Contents

Country Overview

Singapore is a sovereign city-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It combines a global maritime and aviation gateway, advanced manufacturing, financial services and an exceptionally internationalized economy within a compact urban territory. Governance is a parliamentary republic led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam serving as head of state. Its population is differentiated into citizens, permanent residents and non-residents; the government reported 6.2085 million total inhabitants at end-June 2026. Singapore has one UNESCO World Heritage property, the Botanic Gardens, and a separate UNESCO intangible-heritage inscription for hawker culture.

Reference status: Contemporary country profile • Verified: November 6, 2026 • Source years and statistical or jurisdictional limitations are stated.

CapitalSingaporeSovereign city-state [1]
Population6.2085 millionNational total, June 2026 [2]
GDPUS$603.87 billionWorld Bank current US$ 2025 [5]
Prime ministerLawrence WongIn office since May 2024 [10]
PresidentTharman ShanmugaratnamIn office since September 2023 [11]
World Heritage1 propertySingapore Botanic Gardens [19]

Data and status note: Singapore’s June 2026 total population of 6,208,500 includes 3,684,900 citizens, 546,600 permanent residents and approximately 1,977,000 non-residents. The resident population of 4,231,500 excludes non-residents, so resident demographic percentages cannot be applied to the entire population. The World Bank GDP figure for 2025 (US$603.87 billion) is not Singapore’s Singapore-dollar GDP; Enterprise Singapore reports S$1,398 billion in 2025 merchandise trade, including re-exports. The 2025 election filled 97 directly elected parliamentary seats; other parliamentary membership categories are counted separately.

Identity & State Formation

Official name
Republic of Singapore. [14]
Short name
Singapore. [1]
Capital
Singapore, a city-state without a separate national capital city. [1]
UN statistical subregion
South-eastern Asia. [1]
ISO codes
SG / SGP / 702. [1]
Form of government
Parliamentary republic with an elected president and cabinet led by a prime minister. [14]
Independence
August 9, 1965, separation from Malaysia. [26]
Earlier colonial status
Former British colonial port and later Crown Colony. [18]
Self-government
Obtained internal self-government in 1959. [18]
Merger with Malaysia
Joined the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. [18]
National Day
August 9. [18]
Current president
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, sworn in September 14, 2023. [11]
Current prime minister
Lawrence Wong, in office since May 15, 2024. [10]
Official languages
English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese and Tamil. [14] [23]
National language
Malay is constitutionally designated the national language. [14]
Working language
English is widely used in government, commerce and education. [23]
Common Chinese varieties
Mandarin is widely used, alongside other Chinese heritage languages. [23] [4]
National anthem
Majulah Singapura, sung in Malay. [18]
Flag
Red-over-white horizontal halves with a crescent and five stars. [18]
State emblem
Red shield with crescent and five stars, supported by lion and tiger. [18]
Currency
Singapore dollar (SGD), divided into 100 cents. [15]
Monetary authority
Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). [15]
Religion-state relationship
No state religion; constitution protects religious freedom subject to law. [14]
Common religions
Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Taoism and nonreligious identities. [4] [14]
Citizenship
Citizenship is legally distinct from permanent residence and work-pass status. [3]
Legal system
Common-law tradition with statutory and constitutional framework. [14]
Head-of-state election
President is directly elected for six-year term under specified eligibility rules. [11]
Parliament
Unicameral legislature with elected and defined special membership categories. [12]
Ruling party
People's Action Party has led governments since self-government in 1959. [13] [18]
Regional institution
Founding ASEAN member in 1967. [21]
UN admission
September 21, 1965. [26]
National urban character
High-density island city-state with extensive planned public housing. [16]
Public-service orientation
Administrative capacity and digital public services are prominent features. [10] [15]

