1955, with 25,715 undergraduate and graduate students in academic year 

2005–6. A third, government-funded, privately managed institution, the Singapore Management 

University, was established in 2000 and has grown to more than 3,800 undergraduate and 

graduate students in 2005–6. Together, these three universities enroll in excess of 61,250 

students. Public expenditures on education totaled 2.7 percent of the gross domestic product for 
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school year 2004–5. Literacy is estimated at 95 percent overall, and 57.8 percent of Singaporeans 

have secondary school diplomas or even higher qualifications. 

Health: The state of health in Singapore is good by international standards. According to the 

Ministry of Health, rising standards of living, high levels of education, good housing, safe water 

supply and sanitation, quality medical services, and the active promotion of preventive medicine 

all have helped to significantly boost the health of Singaporeans. The leading causes of death in 

Singapore are cancer, heart disease, pneumonia, and cerebrovascular diseases. At the end of 

2005, the Ministry of Health reported that 2,641 Singaporeans were infected with human 

immunodeficiency virus (HIV); of these cases, 1,481 had developed full-blown acquired immune 

deficiency syndrome (AIDS) cumulatively since 1985, 255 were new HIV cases in 2005, and 

100 were new AIDS cases. 

Two health care delivery “cluster” systems are available to Singaporeans. The western cluster, 

the National Healthcare Group, provides comprehensive public health care through a network of 

four hospitals, one national center, nine polyclinics, three specialty institutes, nine business 

divisions, and more than 11,000 staff members. The eastern cluster, Singapore Health Services, 

offers three hospitals, five national specialist centers, a network of primary health care clinics, 

and more than 12,000 staff members. Medical insurance is available via Medisave for 

hospitalization and some outpatient services, Medifund for those unable to pay for their medical 

expenses, Medishield for catastrophic illness, and Eldershield for senior citizens with severe 

disabilities. In 2005 Singapore had 29 hospitals with 11,830 hospital beds, as well as 6,748 

physicians (1.6 physicians per 1,000 population or one physician for every 640 persons) and 

20,167 nurses and midwives (4.6 nurses per 1,000 population or one nurse for every 220 

persons). Traditional Chinese medicine also is widely practiced. In fiscal year (FY) 2005, 6.3 

percent of total government expenditures was spent on health care. 

Welfare: The Central Provident Fund is Singapore’s compulsory national social security savings 

plan. It was established in 1955 to ensure the financial security of all workers either retired or no 

longer able to work. Citizens and permanent residents are eligible to participate. Since the early 

1990s, contributions of 40 percent of the gross wages of employees under 55 have been 

mandated, but employee and employer share the burden equally. Singaporeans can use these 

funds to invest in approved securities, to purchase homes in government housing projects, or to 

pay for hospitalization and retirement. The government makes major expenditures—43 percent 

of total government spending in 2005—for “social development.” Some 93 percent of Singapore 

residents (citizens and permanent residents) own their own homes. Of these, 72.3 percent reside 

in high-density buildings in four-room or larger apartments. 

ECONOMY

Overview: Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-trade economy. Maintaining a 

free and open multilateral trading system is essential for Singapore’s national well-being, and 

Singapore trades with any other state when it is to their mutual benefit. Singapore enjoys an open 

and corruption-free environment with stable prices and the second highest standard of living in 

Asia (following Japan). The economy depends heavily on the export trade, particularly in the 
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electronics and manufacturing sectors. Because of solid economic policies and practices, 

Singapore recovered more quickly from the 1997–98 economic crisis than other Southeast Asian 

nations. 

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)/Gross National Income (GNI): According to Singapore’s 

official government statistics, the country’s GDP for 2005 was US$116.8 billion, an 8.6 percent 

increase over 2004. Per capita GDP in 2005 was US$26,833 up from US$427 in 1960 and 

US$4,859 in 1980. GNI per capita for 2005 was US$26,706, up from US$434 in 1960 and 

US$4,662 in 1980. Using purchasing power parity, GDP in 2005 was estimated as US$132.3 

billion, or US$29,900 per capita. Singapore has the second-highest per capita GDP in Asia, after 

Japan. 

Government Budget: As reported by the Ministry of Finance for fiscal year (FY) 2005, 

Singapore’s revenues were US$17.4 billion, and expenditures were US$18.2 billion. In FY 2006, 

operating revenue was projected at US$18.3 billion and expenditures at US$19.4 billion. In 2005 

cumulative domestic government debt totaled US$126.7 billion, or 108 percent of GDP. 

Inflation: The inflation rate in Singapore was 1 percent according to 2005 estimates. 

Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing: As an economic category, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 

are not large enough to be reported as a part of the gross domestic product (GDP) but are instead 

subsumed under industrial production. In 1960 Singapore had 20,000 small farms on 14,000 

hectares of land. By 1995 farmland had been severely reduced and was concentrated on 1,500 

hectares of agrotechnology parks that housed modern intensive farms. By 2004 Singapore had 

only 266 farms on 803 hectares of land. In 2000 the government established the Agri-Food and 

Veterinary Authority of Singapore to oversee the agrotechnology parks (including the current 67 

vegetable farms and five egg-laying farms), the development of agrotechnology and 

agribiotechnology (knowledge of agriculture and molecular biology applied to large-scale, 

intensive farming), and the promotion of investments in the agri-industry. Singapore’s 

agricultural products include, in order of value, rubber, copra, fruit, orchids (15 percent of the 

world market), vegetables, poultry, eggs, and ornamental fish (30 percent of the world market). 

In 2004 Singapore produced about US$143 million in agricultural products, including livestock 

and fish, for both domestic consumption and export. Since the 1980s, the government has made a 

concerted effort to conserve the surviving forest areas of Singapore. The last reported timber 

harvests were in 1992, when 25,000 cubic meters of sawnwood were produced. Around this 

time, a mere 100 hectares of forest and 600 hectares of mangrove swamps had survived. Fishing 

is by capture (36 percent) and aquaculture (64 percent). The total catch in 2004 was 7,579 tons of 

fish and shellfish. 

Mining and Minerals: None other than minor amounts of stone quarrying. 

Industry and Manufacturing: Industry accounted for 33.6 percent of the gross domestic 

product (GDP) in 2005. Singapore’s primary industries in order of value are electronics, 

chemicals, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, 

processed food and beverages, ship repair, and offshore platform construction. Manufacturing 

output grew by 12.8 percent in 2005 and employed 20.5 percent of the workforce. 
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Energy: In 2004 Singapore produced nearly 36.8 billion and consumed nearly 33.2 billion 

kilowatt-hours of electricity. Singapore produced no oil or natural gas but consumed an 

estimated 749,000 barrels per day in 2004 and 5.3 billion cubic meters in 2003, respectively. 

Although Singapore is 100 percent dependent on imports of oil and natural gas, it ranks as one of 

the world’s top three crude oil refining and trading hubs. Singapore’s crude oil refining capacity 

is estimated at 1.3 million barrels per day. However, India, Malaysia, and Thailand are 

challenging Singapore’s regional petroleum refining dominance. In keeping with government 

policy, natural gas usage is rising rapidly. By 2003 this relatively environmentally clean source 

of energy, carried by pipeline from neighboring Malaysia, accounted for 60 percent of electricity 

generation. 

Services: Services produced 66.4 percent of the gross domestic product and occupied 68.7 

percent of the labor force in 2005. Major services include financial services, life sciences, and 

entrepôt trade. 

Banking and Finance: The Monetary Authority of Singapore is responsible for regulating the 

country’s banking and investment sector. In May 2006, Singapore had about 500 local and 

foreign financial services companies, including 108 commercial banks and 154 insurance 

companies. Singapore’s stock exchange, the Singapore Exchange (SGX), has separate divisions 

for the trading of securities and derivatives. 

Tourism: In 2005 Singapore welcomed some 8.9 million arriving visitors, not counting 

Malaysians who entered by land across the Jahore Strait. Most visitors to Singapore in 2005 

came from Indonesia (20.3 percent), China (9.6 percent), Australia (6.9 percent), Japan (6.6 

percent), India (6.5 percent), and Malaysia (6.5 percent; not including those arriving by land). 

Labor: Of 2.3 million Singaporeans employed at the end of 2005, 68.7 percent worked in 

services, 20.5 percent were employed in manufacturing, 10.1 percent were employed in 

construction, and 0.7 percent were employed in other sectors. According to the Ministry of 

Manpower, the annual average unemployment rate for 2005 was 3.1 percent. 

Foreign Economic Relations: Located on the strategic Strait of Malacca, Singapore is a major 

trading hub and home to the world’s busiest port. The nation’s prosperity has been built on a profree trade policy. In May 2006, the director general of the World Trade Organization observed 

that Singapore, with its strong tradition of open markets, benefits from bilateral as well as global 

trade agreements, unlike most small countries that relinquish their interests in bilateral 

negotiations with larger and more powerful trading partners. 

Imports: Singapore’s imports totaled around US$210.7 billion in 2005. Machinery and 

equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, and foodstuffs are Singapore’s major import commodities. 

The major import partners in 2005 were Malaysia (13.7 percent), the European Union (11.6 

percent), the United States (11.6 percent), China (10.3 percent), Japan (9.6 percent), Taiwan (5.9 

percent), Indonesia (5.2 percent), Saudi Arabia (4.5 percent), South Korea (4.3 percent), and 

Thailand (3.8 percent). 
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Exports: Singapore’s exports totaled US$241.9 billion in 2005. The major exports are 

machinery and equipment (especially electronic components and parts), consumer goods, 

chemicals, and mineral fuels and petroleum products (processed for re-export). The major export 

partners in 2005 were Malaysia (13.2 percent), the European Union (12.0 percent), the United 

States (10.2 percent), Hong Kong (9.4 percent), China (8.6 percent), Japan (5.5 percent), 

Thailand (4.1 percent), Taiwan (3.9 percent), and South Korea (3.5 percent). 

