Singapore

Parliamentary RepublicPop6.1MGDP (PPP)$800.3BCI61Beta CP−0.6↓Beta

Singapore

⌘K

Overview

Background: A Malay trading port known as Temasek existed on the island of Singapore by the 14th century. The settlement changed hands several times in the ensuing centuries and was eventually burned in the 17th century, falling into obscurity. In 1819, the British founded modern Singapore as a trading colony on the same site and granted it full internal self-government for all matters except defense and foreign affairs in 1959.  Singapore joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but was ousted two years later and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries, with strong international trading links and per capita GDP among the highest globally. The People’s Action Party has won every general election in Singapore since the end of the British colonial era, aided by its success in delivering consistent economic growth, as well as the city-state's fragmented opposition and electoral procedures that strongly favor the ruling party.

Geography

Area

Land: 709.2 sq km
Water: 10 sq km
Total: 719 sq 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
Terrain: lowlying, gently undulating central plateau

Land Use

Other: 77.1% (2023 est.)
Forest: 22% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

Location: Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Coastline: 193 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
Highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Map references: Southeast Asia

Land Boundaries

Total: 0 km

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 3 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice

Natural hazards: flash floods
Geography note: focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes; consists of about 60 islands, the largest of which by far is Pulau Ujong; land reclamation has removed many former islands and created a number of new ones
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Area comparative: slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates: 1 22 N, 103 48 E
Population distribution: most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 98.9% (2021 est.)
Female: 96.4% (2021 est.)
Total population: 97.7% (2021 est.)

Languages

Note: note: data represent language most frequently spoken at home
Languages: English (official) 48.3%, Mandarin (official) 29.9%, other Chinese dialects (includes Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, Hakka) 8.7%, Malay (official) 9.2%, Tamil (official) 2.5%, other 1.4% (2020 est.)
Major language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)

世界概況 – 不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Mandarin)

Religions: Buddhist 31.1%, Christian 18.9%, Muslim 15.6%, Taoist 8.8%, Hindu 5%, other 0.6%, none 20% (2020 est.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 8.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.38 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 38 years
Total: 39.8 years (2025 est.)
Female: 40.6 years

Population

Male: 3,040,862
Total: 6,080,545 (2025 est.)
Female: 3,039,683

Nationality

Noun: Singaporean(s)
Adjective: Singapore

Tobacco Use

Male: 27.6% (2025 est.)
Total: 16.2% (2025 est.)
Female: 3.8% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 14.6% (male 455,536/female 424,969)
15 64 years: 71.1% (male 2,157,441/female 2,126,799)
65 years and over: 14.3% (2024 est.) (male 400,653/female 463,061)

Ethnic groups: Chinese 74.2%, Malay 13.7%, Indian 8.9%, other 3.2% (2021 est.)

Child Marriage

Women married BY age 15: 0% (2023)
Women married BY age 18: 0.1% (2023)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 41.6 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 20.5 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 4.7 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 21.2 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 2.83 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 18.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: 4.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 2.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.18 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 12% national budget (2025 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 1.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 0.85% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.58 (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 84 years
Female: 89.5 years
Total population: 86.7 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 1.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 6.081 million SINGAPORE (capital) (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 6.1% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 30.5 years (2015 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 43.8% (2020 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 17 years (2022 est.)
Total: 17 years (2022 est.)
Female: 17 years (2022 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; a vertical white crescent is on the left side of the red band, with a circle of five five-pointed white stars to the right of the crescent

meaning: red stands for brotherhood and equality, and white for purity and virtue; the waxing crescent moon symbolizes a young nation on the ascendancy; the stars represent the national ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality

Capital

Name: Singapore
Etymology: name derives from the Sanskrit words simha (lion) and pur (city); according to Malayan folklore, an Indian prince visited Singapore in the 7th century and mistook the first animal he saw for a lion, which is not native to the country
Time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal and compulsory

Citizenship

Citizenship BY birth: no
Citizenship BY descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Singapore
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Constitution

History: several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1965
Amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote in the second and third readings by the elected Parliament membership and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting sovereignty or control of the Police Force or the Armed Forces requires at least two-thirds majority vote in a referendum

Country Name

Etymology: name derives from the Sanskrit words simha (lion) and pur (city); according to Malayan folklore, an Indian prince visited Singapore in the 7th century and mistook the first animal he saw for a lion, which is not native to the country
Local long form: Republic of Singapore
Local short form: Singapore
Conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
Conventional short form: Singapore

Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
Legal system: English common law
Government type: parliamentary republic

