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.
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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)
|
| 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 |
|
| 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$m |
Oct/08 |
38,566.7 |
4.2 |
41,115.1 |
26.2 |
|
| |
|
Manufacturing |
| |
|
| Manufacturing
|
| Industrial Production Index |
(2007=100) |
Sep/08 |
102.3 |
2.4 |
90.6 |
-12.5 |
|
| |
| |
|
| Employment & Productivity
|
| Employment |
'000 |
Sep/08 |
2,933.2 |
9.9 |
2,875.4 |
10.2 |
Unemployment
(seasonally adjusted) (quarterly) |
% of labour force |
Sep/08 |
2.2 |
- |
2.2 |
- |
| Labour Productivity Growth |
% |
Q2/08 |
-7.5 |
- |
-2.7 |
- |
| Wages/Earnings (monthly average for the quarter) |
S$ |
Q2/08 |
3,690 |
3.1 |
4,316 |
10.6 |
|
| |
| |
Price Index |
|
| 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 |
|
| |
| |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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$m |
Q2/08 |
181,454.7 |
9.7 |
189,029.2 |
14.8 |
|
| |
|
Financial Statistics |
|
| Financial Statistics
|
| Money Supply (M1) |
S$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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| |
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Investment |
|
| 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 |
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Population |
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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 |
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Data Source :http://www.singstat.gov.sg/stats/latestdata.html |
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