Trade Balance: Singapore maintains a favorable balance of trade. In 2005 exports totaled 

US$241.9 billion, exceeding imports of US$210.7 billion. 

Balance of Payments: Singapore’s current account balance was US$35.1 billion for 2005. 

External Debt: The U.S. government estimated that Singapore had US$24.7 billion of external 

debt in 2005. 

Foreign Investment: Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Singapore totaled US$15.36 billion in 

2005. The cumulative value of FDI was US$155 billion at the end of 2003. Most investment is 

concentrated in manufacturing, financial services, and commerce and comes primarily from the 

United Kingdom (16.1 percent), the United States (15.4 percent), and Japan (13.5 percent). 

Currency and Exchange Rate: Singapore’s currency is the Singapore dollar (S$). The 

interbank exchange rate on July 10, 2006, was US$1 = S$1.57538. The Singapore dollar is made 

up of 100 cents. Coins are minted in denominations of S$0.05, S$0.10, S$0.20, S$0.50, and S$1. 

Coins of $S0.01 are in circulation but no longer minted. Banknotes are issued in denominations 

of S$2, S$5, S$10, S$50, S$100, S$1,000, and S$10,000. 

Fiscal Year: April 1 to March 31, which the government refers to as the financial year. 

TRANSPORTATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Overview: Singapore has a sophisticated urban transit network of light rail, metro rail, and buses 

to move commuters throughout the urbanized nation. As the home of the world’s busiest port, 

Singapore provides free-trade zones and shipping services at a strategic juncture of shipping 

lanes and water, air, and land trade routes. 

Roads: Singapore has 3,188 kilometers of roads. Of this total, 150 kilometers are expressways. 

A causeway links the Singapore road system to Malaysia’s road system across the Johore Strait. 

The Ministry of Transport reported that at the end of 2004 Singapore had 419,470 mostly private 

automobiles, 20,407 taxis, 13,173 buses, and more than 137,316 commercial and other vehicles 

plus 137,029 motorcycles and scooters. 

Railroads: Singapore has only 23 kilometers of railroad track, all operated by Malaysian 

Railways and technically located on Malaysian territory per an agreement brokered in 1965. The 

line provides passenger service three times daily from Singapore’s Keppel Station across a 1.2-

kilometer causeway that spans the Johore Strait to the Malaysian mainland and Kuala Lumpur. 
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Weekly luxury train service also is available from Keppel Station to Chang Mai and Bangkok, 

Thailand, with connections to Kuala Lumpur. 

Rapid Transit: Singapore’s principal public mass transit system is operated by Singapore Mass 

Rapid Transit (SMRT) Corporation, which also runs light rail, bus, and taxi services. In fiscal 

year (FY) 2005, SMRT trains conveyed 402.59 million passengers on the system’s 89.4 

kilometers of above- and underground track. The system has 16 underground stations, 34 

elevated stations, and one station at grade and operates on two lines, the North-South and EastWest lines. The Bukit Panjang Light Rail Transit system is a fully automated service that carried 

37,800 passengers per day in FY 2005, using some 7.8 kilometers of elevated guideways and 

serving 14 stations. More than 1 billion passengers rode on SMRT and SBS Transit buses in FY 

2004. SBS Transit, which started as a bus company (Singapore Bus Services) in 1973, began 

light rail and its mass rapid transit operations in 2003. By 2005 SBS was operating two minimetro light-rail feeder lines and one full metro line—the North East Line—with 14 operational 

underground stations and 20 kilometers of track. SBS and SMRT metro lines intersect at key 

interchange points. 

Ports: The Port of Singapore, with a deep harbor and a strategic location, is the busiest in the 

world. More than 130,000 ships arrived with about 1.15 billion gross registered tons (GRT) in 

2005. In the same year, the port handled 423.3 million tons of general and bulk cargo and 23 

million twenty-foot equivalent units of containers. The port has three major anchorages—the 

Eastern, Western, and Johore sectors—which offer specialized locations for various types of 

cargo and ships of various sizes and purposes, including foreign warships. There are five port 

terminals, each specializing in different types of cargo, and some 15 kilometers of wharves. The 

port has seven free-trade zones, six for seaborne trade and one for air cargo. Goods are stored in 

these zones for processing and reexportation with minimum customs formalities. Singapore also 

offers extensive technology-driven warehouse and oil storage facilities. More than 3,000 ships 

are registered in Singapore, which itself has the fifteenth largest merchant fleet in the world, 

numbering 900 ships of 1,000 GRT or more for a total of 23.1 million GRT. The major ships 

include 136 bulk carriers, 84 cargo ships, 96 chemical tankers, 4 combination bulk carriers, 8 

combination ore and oil carriers, 186 container ships, 41 liquefied natural gas carriers, 10 

specialized tankers, 3 livestock carriers, 2 multifunctional large-load carriers, 5 roll-on/roll-off 

carriers, 1 short-sea passenger ship, and 32 vehicle carriers. 