Geography & Population

Geographic location
Southeast Asian island city-state at the tip of the Malay Peninsula. [1]
Main island
Singapore Island, also called Pulau Ujong. [1]
Additional islands
Includes offshore islands such as Jurong Island, Sentosa and Pulau Ubin. [1]
Northern border
Separated from Johor, Malaysia, by the Straits of Johor. [1]
Southern waters
Singapore Strait connects to major regional shipping routes. [27]
Regional proximity
Indonesia lies across the Singapore Strait and nearby island waters. [1]
International causeways
Johor–Singapore Causeway and Second Link connect with Malaysia. [25]
Land area
Approximately 740–750 km² in recent official land-area reporting; reclamation changes the figure. [6]
Population density
More than 8,000 residents per km² using official total population and area definitions. [2]
Climate
Equatorial tropical rainforest climate with high humidity year-round. [17]
Temperature
Warm conditions throughout the year with comparatively small seasonal change. [17]
Rainfall
Heavy annual rainfall influenced by northeast and southwest monsoons. [17]
Northeast monsoon
Generally wetter period especially during December to early March. [17]
Inter-monsoon storms
Intense thunderstorms can produce short-duration urban flooding. [17]
Elevation
Bukit Timah Hill is a widely cited natural high point. [17]
Water catchments
Reservoirs and protected catchment areas form part of the water supply system. [17]
Water management
Local catchment, imported water, NEWater and desalination contribute to supply. [17]
Reclaimed land
Land reclamation has increased usable land over decades. [6] [25]
Urban nature
Parks, tree-lined streets and nature reserves shape planning. [18]
Main maritime gateway
Port of Singapore is among the world's major container and bunkering centers. [27]
Air hub
Changi Airport anchors international travel and air cargo. [25]
Public transit
MRT and LRT rail systems complement buses. [25]
2025 total population
6,111,200 in the national June 2025 series. [2]
2026 total population
6,208,500 at end-June 2026. [2] [3]
2026 resident population
4,231,500 citizens and permanent residents combined. [2]
2026 citizen population
3,684,900. [2]
2026 permanent residents
546,600. [2]
2026 non-residents
Approximately 1,977,000, mainly foreign work-pass holders and dependants. [3]
2026 population change
+1.6% in total population since June 2025. [3]
Population-accounting caution
The resident total excludes non-residents; whole-country totals include them. [2] [3]
2026 resident median age
43.6 years. [4]
2026 residents age 65+
19.5% of residents, not of the whole population. [4]
2026 resident ethnic composition
Approximately 73.9% Chinese, 13.5% Malay, 9.0% Indian and 3.6% Other. [4]
Population geography
Tampines is among the most populous planning areas in 2026. [4]
2025 resident fertility
Total fertility rate 0.87 live births per woman in the official resident series. [3]
Planning and density
Public housing estates and transport nodes influence residential concentration. [16] [25]

Singapore population composition, June 2026

Citizen, PR and non-resident counts are mutually exclusive; residents = citizens + PRs. Shares calculated from rounded national data. [2] [3]

Population category People Share of total (approx.)
Singapore citizens3,684,90059.4%
Permanent residents546,6008.8%
Non-residents1,977,00031.8%
Total population6,208,500100%
Citizens plus PRs4,231,50068.2%

Singapore demographic benchmarks

Resident age and fertility indicators exclude the non-resident population. [4] [3]

Indicator Value Reference
Population, June 20256,111,200National total
Population, June 20266,208,500National total
Resident median age43.6June 2026
Residents aged 65+19.5%June 2026
Resident fertility rate0.872025

