Singapore Travel Podcast with Rachel Tan

Location

Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Terrain

Lowlying, gently undulating central plateau

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

Elevation

Highest point

Bukit Timah 166 m

Lowest point

Singapore Strait 0 m

Area

Total

719 sq km

Land

709.2 sq km

Water

10 sq km

Size comparison

Slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Coastline

193 km

Land borders

Total 0 km

Natural resources

Fish, deepwater ports

Land use

Agricultural land

0.9% (2023 est.)

Arable land

0.8% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops

0.1% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture

0% (2022 est.)

Forest

22% (2023 est.)

Other

77.1% (2023 est.)

Natural hazards

Flash floods

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

Population

Total

6,080,545 (2025 est.)

Male

3,040,862

Female

3,039,683

Nationality

Noun

Singaporean(s)

Adjective

Singapore

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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)

Religions

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

Median age

Total

39.8 years (2025 est.)

Male

38 years

Female

40.6 years

Life expectancy

Total population

86.7 years (2024 est.)

Male

84 years

Female

89.5 years

Urbanisation

Urban population

100% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization

0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Where people live

Most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas

Largest cities

6.081 million SINGAPORE (capital) (2023)

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.

Government

Parliamentary republic

Capital

Singapore

Time zone

UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Local name

Republic of Singapore

Independence

9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

National day

National Day, 9 August (1965)

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

GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

$132,600 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$129,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$133,600 (2022 est.)

Inflation

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.4% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.8% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment

Unemployment rate 2024

3.2% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.5% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

3.6% (2022 est.)

Exchange rate

Currency

Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

1.336 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.343 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.379 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.343 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

1.38 (2020 est.)

Main 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

Agriculture

Chicken, eggs, vegetables, pork, duck, spinach, lettuce, pork offal, cabbages, pork fat (2023)

Airports

9 (2025)

Ports

Total ports

5 (2024)

Large

2

Medium

1

Small

1

Very small

1

Ports with oil terminals

3

Key ports

Jurong Island, Keppel - (East Singapore), Pulau Bukom, Pulau Sebarok

Internet domain

.sg

Internet users

Percent of population 94% (2023 est.)

Mobile subscriptions

Total subscriptions

9.96 million (2024 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

171 (2024 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

Fresh water

600 million cubic meters (2022)