Inland and Coastal Waterways: Singapore has no significant inland waterways. Its waterways 

on the Strait of Malacca coast are heavily trafficked by maritime ships. 

Civil Aviation and Airports: Singapore has 10 airports, mostly for military use, two of which 

have paved runways of more than 3,047 meters. The main international airport is Singapore 

Changi Airport, whose major passenger and air cargo facilities are located on the northeast side 

of Singapore, about 20 kilometers from the city center. Seletar Airport, 13 kilometers from 

downtown Singapore, also handles some commercial traffic. Singapore’s main airline is 

Singapore Airlines (SIA), a scheduled international carrier serving 90 destinations in 37 

countries throughout the world. SIA provides both passenger and cargo service, using 117 

relatively new Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Originally SIA was 100 percent state-owned, but the 

government’s stockholding in SIA has decreased to 56 percent. Silkair, with a fleet of 11 Airbus 
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aircraft, provides service to numerous Southeast Asian cities plus selected destinations in China 

and India. Two other Singapore private airlines, Tiger Airways and ValuAir, provide short-trip 

regional service. Singapore handled some 1.8 million tons of air cargo in 2005. 

Pipelines: Singapore had 139 kilometers of natural gas pipelines in 2004. 

Telecommunications: Telecommunications policy, regulation, and promotion are the 

responsibility of a government agency, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore. Postal 

and telecommunications services are provided by Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel), 

which is 68 percent owned by Temasek Holdings, a government holding company that is 32 

percent privately owned. Seventeen FM stations and two shortwave stations broadcast to some 

2.6 million radios as of 2003. Seven television broadcast stations also were in operation in 2003, 

and more than 1.3 million televisions were in use. Singapore had 1.85 million landline 

telephones and 4.2 million cellular phones (equivalent to some 978 subscribers per 1,000 

population) in use in 2005. The highly touted telephone system uses submarine cables to 

Malaysia (both Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah), Indonesia, and the Philippines, as well as two 

earth satellite stations relaying to Intelsat satellites (one each) positioned over the Indian and 

Pacific oceans. Singapore had 2.4 million Internet users and some 440 Internet subscribers per 

1,000 population in 2005. 

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Government Overview: Singapore is a parliamentary republic. The constitution for the State of 

Singapore, based on that promulgated on June 3, 1959, was amended in 1965 at independence. 

The presidency is largely ceremonial, and the prime minister is the most powerful political 

figure. The current prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, however, has been in office only since 

August 12, 2004, and serves under the advice of his father, long-time prime minister and now 

minister mentor, Lee Kuan Yew. The younger Lee assumed the office of prime minister when 

the incumbent Goh Chok Tung, who succeeded Lee Kuan Yew in 1990, stepped down, but Lee’s 

mandate was democratically confirmed in an election held on May 6, 2006. Goh Chok Tong 

serves as senior minister. The People’s Action Party (PAP), founded in 1954, has governed 

without serious opposition since 1959. 

Constitution: The constitution of the Republic of Singapore, promulgated in 1965, has 

undergone two major revisions, once in 1985 and again in 1999. Based on English common law, 

it has 14 parts and 153 articles. Although it provides all the mechanics for a liberal democracy, 

Singapore’s one-party rule for more than 45 years has not offered the opposition a meaningful 

chance to develop. 

Executive Branch: The president is Sellapan Rama—S.R.—Nathan, who ran unopposed and 

was elected to a six-year term by direct popular vote on August 18, 1999. He was sworn in for 

his first term on September 1, 1999, and on September 1, 2005, was sworn in for a second term 

without even being required to stand for election after the government declared his opponent 

ineligible to run. The largely ceremonial president and head of state is assisted by the Council of 

Presidential Advisers (CPA), a body established by constitutional amendment in 1991. The 
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president is required to consult the CPA before he vetoes the government budget or appoints 

government nominees to key posts. In other matters, such as withholding assent to certain bills 

passed by parliament, appointments to statutory boards, and withholding concurrence in regard 

to detention of persons in times of national emergency, the president may use his discretion on 

consulting the CPA. The CPA has six members: two appointed by the president at his discretion, 

two nominated by the prime minister, one put forward by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, 

and another suggested by the chairman of the Public Service Commission. CPA members are 

appointed to initial six-year terms and can be reappointed for additional four-year terms. The 

current chairman of the CPA is Sim Kee Boon. 

