page_title: Health in Singapore
section_title: Haze
hierarchical_section_title: Health in Singapore / Medical Issues in Singapore / Environmental impacts on health issues / Haze
caption_attribution_description: English: Costa Rhu condominium in Tanjong Rhu, Singapore, during the 2013 Southeast Asian haze.
context_page_description: Singapore is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with a gross domestic product per capita of more than $57,000. Life expectancy at birth is 82.3 and infant mortality is 2.7 per 1000 live births. The population is ageing and by 2030, 20% will be over 65. However it is estimated that about 85% of those over 65 are healthy and reasonably active. Singapore has a universal health care system.
  There are a variety of health screening and healthy lifestyle programmes for both adults and children. Only 14% of the population smokes. The Temasek Cares programme supports a wide range of interventions for disadvantaged people.
  Singapore in recent years has the lowest infant mortality rate in the world and among the highest life expectancies from birth, according to the World Health Organization.
  A new measure of expected human capital calculated for 195 countries from 1990 to 2016 and defined for each birth cohort as the expected years lived from age 20 to 64 years and adjusted for educational attainment, learning or education quality, and functional health status was published by the Lancet in September 2018.
context_section_description: Annually from May to October, Singapore experiences a smoke haze which can cause or worsen pre-existing health issues. The haze is largely caused by, “winds bringing in tiny particles of ash,” from the burning of forestry in Indonesia, the neighbouring country. A person’s likelihood of developing viral and bacterial infections is increased by breathing in an excess of these particles. Additionally, individuals may experience irritation of the eyes, nose and throat if exposed to an excess amount of the haze. However, in most cases these aforementioned health issues will resolve on their own. The haze can also perpetuates existing heart and lung conditions, such as asthma.
caption: Picture illustrating the haze period in Singapore
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