Economy & International Trade

Income classification
High-income, advanced service and manufacturing economy. [5]
2025 GDP (World Bank)
US$603.87 billion at current prices. [5]
2025 GDP per capita
US$98,814 in World Bank current-dollar GDP series. [5]
2025 real GDP growth
5.0% in World Bank annual data. [5]
2025 CPI inflation
0.9% in the World Bank consumer-price series. [5]
2025 total merchandise trade
Approximately S$1,398 billion in Enterprise Singapore/national reporting. [8] [7]
2025 merchandise exports
Approximately S$740 billion including domestic exports and re-exports. [7]
2025 merchandise imports
Approximately S$658 billion. [7]
2025 goods trade arithmetic
Rounded figures imply about S$82 billion goods surplus; services are separate. [7]
2025 re-exports
About S$455 billion of goods exports involved re-exportation. [7]
2025 non-oil domestic exports
Around S$182 billion. [7]
2025 oil domestic exports
Around S$103 billion. [7]
2025 services exports
Around S$552 billion. [7]
2025 services imports
Around S$503 billion. [7]
2025 goods trade growth
Total merchandise trade rose 8.7% year-on-year. [8]
2025 NODX growth
Non-oil domestic exports rose 4.8% year-on-year. [8]
2024 WTO merchandise exports
US$504.78 billion under UN Comtrade coverage. [9]
Cross-series warning
2024 US-dollar WTO exports differ in year, currency and treatment from 2025 Singapore-dollar national data. [9] [8]
Principal export products
Integrated circuits, refined fuels, machinery and chemical products. [9]
Key export connections
China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, United States and Indonesia feature prominently. [9]
Semiconductor industry
Electronic manufacturing is a major part of the advanced industrial base. [9] [7]
Biopharmaceutical activity
Pharmaceuticals and biomedical manufacturing are important sectors. [7]
Oil refining
Refining, chemical processing and trading are significant though crude is imported. [7] [9]
Global finance
Banking, insurance, wealth management and payment services are major activities. [15]
Maritime trade
Container handling, vessel services and ship financing contribute to exports. [27]
Aviation and tourism
Visitor and business travel support hotels, commerce and transport services. [7]
Monetary policy framework
MAS centers policy on management of the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate. [15]
Exchange-rate regime
Singapore dollar floats within a managed policy band rather than a fixed USD peg. [15]
Public financial reserves
Government and constitutional institutions manage accumulated national reserves. [11] [15]
Enterprise environment
Trade-oriented regulation and contract enforcement support investment. [7]
Labor supply
Resident and foreign workforces both contribute to output. [24]
Skills policy
Training and lifelong learning respond to industrial and technology changes. [23] [24]
Housing and wealth
Public housing and household balance sheets are important economic factors. [16]
External risks
Global demand, geopolitics and shipping disruption affect an open economy. [7] [8]
Trade definition
Re-exports should not be mistaken for goods manufactured domestically. [8] [7]

Singapore macroeconomy, 2025

International annual current-dollar GDP is distinct from domestic Singapore-dollar statistical releases. [5]

Measure Value Reporting institution
Nominal GDPUS$603.87 billionWorld Bank
GDP per personUS$98,814World Bank
Real GDP growth5.0%World Bank
Annual CPI inflation0.9%World Bank

Singapore national merchandise/services trade, 2025

Rounded values; re-exports are part of total merchandise exports and cannot be added again. [7] [8]

Measure Value Currency / scope
Merchandise tradeS$1,398 billion2025 total
Goods exportsS$740 billionIncludes re-exports
Goods importsS$658 billion2025 imports
Re-exportsS$455 billionIncluded in goods exports
Non-oil domestic exportsS$182 billionDomestic exports
Oil domestic exportsS$103 billionDomestic exports
Services exportsS$552 billionSeparate from goods
Services importsS$503 billionSeparate from goods