The head of government is the prime minister. The current incumbent, Lee Hsien Loong, has 

held office since August 12, 2004, and concurrently serves as minister of finance. The prime 

minister is assisted by a senior minister (since August 12, 2004, Goh Chok Tong, the former 

prime minister), a minister mentor (since August 12, 2004, Lee Kuan Yew, the prime minister’s 

father), two deputy prime ministers, and 14 other ministers. The president appoints as prime 

minister a member of Parliament believed likely to command the confidence of the majority of 

the members of Parliament. There is no set tenure for the office of prime minister. On the advice 

of the prime minister, the president appoints the other members of the cabinet. The cabinet, 

responsible collectively to the Parliament, oversees government policies and day-to-day 

administration of the affairs of state. 

Legislative Branch: The unicameral 84-seat Singapore Parliament is modeled after the 

Westminster system of parliamentary democracy where members are voted in at regular general 

elections and the leader of the majority party is invited by the president to assume the post of 

prime minister. The prime minister then selects ministers from elected members of Parliament to 

form the cabinet, which in turn runs the executive branch of government. When the new 

Parliament first convenes, a speaker is elected. Each Parliament sits for five years from the date 

of its first session after a general election, and general elections are to be held within three 

months of the dissolution of Parliament. Members are elected by universal suffrage. The 

president appoints a maximum of nine “nominated members” from among persons who have 

rendered distinguished public service, brought honor to the republic, or made notable 

contributions in the fields of arts and letters, culture, the sciences, business, industry, the 

professions, social or community service, or the labor movement. Parliament also can seat up to 

six “non-constituency members” to represent a political party or several parties not a part of the 

government, although nominated and non-constituency members are prohibited from voting on 

amendments to the constitution, money and supply bills, no-confidence measures, and removal 

of the president from office. The constitution further provides for group representation in 

Parliament of the Malay, Indian, and minority communities. 

Judicial Branch: The judicial branch is headed by a Supreme Court, whose chief justice is 

appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister. Other Supreme Court judges then 

are appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice. The Supreme Court consists of 

the Court of Appeals and the High Court. Supreme Court judges or former Supreme Court judges 

can sit as judges on the Court of Appeals and the High Court, as designated by the president after 

consultation with the prime minister. Judges normally serve until age 65. Subordinate courts 

include criminal courts, criminal mentions courts (at which charges are first placed), and traffic, 
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night, coroners’, civil, and family courts, plus various other tribunals and services that support 

the subordinate court system. The Syariah Court, established in 1955, adjudicates Muslim 

marriages, divorces, property dispositions, and other matters relating to Muslim inheritance, 

betrothal, marriage, and divorce. 

Administrative Divisions: Singapore is a unitary state with no second-order administrative 

divisions. 

Provincial and Local Government: Singapore has no provincial or local government although 

there are some advisory bodies based on the 23 electoral divisions. 

Judicial and Legal System: The legal system is based on English common law. According to 

Article 2 of the constitution, the laws of Singapore include written laws and any legislation of the 

United Kingdom or other enactments or instruments in operation in Singapore. Common law and 

any custom or usage having the force of law in Singapore also are in effect according to Article 

2. Representation by legal counsel is provided by law, but the right to trial by jury was abolished 

in 1959 for all except capital offenses, and all jury trials were abolished in 1969. 

Electoral System: Suffrage begins at 21 years of age and is universal and compulsory. 

Singapore has 23 electoral divisions or constituencies. Nine single-member constituencies and 14 

group representation constituencies, each with between three and six individuals, are represented 

by 75 members of Parliament. Singapore has only two kinds of elections, presidential and 

parliamentary. According to the constitution, the president is elected by popular vote for a sixyear term, but the current president, Sellapan Rama Nathan, was nominated unopposed and was 

elected to the presidency on August 18, 1999. He was sworn in for a second term on September 

1, 2005, after the government had declared potential opponents ineligible to run. The leader of 

the majority party in Parliament or—although this has never happened—the leader of a majority 

coalition is normally appointed prime minister by the president. The People’s Action Party 

(PAP) dominated the most recent parliamentary elections held on May 6, 2006, as it has every 

election since 1959. The PAP, headed by Lee Hsien Loong, won 66.6 percent of the vote and 82 

of the 84 seats in Parliament, including 37 seats that the opposition declined to contest. A third 

“non-constituent” seat was awarded to the opposition. The Workers’ Party of Singapore gained 

one regular and one non-constituent seat. The Singapore Democratic Alliance won a regular seat. 

Politics and Political Parties: The majority party, which has been in power since 1959, is the 

People’s Action Party (PAP). Of the opposition parties, only the Workers’ Party of Singapore 

(WP) and the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), an umbrella group, hold seats in 

Parliament. The SDA consists of the Singapore National Malay Organization (Pertuhan 

Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura—PKMS), National Solidarity Party (NSP), Singapore’s People’s 

Party (SPP), and Singapore Justice Party (SJP). Two opposition parties not holding seats in 

Parliament are the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). 

In the May 2006 parliamentary elections, the Singapore government continued its customary 

tradition of intimidation against opposition candidates, which consisted mainly of costly 

defamation lawsuits. Following the 2006 elections, the Asian Network for Free Elections, a 

watchdog group based in Bangkok, recommended that Singapore establish an independent 

election commission, which now reports to the prime minister. 
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Mass Media: The media industry is regulated by the government’s Media Development 

Authority. All newspapers in Singapore are required by law to be public companies and are 

regulated by the government. Major daily newspapers are published in various languages. 

English-language publications include the venerable Straits Times, founded in 1845; Business 

Times; and three tabloids, The New Paper, Streats, and Today. Chinese-language newspapers 

include Lianhe Wanbao, Lianhe Zaobao, Shin Min Daily News, and Toh Lam Hhat. Two other 

dailies are the Malay Berita Harian and Tamil Tamil Murasu. Weekly newspapers are offered in 

English and Malay, and most newspapers can be accessed on the Internet. There also is a lively 

magazine circulation with 17 domestic English, one Malay, and nine Chinese titles. Most 

broadcasting is produced by radio and television companies owned by the Media Corporation of 

Singapore and Radio Corporation of Singapore. Other radio stations include Radio Heart, 

Rediffusion, and SAFRA (Singapore Armed Forces Reservists’ Association) Radio. Cable, 

satellite, and traditional television broadcasters include CNBC (formerly stood for Consumer 

News Business Channel) Asia Pacific, Singapore CableVision, Singapore Television 12; SPH 

(Singapore Press Holdings) MediaWorks, and Television Corporation of Singapore. Broadcasts 

are in Chinese, English, Malay, and Tamil, but primarily in Chinese and English. 

Foreign Relations: Singapore maintains diplomatic relations with 165 nations. Overseas, it has 

seven high commissions, 17 embassies, two permanent representations to the United Nations 

(UN), and 14 consulates general and consulates. Singapore hosts embassies or high commissions 

of 55 nations, 37 foreign consular posts, and offices of eight international organizations. In 

addition, more than 60 nonresident foreign ambassadors are accredited to Singapore. Singapore 

seeks to maintain a credible defensive military to undergird its foreign policy. It promotes good 

relations with its neighbors and any nation wishing to establish friendly relations. As a founding 

member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Singapore is committed to 

maintaining a secure peaceful environment in and around Southeast Asia and in the Asia-Pacific 

region. After breaking off a long-term diplomatic relationship with the Republic of China on 

Taiwan in 1990, Singapore established relations with the People’s Republic of China. Since this 

change, numerous high-level delegations have traded visits and have developed a wide range of 

political, economic, cultural, and scientific and technical exchanges. Tensions over Singapore’s 

relations with Taiwan—emanating from both Beijing and Taipei—continue. Continued good 

relations with the United States are based on bilateral free trade and close military ties. 

Membership in International Organizations: Singapore is a member of the Association of 

Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Nonaligned Movement, the United Nations (UN), and 

numerous other international organizations, including the Asian Development Bank, Asia Pacific 

Economic Forum, Bank for International Settlements, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth, Forum on 

Small States, Group of 77, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Aviation 

Organization, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Chamber of 

Commerce, International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, International Criminal Police 

Organization, International Development Association, International Federation of Red Cross and 

Red Crescent Societies, International Finance Corporation, International Hydrographic 

Organization, International Labour Organization, International Maritime Organization, 

International Monetary Fund, International Olympic Committee, International Organization for 

Standardization, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, International 

Telecommunication Union, Multilateral Investment Geographic Agency, Organisation for the 
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Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Permanent Court of Arbitration, UN Conference on Trade 

and Development, Universal Postal Union, World Confederation of Labor, World Customs 

Organization, World Health Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, World 

Meteorological Organization, and World Trade Organization. 

Major International Treaties: Singapore is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation 

of Nuclear Weapons; Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty; Convention on the Prohibition of 

the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons; and Convention on 

Biological and Toxin Weapons. Singapore also is party to the ASEAN Agreement on 

Transboundary Haze Pollution, Montreal Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances 

that Deplete the Ozone Layer, United Nations (UN) Convention to Combat Desertification, UN 

Convention on Biological Diversity, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Basel 

Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their 

Disposal. It also is a party to the Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, and 

Ship Pollution agreements. 

NATIONAL SECURITY

Armed Forces Overview: The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) had 72,500 personnel on active 

duty in 2005, 35,000 of whom were conscripts. The service components are the army, numbering 

50,000, with 35,000 conscripts; navy, 9,000, with 1,800 conscripts; and air force, 13,500, with 

3,000 conscripts. There are an estimated 312,500 personnel in reserve status (army, about 

300,000; navy, about 5,000; and air force, about 7,500). The SAF is led by a chief (a major 

general) supported by army, navy, and air force chiefs of staff. As of 2006, the Ministry of 

Defence was headed by Teo Chee Hean, who also oversees the administration of the Defence 

Policy Group, Defence Administration Group, Singapore Armed Forces, and Defence Science 

and Technology Agency. 

Foreign Military Relations: The British Far East Command and the British naval presence in 

Singapore formally ended in 1971. At that time, Singapore became a participant in the FivePower Defence Arrangement with Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, 

and a joint military force was in place until 1975. Singapore continues to provide facilities for 

servicing foreign naval vessels, but its official policy disallows the establishment of a naval base 

on the island by another country. Under the five-power arrangement, joint military and naval 

maneuvers are held annually. Singapore supports a strong U.S. military presence in the AsiaPacific region. In 1990 the United States and Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding 

(MOU) that allows U.S. access to Singapore facilities at the Paya Lebar Airbase and the 

Sembawang wharves. In accordance with the MOU, the U.S. Navy established a logistics unit in 

Singapore in 1992. Furthermore, U.S. fighter aircraft are deployed periodically to Singapore for 

exercises, and U.S. Navy vessels visit Singapore. The MOU was amended in 1999 to permit U.S. 

naval vessels to berth at the Changi Naval Base, which was completed in 2001. In October 2003, 

Singapore and the United States announced their intention to expand cooperation in the area of 

defense and security and to negotiate a Framework Agreement for a Strategic Cooperation 

Partnership. Areas of cooperation include counterterrorism, counterproliferation of weapons of 

mass destruction, joint military exercises and training, policy dialogue, and technology 
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exchange. Singapore has conducted joint naval exercises with the United States and has joined 

the United States-led Proliferation Security Initiative. Joint naval and air force exercises are held 

annually with Australia. Singapore maintains relationships with the armed forces of Australia, 

Brunei, France, Thailand, and the United States, primarily for the purpose of training. Although 

it does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Singapore maintains training facilities there. 

Most of Singapore’s major military imports since 1998 have been purchased from the United 

States. It also has acquired submarines from Sweden and has a frigate on order from France. 

External Threat: Singapore faces a potential military threat from Malaysia if historical tensions 

were to reemerge. In particular, Singapore fears that the Malaysian state of Johor could cut off its 

water supply, an act that would be regarded as a casus belli. Singapore also is concerned about 

the possibility of a terrorist strike sponsored by the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiah 

(Community of Islam) or the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a Philippines-based separatist 

group. 

Defense Budget: Military expenditures in fiscal year (FY) 2005 were estimated at US$5.87 

billion, or about US$1,349 per capita, representing about 5 percent of the gross domestic product 

(GDP). The projected defense budget for FY 2006 is US$6.37 billion, an 8.5 percent increase 

over the previous year. Projected defense spending for 2006 represents 22.5 percent of the total 

federal budget. 

Major Military Units: The army has three combined arms divisions, a rapid deployment 

division, and a mechanized division. Included in these organizations are nine infantry brigades 

with both active-duty and reserve personnel. The navy has a fleet with two flotillas and a 

submarine squadron and coastal, naval logistics, and training commands. The air force is 

organized into 20 combat, reconnaissance, transportation, support, and helicopter squadrons. It 

also has one squadron of unmanned aerial vehicles and an air defense division with four field 

defense squadrons. 

Major Military Equipment: The army has an estimated 450 tanks (including 80 to 100 main 

battle tanks), 294 armored infantry fighting vehicles, more than 1,280 armored personnel 

carriers, 206 towed artillery pieces, an estimated 18 self-propelled artillery pieces, a variety of 

mortars, more than 30 antitank guided weapons, rocket launchers, recoilless launchers, 30 airdefense guns (some of which are self-propelled), and 75 or more surface-to-air missiles. The 

navy has three submarines with antisubmarine warfare capability, six corvettes, six fast missile 

attack craft, 11 offshore patrol vessels, four mine countermeasures ships, four amphibious ships, 

and two logistics and support ships. The air force has 111 combat aircraft, 110 helicopters, and 

64 unmanned aerial vehicles. The air force’s air defense division has air-defense guns, 

antiaircraft and antiship missiles, and mobile radar equipment. 

Military Service: Singapore has compulsory military service for males reaching the age of 18 

and voluntary service for those reaching 16 years of age. The conscription term of service is 24 

months. Reservists attend annual training until age 40 for enlisted ranks and age 50 for officers. 
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Paramilitary Forces: Singapore’s paramilitary consists of 93,800 active-duty personnel and 

44,000 reserves. The active-duty paramilitary encompasses the Civil Defence Force, the 

Singapore Police Force, and the Singapore Gurkha Contingent. 

Foreign Military Forces: In 2005 the United States had 89 liaison personnel assigned to 

Singapore (39 air force and 50 navy). New Zealand had an 11-person liaison support unit 

stationed in Singapore. 

