Singapore

Singapore is made up of not just one island but a main island with 63 surrounding islets. The main island has a total land area of 682 square km.

However, its compact size belies its economic growth. In just 150 years, Singapore has grown into a thriving centre of commerce and industry. Its former role as an entrepot has diminished, as the nation has increased its manufacturing base.

Singapore is the busiest port in the world with over 600 shipping lines sending super tankers, container ships and passenger liners to share the busy waters with coastal fishing vessels and wooden lighters.

One of the world's major oil refining and distribution centres, Singapore is a major supplier of electronic components and a leader in shipbuilding and repairing. It has also become one of the most important financial centres of Asia, with more than 130 banks. Business dealings are facilitated by Singapore's superb communications network which links the nation to the rest of the world via satellite, 24-hour telegraph and telephone systems.

Singapore's strategic location, excellent facilities, fascinating cultural contrasts and tourist attractions contribute to its success as a leading destination for both business and pleasure.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Items  
Date of Latest
Most Recent Period
% Change1
Previous Period
% Change2
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
GDP at Current Market Prices
S$m
Q2/08
63,143.7 6.2 64,492.7 13.3
GDP at 2000 Market Prices
S$m
Q2/08
58,219.2 2.1 58,503.4 6.9
 
External Trade
Items  
Date of Latest
Most Recent Period
% Change1
Previous Period
% Change2
External Trade
Total Trade @ Current Prices
S$m
Oct/08
77,719.7 -0.2 84,313.3 18.1
Total Exports @ Current Prices
S$m
Oct/08
39,153.0 -4.2 43,198.2 11.4
Total Imports @ Current Prices
S$m
Oct/08
38,566.7 4.2 41,115.1 26.2
 
Manufacturing
 
Items  
Date of Latest
Most Recent Period
% Change1
Previous Period
% Change2
Manufacturing
Industrial Production Index
(2007=100)
Sep/08
102.3 2.4 90.6 -12.5
 
 
Items  
Date of Latest
Most Recent Period
% Change1
Previous Period
% Change2
Employment & Productivity
Employment
'000
Sep/08
2,933.2 9.9 2,875.4 10.2
Unemployment
(seasonally adjusted) (quarterly)
% of labour force
Sep/08
2.2 - 2.2 -
Labour Productivity Growth
%
Q2/08
-7.5 - -2.7 -
Wages/Earnings (monthly average for the quarter)
S$
Q2/08
3,690 3.1 4,316 10.6
 
 
Price Index
Items  
Date of Latest
Most Recent Period
% Change1
Previous Period
% Change2
Price Index
Consumer Price Index
(2004=100)
Sep/08
111.2 6.7 111.2 6.4
Domestic Supply Price Index
(2006=100)
Sep/08
112.4 9.9 117.3 16.2
 
 
Items  
Date of Latest
Most Recent Period
% Change1
Previous Period
% Change2
Services
Retail Sales Index at Current Prices
(2005=100)
Sep/08
114.5 7.2 107.2 4.1
Domestic Wholesale Trade Index at Current Prices
(2007=100)
Q2/08
119.4 25.4 107.5 26.2
Foreign Wholesale Trade Index at Current Prices
(2007=100)
Q2/08
125.6 28.4 112.3 31.6
Business Receipts Index
(2002=100)
Q2/08
165.2 13.3 163.2 19.0
 
Government Operations
Items  
Date of Latest
Most Recent Period
% Change1
Previous Period
% Change2
Government Operations
Total Revenue and Grants
S$m
Sep/08
4,070.4 - 6,837.1 -
Expenditure & Net Lending
S$m
Sep/08
3,667.1 - 3,883.6 -
Deficit (-) or Surplus
S$m
Sep/08
403.3 - 2,953.5 -
Total Financing
S$m
Sep/08
-403.3 - -2,953.5 -
Domestic Financing
S$m
Sep/08
-403.3 - -2,953.5 -
Total Net Borrowing
S$m
Sep/08
-2,299.8 - 3,233.7 -
Use of Cash Balances
S$m
Sep/08
1,896.5 - -6,187.2 -
Foreign Financing
S$m
Sep/08
0.0 - 0.0 -
 
Government Debt
Items  
Date of Latest
Most Recent Period
% Change1
Previous Period
% Change2
Government Debt
Central Government Debt
S$m
Q2/08
250,703.3 12.5 243,920.1 15.6
External Debt
S$m
Q2/08
0 - 0 -
Domestic Debt
S$m
Q2/08
250,703.3 12.5 243,920.1 15.6
      Registered Stocks &       Bonds
S$m
Q2/08
203,534.7 8.5 203,629.2 12.6
      Treasury Bills
S$m
Q2/08
39,000.0 30.9 35,300.0 24.3
      Advance Deposits
S$m
Q2/08
8,168.6 53.2 4,990.9 175.3
Domestic Debt (Excluding Advance Deposits)
S$m
Q2/08
242,534.7 11.5 238,929.2 14.2
      1 year maturity or less
S$m
Q2/08
61,080.0 17.4 49,900.0 12.1
      More than 1 year maturity
S$m
Q2/08
181,454.7 9.7 189,029.2 14.8
 
Financial Statistics
Items  
Date of Latest
Most Recent Period
% Change1
Previous Period
% Change2
Financial Statistics
Money Supply (M1)
S$m
Sep/08
75,924.5 24.6 73,527.8 20.2
Money Supply (M2)
S$m
Sep/08
324,975.9 10.5 317,784.9 8.7
3-month Interbank Rate
% p.a
Oct/08
1.25 -1.25 1.88 -0.75
3-month US$ SIBOR
% p.a
Oct/08
3.09 -1.82 3.90 -1.33
5-year Govt Bonds Interest Rate
% p.a
Oct/08
2.02 -0.52 2.40 -0.13
Exchange Rate
S$ per US$ (as at end-month)
S$ per US$
Oct/08
1.4807 2.2 1.4314 -4.0
 
External Accounts
Items  
Date of Latest
Most Recent Period
% Change1
Previous Period
% Change2
External Accounts
Balance of Payments
S$m
Q2/08
4,290.6 -53.0 11,965.0 689.6
      Imports of goods and
      services
S$m
Q2/08
143,495.9 18.5 136,229.6 18.8
      Exports of goods and
      services
S$m
Q2/08
153,853.8 11.9 147,277.9 11.5
      Current Account Balance
S$m
Q2/08
8,518.8 -43.0 9,927.9 -33.4
      Net Receipts from
      Current Transfers
S$m
Q2/08
-761.9 - -734.1 -
      International Reserves
      (increase in assets is
      indicated by a minus
      [-] sign)
S$m
Q2/08
-4,290.6 - -11,965.0 -
      Financial Transactions
S$m
Q2/08
-3,828.4 - 1,211.0 -
Official Foreign Reserves
US$m
Sep/08
168,802.1 10.7 170,100.0 15.2
 
Investment
Items  
Date of Latest
Most Recent Period
% Change1
Previous Period
% Change2
Investment
Foreign Direct Investment in Singapore
S$m
2006
363,935.0 12.4 323,821.1 17.0
Singapore's Stock of Direct Investment Abroad
S$m
2006
226,266.1 12.0 202,072.6 12.4
 
Population
Items  
Date of Latest
Most Recent Period
% Change1
Previous Period
% Change2
Population
(Mid-Year Estimates) 3/
Total Population
'000
2008
4,839.4 5.5 4,588.6 4.3
   Singapore Residents
'000
2008
3,642.7 1.7 3,583.1 1.6
      Singapore Citizens
'000
2008
3,164.4 1.0 3,133.8 0.8
      Singapore Permanent
      Residents
'000
2008
478.2 6.5 449.2 7.5

Data Source :http://www.singstat.gov.sg/stats/latestdata.html