People & Society

Population composition
Citizens, permanent residents and non-residents are separately recorded. [3]
Resident ethnicity
Chinese, Malay, Indian and other resident groups form a multicultural population. [4]
Ethnic composition caveat
Ethnicity percentages refer to residents, not all non-resident workers. [4] [3]
Official languages
English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. [14]
School language policy
English is a principal medium of instruction; mother-tongue learning is part of policy. [23]
Religion
Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism, Hinduism and no religion are major census categories. [6]
Freedom of religion
Constitutional protections coexist with public-order and harmony legislation. [14]
Religious harmony
Institutions emphasize coexistence across faiths and communities. [14]
Public housing
HDB flats house a large proportion of resident households. [16]
Housing design
New towns integrate schools, parks, transit and local commerce. [16] [25]
Education
National schools, polytechnics and universities comprise major pathways. [23]
National University
National University of Singapore is a major research institution. [23]
Nanyang Technological University
University with internationally connected engineering and research programs. [23]
Vocational learning
Polytechnic and technical education support practical occupational pathways. [23]
Health system
Public and private facilities serve residents through differentiated financing. [22]
Ageing
Resident median age reached 43.6 in 2026. [4]
Elderly share
About 19.5% of residents were 65+ in 2026. [4]
Birth-rate trend
2025 resident fertility rate was 0.87, reflecting very low birth rates. [3]
Family policy
Support for marriage, parenthood and care is a stated policy concern. [3]
Migration
Foreign work-pass holders fill roles across construction, services and high-skill professions. [24] [3]
Labor conditions
Migrant-worker accommodation and rights are recurring policy concerns. [24]
Public health
Health planning includes aging, chronic disease and preventive care. [22]
Common language practices
Multilingual communities use English and heritage languages in distinct settings. [23]
Hawker centers
Affordable prepared food and communal dining are central urban institutions. [18] [20]
Hawker UNESCO listing
Hawker culture was recognized as intangible heritage in 2020, not as a World Heritage site. [20]
Common cuisine
Chicken rice, laksa, roti prata, nasi lemak and kaya toast are familiar dishes. [18]
Architectural heritage
Shophouses, civic buildings and historic neighborhoods retain older fabric. [18]
Cultural districts
Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India represent distinctive urban heritages. [18]
Performing arts
Theater, music, dance and festivals span multiple language communities. [18]
Public safety
Extensive policing and regulation are elements of the governance environment. [14]
Civic space
Political expression and press regulation are debated in domestic and international assessments. [14] [13]
Community service
Volunteerism and interfaith initiatives are promoted by public institutions. [11]
Sport
Football, swimming and community recreation are widespread. [18]
Environmental culture
Garden-city planning and urban greening have shaped public identity. [18] [17]
Digital public services
Online government services and identity systems are widely used. [10]
Water security
Conservation and diversified water-supply systems are major public priorities. [17]

Government & Institutions

Form
Parliamentary republic under a written constitution. [14]
Head of state
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam since September 14, 2023. [11]
President's term
Six years, chosen by direct popular election. [11]
Presidential function
Head of state with particular custodial powers regarding reserves and appointments. [11]
Head of government
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong since May 2024. [10]
Cabinet leadership
Prime minister leads the executive Cabinet and ministers. [10]
2025 cabinet appointment
Lawrence Wong was appointed prime minister following the May 2025 election. [10]
Legislature
Unicameral Parliament of Singapore. [12]
Election date
May 3, 2025 general election for 97 directly elected seats. [13]
PAP elected seats
People's Action Party won 87 of 97 directly elected seats. [13]
Workers' Party seats
Workers' Party won 10 directly elected seats. [13]
Total elected seats
Ninety-seven seats filled through constituency election in 2025. [13]
NCMP category
Non-Constituency Members of Parliament are separate from the 97 elected district winners. [12] [13]
2025 NCMP seats
Two Workers' Party nominees obtained non-constituency seats after the election. [13]
Nominated MPs
A separate appointed Nominated Member category exists under the constitution. [12]
Electoral system
Single-member and group-representation constituencies return elected MPs. [13] [12]
Group Representation Constituencies
Multi-member constituencies use party teams, including minority-representation requirements. [13] [12]
Voting
Parliamentary elections use compulsory voting for eligible registered citizens. [13]
Executive-party relationship
PAP remains the government party after the 2025 election. [13]
Opposition
Workers' Party is the principal parliamentary opposition. [13]
Judiciary
Supreme Court and subordinate courts administer the legal framework. [14]
Rule-of-law context
Courts, statute law and regulatory institutions are central to governance. [14]
Presidential reserve safeguard
Certain budget and public-service decisions engage discretionary presidential powers. [11]
Anti-corruption institutions
Public institutions emphasize integrity enforcement; independent evaluations are available. [28]
Civil-service system
Merit-based public administration is a declared institutional goal. [10]
Municipal governance
Town councils manage many estate-level facilities and services. [16] [12]
Local planning
Urban development is managed through national planning and specialized agencies. [16] [25]
Central banking
MAS is central bank and financial regulator. [15]
Currency management
MAS uses an exchange-rate-centered framework. [15]
Civil liberties context
Laws affecting speech, public assembly and digital content are subjects of public debate. [14]
Religious harmony policy
Legal protections operate alongside restrictions intended to preserve public order. [14]
Government transparency
Official statistical and parliamentary websites publish economic and institutional records. [6] [12]
Foreign labor regulation
Ministry of Manpower sets work-pass and workplace rules. [24]
Public housing administration
HDB leads national public housing development. [16]
Institutional-status note
Elected MPs, NCMPs and nominated MPs should not be combined without labeling category. [12] [13]

Singapore 2025 parliamentary election

NCMP and Nominated MP categories should not be counted as constituency wins. [13] [12]

Party / type Elected seats Interpretation
People’s Action Party87Directly elected
Workers’ Party10Directly elected
Total constituency seats97Election result
Workers’ Party NCMPs2Additional, distinct seats

International Profile

UN membership
Admitted in September 1965 after independence. [26]
ASEAN
Founding ASEAN member since 1967. [21]
WTO
Member of the multilateral trading system. [9]
Regional financial hub
Singapore serves as a major ASEAN-facing banking and investment center. [15]
United States ties
Extensive trade, investment and security cooperation. [9] [10]
China ties
Major trading and investment relationship. [9]
Malaysia ties
Neighboring economy with labor, water and cross-border travel connections. [1] [25]
Indonesia ties
Geographic and commercial links through the Singapore Strait. [1] [9]
Regional transit
Shipping and aviation link East Asia, South Asia, Europe and Oceania. [27] [25]
Strategic waterways
Singapore Strait and adjacent Malacca Strait are crucial international routes. [27]
Maritime institution
Maritime and Port Authority regulates and develops port services. [27]
Trade openness
Re-exports and cross-border services are a major part of national commercial activity. [8] [7]
Free-trade agreements
Singapore participates in extensive bilateral and regional trade frameworks. [8] [21]
RCEP
Singapore is a participant in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. [21]
CPTPP
Singapore is a member of the trans-Pacific economic partnership. [8]
APEC
Singapore participates in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. [10]
UN peacekeeping
Singapore has contributed personnel and support to multinational operations. [10]
Climate diplomacy
Participates in international climate agreements and adaptation efforts. [17]
Sea-level risk
Low-lying coastal land and sea-level rise are strategic planning concerns. [17]
Water resilience
Long-term supply diversity supports trade and population security. [17]
International education
Universities and training institutions attract regional students and researchers. [23]
International business regulation
Trade and financial compliance are important in banking and shipping. [15] [27]
UNESCO convention
Singapore ratified the World Heritage Convention in 2012. [19]
World Heritage count
Exactly one inscribed property as of November 2026. [19]
Singapore Botanic Gardens
UNESCO World Heritage property inscribed in 2015. [19]
Site category
Botanic Gardens is a cultural—not natural—World Heritage property. [19]
Tentative property
Padang Civic Ensemble appears on the UNESCO tentative list, not the World Heritage List. [19]
Hawker culture
UNESCO intangible-heritage inscription from 2020, separate from the one World Heritage site. [20]
Historic urban districts
Colonial-era precincts and cultural neighborhoods are subjects of local preservation efforts. [18]
Global labor links
Foreign residents and skilled migrants connect Singapore to many labor markets. [24] [3]
International statistical practice
World Bank annual estimates and national June counts can differ by methodology. [5] [3]
Trade comparison note
2024 WTO US-dollar customs statistics must not be substituted for 2025 national Singapore-dollar totals. [9] [8]
Diplomatic principle
Singapore stresses sovereignty, open trade and rules-based international relationships. [10] [21]
Current reference date
2026 population and 2025 government/economic figures are anchored to their reference periods. [3] [5] [13]