Military Forces Abroad: Since 1991, Singapore has taken part in 11 peacekeeping missions in 

various capacities, including the provision of medical support, provision of military advisers for 

national reconciliation, and supervision of United Nations (UN)-sponsored elections in Namibia, 

Guatemala, Cambodia, South Africa, and Afghanistan. Singaporeans also have held senior 

appointments in UN peacekeeping operations. In 1993, at the request of the UN secretary 

general, Singapore provided a special envoy to head a mission to broker a peaceful settlement 

between Russia and the Baltic States. In 1997 Singapore became only the seventh country to sign 

the memorandum of understanding on UN Standby Arrangements. Under its commitments, 

Singapore provides planning officers, military observers, medical personnel, and police officers 

on standby for the support of UN peacekeeping missions. Singapore forces also participated in 

the UN Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET) and the UN Mission in East Timor 

(UNMISET) during the unrest in East Timor before and after its independence from Indonesia in 

2002. In 2005 Singapore military and police personnel were serving in UN Iraq/Kuwait Observer 

Mission (UNIKOM), Eritrea and Ethiopia (UNMEE), and East Timor (UNMISET), and also in 

New York at the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations. The Singapore Armed Forces 

(SAF) provided medical and other humanitarian aid to Indonesia following the earthquake and 

tsunami in December 2004 and the earthquake in March 2005. 

Additionally, in 2005 Singapore sent some 230 SAF personnel to flight training in Australia, 500 

for helicopter training in Brunei, and 200 for flight training in France. The SAF maintains a joint 

artillery and combat engineer training camp in Thailand and a flight training detachment in the 

United States. The SAF also has three training camps (for infantry, artillery, and armored forces) 

in Taiwan. In 2002–4 there was discussion by Singapore about possibly moving some or all of 

these facilities to China’s Hainan Island. 

Police and Internal Security: The Singapore Police Force has an estimated strength of 12,000, 

including 3,500 conscripts. There also are 21,000 reserve police officers. The Singapore Police 

Force includes the Police Coast Guard, which has inshore patrol craft and about 60 other boats. 

Terrorism: Singapore perceives a threat from international terrorist organizations. As a 

consequence, the Five-Power Defence Arrangement, to which Singapore belongs along with 

Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, was expanded after 2001 to include 

counterterrorism. The Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiah (Community of Islam), an affiliate of al 

Qaeda, has operational units in peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and Papua New 

Guinea. Another terrorist group of concern is the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a Philippinesbased separatist group. Singapore maintains a high level of readiness and cooperation in the area 

of counterterrorism, especially in the wake of terrorist bombings in neighboring Indonesia, in 

Bali in 2002, and Jakarta in 2003. Singapore is believed to hold in indefinite detention between 
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36 and 40 individuals who are suspected of links to terrorist organizations. In February 2006, 

Mas Selamat Kastari, who was accused of plotting to crash an airplane into Changi Airport in 

retaliation for Singapore’s imprisonment of fellow Jemaah Islamiah members, joined the 

detainees when he was deported to Singapore after spending four years in custody in Indonesia. 

Particular emphasis has been placed on protective and preventive actions against attacks on 

critical infrastructure, cyberterrorism, and chemical and biological attacks. Maritime piracy, long 

a problem in the immediate area, is of special concern to Singapore. The threat of a terrorist ship 

hijacking, possibly with the placement of conventional or nuclear explosives onboard, has led 

Singapore to increase maritime security on its own and with its neighbors. 

Human Rights: The Ministry of Home Affairs’s Internal Security Department enforces the 

Internal Security Act as a counter to potential espionage, international terrorism, threats to racial 

and religious harmony, and subversion. According to the U.S. Department of State’s 2005 

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the government maintains effective control over all 

security activities, but there were some reports of human rights abuses of detainees by security 

forces during the year. The government generally respects the human rights of its citizens, but, 

nevertheless, retains broad powers to limit citizen rights and to handicap the political opposition. 

Caning, in addition to imprisonment, has been a routine punishment for numerous offenses. 

Preventive detention has been used to deal with espionage, terrorism, organized crime, and 

narcotics. Citizens’ privacy rights occasionally have been infringed, and the government has 

restricted freedom of speech and freedom of the press and limited other civil and political rights. 

Government pressure to conform has resulted in the practice of self-censorship by journalists. 

The government has instigated court proceedings and defamation suits against political 

opponents and critics. Such suits have consistently been decided in favor of the government, a 

phenomenon that inhibits political speech and action and leads observers to believe that the 

ruling party uses the judicial system for political purposes. During 2005 a moderate level of 

debate occurred in the media on various public issues. However, the government has continued 

to prohibit discussion of sensitive ethnic or religious issues and has restricted freedom of 

assembly and freedom of association, and some religious groups, such as the Jehovah’s 

Witnesses and the Unification Church, have been banned.