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Supreme Court (number of judges varies but includes judicial commissioners, judges of appeal, and international judges); the court is organized into an upper-tier Appeal Court and a lower-tier High Court
Subordinate courts: district, magistrates', juvenile, family, community, and coroners' courts; small claims tribunals; employment claims tribunals
Judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president from candidates recommended by the prime minister after consultation with the chief justice; judges usually serve until retirement at age 65, but terms can be extended

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; responsible to Parliament
Chief of state: President THARMAN Shanmugaratnam (since 14 September 2023)
Election results: 2023: THARMAN Shanmugaratnam elected president; percent of vote - THARMAN Shanmugaratnam (independent) 70.4%, NG Kok Song (independent) 15.7%, TAN Kin Lian (independent) 13.9%

2017: HALIMAH Yacob declared president on 13 September 2017, being the only eligible candidate
Head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence WONG (since 15 May 2024)
Most recent election date: 1 September 2023
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits); following legislative elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime ministers also appointed by the president
Expected date of next election: 2029

National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965)
National color(s): red, white

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites: 1 (cultural)
Selected world heritage site locales: Singapore Botanic Gardens

Political parties: People's Action Party or PAP
Workers' Party or WPS
there are 13 additional active political parties in Singapore

Legislative Branch

Term in office: 5 years
Number of seats: 108 (97 directly elected; 9 appointed)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislature name: Parliament
Scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative structure: unicameral
Most recent election date: 5/3/2025
Expected date of next election: May 2030
Percentage of women in chamber: 32.3%
Parties elected and seats per party: People's Action Party (PAP) (87); Workers' Party (WPS) (12)

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Majulah Singapura" (Onward, Singapore)
History: adopted 1959; the anthem is sung only in Malay; first four lines of the melody are used as a presidential salute
Lyrics/music: Zubir SAID

National symbol(s): lion, merlion (mythical half-lion, half-fish creature), orchid
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions; five community development councils: Central Singapore Development Council, North East Development Council, North West Development Council, South East Development Council, South West Development Council (2019)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 537-0876
Chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100
Consulate(s): New York
Chief of mission: Ambassador LUI Tuck Yew (since 30 June 2023)
Consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Email address and website: singemb_was@mfa.sg

https://www.mfa.gov.sg/washington/

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [65] 6476-9340
Embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
Telephone: [65] 6476-9100
Mailing address: 4280 Singapore Place, Washington DC  20521-4280
Chief of mission: Ambassador Anjani K. SINHA (since 17 November 2025)
Email address and website: singaporeusembassy@state.gov

https://sg.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: ADB, AOSIS, APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNOOSA, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Legislature

SINGAPORE · LEGISLATURE

Parliament

108 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

108

Majority line

Largest party

People's Action Party (PAP)

Parties

All political parties2 parties · 108 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Next election

Last: 2025

Leaders

Current

TS
Tharman Shanmugaratnam
- Head of StateSince 2023
LW
Lawrence Wong
- Head of GovernmentSince 2024

Economy

Budget

Note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $80.836 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $73.144 billion (2022 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $978.6B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022: $947.355 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $917.683 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $978.597 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $786.0B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2022: $744.364 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $728.5 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $786.02 billion (2024 est.)

Industries: electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, biomedical products, scientific instruments, telecommunication equipment, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, entrepot trade
Labor force: 3.722 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 175.6%

Note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2023: 175.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 1.38 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 1.343 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 1.379 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 1.343 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 1.336 (2024 est.)

Economic overview: high-income, service-based economy; global financial hub; business-friendly policies and open to investment and trade; inflation easing but persistent in services; public investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure; strong human capital development challenged by aging population

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 2.8%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 3.6% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: Hong Kong 13%, China 11%, USA 10%, Malaysia 9%, S. Korea 6% (2023)
Imports partners: China 15%, Malaysia 11%, Taiwan 11%, USA 10%, S. Korea 6% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $150,689

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $133,600 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $129,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $132,600 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 4.4%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.4% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: chicken, eggs, vegetables, pork, duck, spinach, lettuce, pork offal, cabbages, pork fat (2023)
Exports commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, machinery, vaccines, gold (2023)
Imports commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, gold, gas turbines (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): $98.5B

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2022: $93.771 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $89.403 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: $96.015 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 13.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $547.387 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 31.5% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 10.6% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.3% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 21.9% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 178.8% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -143.6% (2024 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

On food: 7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 2.4%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.1% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.4% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $800.304 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $752.948 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $766.662 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $800.304 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 7.8% (2024 est.)
Female: 10.8% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $296.629 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $359.835 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $383.946 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 21.4% (2024 est.)
Services: 73% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 0% (2024 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2016: 45.8 (2016)

Energy

Coal

Exports: 97 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.326 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 1.153 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Refined petroleum consumption: 1.514 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption: 56.672 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 13.134 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 169.447 million kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Exports: 399.452 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 13.973 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 13.134 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 643.259 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Solar: 2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 94.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Biomass and waste: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 94% (2023 est.)

