NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Republic of Singapore
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent. It subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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1 22 N, 103 48 E |
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Map references:
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Southeast Asia |
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Area:
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total: 692.7 sq km
water: 10 sq km land: 682.7 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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193 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice
territorial sea: 3 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - Northeastern monsoon from December to March and Southwestern monsoon from June to September; inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms |
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Terrain:
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lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish, deepwater ports |
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Land use:
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arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0% other: 98.36% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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 |
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Geography - note:
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focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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4,608,595 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 17.3% (male 411,656; female 385,575)
15-64 years: 75.5% (male 1,687,217; female 1,793,783) 65 years and over: 7.2% (male 144,277; female 186,087) (2003 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 34.5 years
male: 34.3 years female: 34.8 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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3.42% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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12.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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25.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 3.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 3.87 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 80.42 years
male: 77.46 years female: 83.6 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.24 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.2% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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3,400 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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140 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Singaporean(s)
adjective: Singapore |
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Ethnic groups:
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Chinese 76.7%, Malay 14%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% |
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Religions:
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Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist |
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Languages:
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Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil (official), English (official) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.2% male: 96.7% female: 89.7% (2003 est.) |