Singapore UNESCO classification

Only Singapore Botanic Gardens counts toward the one-property World Heritage total. [19] [20]

Designation Type Year
Singapore Botanic GardensInscribed cultural World Heritage2015
Padang Civic EnsembleTentative World Heritage candidate2022
Hawker culture in SingaporeIntangible cultural heritage2020

Sources and Methodology

Population figures follow the national June 2026 register/administrative estimate, not a single new full census. The 6.2085 million total includes non-residents while 4.2315 million residents comprise citizens and permanent residents. Ethnic and age composition measures are resident-only and cannot be projected onto all non-residents. World Bank nominal GDP (US$603.87 billion) is a 2025 current-dollar estimate; Singapore national goods trade (S$1,398 billion) is calendar 2025 and includes domestic exports and re-exports. The 2025 election produced 97 constituency members, distinct from other legislative categories. One UNESCO World Heritage property is inscribed; hawker culture is intangible, and the Padang is tentative.

Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). All stated population counts, prices, elections, and legal statuses have specific reference dates or qualifications. This page should be updated following major new statistical releases or changes of government.

  1. UN Statistics Division — M49 — Southeastern Asia classification and Singapore codes.
  2. Singapore Department of Statistics — Latest population and demographic data — official 2026 resident and total population series.
  3. National Population and Talent Division — Population in Brief 2026 — June 2026 population composition and fertility.
  4. Singapore Department of Statistics — Population Trends 2026 — ethnic composition, aging and planning-area statistics.
  5. World Bank — Singapore country data — 2025 current-dollar GDP and economic data.
  6. Singapore Department of Statistics — official portal — national accounts, population and social indicators.
  7. Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry — Economic Survey 2025 — GDP and trade-sector analysis.
  8. Enterprise Singapore — Review of 2025 Trade Performance, February 2026 — 2025 merchandise trade S$1.4 trillion and NODX growth.
  9. WTO Tariff & Trade Data — Singapore — 2024 goods exports, partners, products and trade methodology.
  10. Prime Minister’s Office Singapore — Cabinet — prime minister and executive government.
  11. The Istana — The Presidency, updated May 2026 — President Tharman, powers and presidential election process.
  12. Parliament of Singapore — official website — legislature, elected and non-elected membership types.
  13. Inter-Parliamentary Union — 2025 Singapore parliamentary election — 87 PAP and 10 WP directly elected MPs.
  14. Singapore Statutes Online — Constitution of Singapore — constitutional framework, institutions and rights.
  15. Monetary Authority of Singapore — central bank — Singapore dollar and exchange-rate-based monetary policy.
  16. Housing & Development Board — official portal — public housing and town planning.
  17. Meteorological Service Singapore — climate of Singapore — equatorial temperature and rainfall patterns.
  18. National Heritage Board — Singapore heritage — museums, heritage institutions and historic preservation.
  19. UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Singapore — Singapore Botanic Gardens and Padang tentative list.
  20. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage — Singapore — hawker culture intangible-heritage listing.
  21. Association of Southeast Asian Nations — ASEAN — regional organization and integration.
  22. WHO Data — Singapore — health and mortality statistics.
  23. Singapore Ministry of Education — official portal — schools, languages and higher education.
  24. Singapore Ministry of Manpower — statistics and workforce — foreign employment and labor-market indicators.
  25. Land Transport Authority — official portal — MRT, roads, transit and mobility planning.
  26. United Nations — Member States — 1965 admission to the United Nations.
  27. Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore — port, shipping and maritime services.
  28. Transparency International — Singapore country profile — independent corruption-perception monitoring.