Broadcast media: state-controlled broadcast media; 6 domestic TV stations operated by state-owned MediaCorp; broadcasts from Malaysian and Indonesian stations available; satellite dishes banned; multi-channel cable TV services available; 19 domestic radio stations, including 11 for MediaCorp, 5 for state-linked Singapore Press Holdings, 2 for Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association, and 1 for BBC Radio; Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations available (2019)
Internet country code: .sg

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 1.912 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2023 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 9.96 million (2024 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 171 (2024 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 1.57 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 2
Small: 1
Medium: 1
Key ports: Jurong Island, Keppel - (East Singapore), Pulau Bukom, Pulau Sebarok
Very small: 1
Total ports: 5 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 3

Airports: 9 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 3,202 (2023)
BY type: bulk carrier 591, container ship 604, general cargo 107, oil tanker 600, other 1,300

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9V

Environment

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

Land Use

Other: 77.1% (2023 est.)
Forest: 22% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.87 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 51.7% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: water pollution; industrial pollution; limited freshwater resources; waste disposal problems from limited land availability; air pollution; deforestation; seasonal smoke/haze from forest fires in Indonesia

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 198.207 million cubic meters (2022)
Industrial: 162.624 million cubic meters (2022)
Agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2022)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 238.962 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 25.765 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 2.338 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 210.859 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 10 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 600 million cubic meters (2022)

International Environmental Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Military & Security

Military note: the SAF’s primary responsibility is external defense, particularly maritime security, but it also trains for certain domestic security operations, including joint deterrence patrols with police in instances of heightened terrorism alerts; the Army includes a “people’s defense force,” which is a divisional headquarters responsible for homeland security and counterterrorism; the SAF regularly participates in bilateral and multilateral training exercises

Singapore is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; Singapore also has close security ties with the US, including granting the US military access, basing, and overflight privileges

the SAF's roots go back to 1854 when the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps was formed under colonial rule; the first battalion of regular soldiers, the First Singapore Infantry Regiment, was organized in 1957; the modern SAF was established in 1965 (2025)
Military deployments: maintains permanent training detachments of military personnel in Australia, France, and the US (2025)

Military Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 2.8%

Military expenditures 2020: 3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures 2021: 3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022: 3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures 2023: 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures 2024: 3% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military and security forces: Singapore Armed Forces (SAF; aka Singapore Defense Force): Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force (includes air defense), Digital and Intelligence Service

Ministry of Home Affairs: Singapore Police Force (SPF; includes Police Coast Guard and the Gurkha Contingent) (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary enlistment for men and women (16.5 for early enlistment program with parental consent); 18-21 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 24-month conscript service obligation (2026)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SAF has a diverse and modern mix of domestically produced and imported Western weapons systems from such suppliers as France, Germany, and the US; Singapore has a small but sophisticated defense industry, which produces armaments such as armored vehicles and naval warships (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 55,000 active-duty Armed Forces (40,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force) (2025)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Stateless persons: 1,109 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index61.0 / 100as of 2024-Q461 / 190−24.52024-Q4

Civica Pulse−0.6as of 2026-05-06—2026-05-06

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.34as of 2024-Q488 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusNot Free (50/100)as of 2024-Q4—−4.02024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Restricted press (41/100)as of 2024—2024

Human Development Index0.949as of 2022—2022

Corruption Perceptions Index83 / 100as of 20235 / 1802023

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Singapore — vintage 2026-Q1: Singapore factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/singapore

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), OECD.Stat, UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Singapore

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Maritime Claims

Literacy

Languages

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco Use

Urbanization

Age Structure

Child Marriage

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Education Expenditure

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

National Heritage

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Parliament

Current

Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Lawrence Wong

Budget

Exports

Imports

Public Debt

Remittances

Exchange Rates

Unemployment Rate

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

Current Account Balance

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Average Household Expenditures

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Natural Gas

Electricity Access

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Electricity Generation Sources

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Ports

Merchant Marine

Land Use

Urbanization

Waste and Recycling

Total Water Withdrawal

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

International Environmental Agreements

Military Expenditures

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons