Singapore Passport

【 Country Name 】 Republic of Singapore.

【 Area 】 735.2 square kilometers (2023).

The total population is approximately 5.92 million (2023), with 4.07 million citizens and permanent residents. Chinese people account for about 74%, while the rest are Malays, Indians, and other ethnic groups. Malay is the national language, English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil are the official languages, and English is the administrative language. The main religions are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism.

【 Capital 】 Singapore.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will take office on September 14, 2023, with a term of 6 years.

[Important festival] Chinese New Year: the same as Chinese Spring Festival. Tamil New Year: between April and May. Vesak Day: a full moon day in May. National Day: August 9th. Eid al Fitr: the time when the new moon appears in October according to the Islamic calendar. Christmas: December 25th. There are a total of 11 statutory public holidays in Singapore, including New Year's Day, Easter, Haji Festival, Labor Day, etc.

[Overview] Tropical city countries. Located at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula, at the entrance and exit of the Malacca Strait, adjacent to Malaysia across the Johor Strait to the north and facing Indonesia across the Singapore Strait to the south. Composed of Singapore Island and 63 nearby small islands, Singapore Island accounts for 88.5% of the country's total area. The terrain is low and flat, with an average elevation of 15 meters and a highest elevation of 163 meters. The coastline is 193 kilometers long. It belongs to a tropical oceanic climate, with high temperatures, humidity, and abundant rainfall throughout the year. The annual average temperature is 24 ℃~32 ℃, the daily average temperature is 26.8 ℃, the annual average precipitation is 2345 millimeters, and the annual average humidity is 84.3%.

Formerly known as Temasek. In the 8th century, it belonged to the Srivijaya dynasty. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was a part of the Kingdom of Johor in Malaysia. In 1819, the Englishman Stamford Raffles arrived in Singapore, signed a contract with the Sultan of Johor, and began to set up a new trading post. In 1824, it became a new British colony and became a transit trading port for Britain in the Far East and a major military base in Southeast Asia. It was occupied by Japan in 1942. After Japan's surrender in 1945, Britain resumed colonial rule and became a direct colony the following year. In 1959, it achieved autonomy and became an autonomous state, with Britain retaining powers such as defense, foreign affairs, amending the constitution, and declaring a state of emergency. In September 1963, it formed the Federation of Malaysia together with Malaya, Sabah, and Sarawak. On August 9, 1965, it separated from Malaysia and established the Republic of Singapore; In September of the same year, it became a member of the United Nations and joined the Commonwealth in October.

Since its independence, the People's Action Party has been in power for a long time, with outstanding achievements and a stable position. It has achieved overwhelming advantages in all previous elections. Lee Kuan Yew served as Prime Minister for a long time since his independence in 1965, and handed over the baton to Goh Chok Tong in 1990. In 1993, the first presidential election was held after independence, and Wang Dingchang, former Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary General of the Singapore Confederation of Trade Unions, was elected as the first democratically elected president. In August 2004, Lee Hsien Loong succeeded Goh Chok Tong as Prime Minister and was re elected four times in May 2006, May 2011, September 2015, and July 2020. In March 2015, Lee Kuan Yew passed away. In May 2024, Huang Xuncai became the fourth Prime Minister of Singapore. Lee Hsien Loong stepped down as Prime Minister and became State Counsellor.

In September 1963, after Singapore was incorporated into Malaysia, a state constitution was promulgated. In December 1965, the state constitution was amended to become the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, and some provisions of the Malaysian Constitution were applied to Singapore.

The Constitution stipulates that a parliamentary republic system shall be implemented. The president is the head of state. In 1992, the National Assembly enacted the Presidential Election Act, which stipulated that starting from 1993, the presidential election would be changed from parliamentary to elected, and the term of office would be changed from 4 years to 6 years. The President appoints the leader of the majority party in parliament as the Prime Minister; The President and Parliament jointly exercise legislative power. The President has the power to veto government budgets and appointments to public sector positions; Can review the implementation of internal security laws and religious harmony laws by the government; Have the authority to investigate corruption cases. The President must first seek the opinion of the Presidential Advisory Council when exercising powers such as appointing key civil servants. In February 2017, the Singapore Parliament passed the Presidential Election Amendment Act, which modified the elected presidential system and implemented a reserved election mechanism. Under this mechanism, if any of the Chinese, Malay, Indian, or other ethnic groups has not been represented as president after five presidential terms, the next presidential election will prioritize candidates from that ethnic group. In September 2017, former Malay National Assembly Speaker Halimah ran for president and was elected as the only eligible candidate, becoming the first elected president under the reservation based presidential election system. In September 2023, Shandaman was elected president.

The parliament adopts a unicameral system with a term of 5 years. The parliament can be dissolved in advance, and the general election must be held within three months after the parliament is dissolved. Members of parliament are divided into elected members, non constituency members, and appointed members. Among them, elected members are elected by citizens. Non constituency councilors are appointed from the highest voted opposition candidate who has not been elected, up to a maximum of 12, to ensure that there are representatives from non ruling parties in the parliament. Official members are appointed by the President based on the recommendation of a special selection committee of the Congress, with a term of two and a half years, to reflect the opinions of independent and non partisan individuals. The current parliament was elected on July 11, 2020, and currently has a total of 103 members. Among them, there are 92 elected members of parliament, including 83 from the People's Action Party and 9 from the Workers' Party. There are also 2 non constituency councilors and 9 official councilors. The current Speaker of the National Assembly, Xie Jianping.

In May 2024, Huang Xuncai became the Prime Minister and formed a new cabinet. The main cabinet members include Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Huang Xuncai, State Counsellor Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry Yan Jinyong, Deputy Prime Minister Wang Ruijie, and State Counsellor and Minister of National Security Zhang Zhixian.

Government website: www.gov.sg。

The judicial system includes the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor General's Office. The Supreme Court is composed of a High Court and an Appeals Chamber. In 1994, the provision for appeals to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom was abolished, and the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court was established as the final court of appeal. The Supreme Court justices are recommended by the Prime Minister and appointed by the President. Chief Justice Mei Dashun and Prosecutor General Huang Lusheng.

There are over 30 registered political parties. The main ones are:

(1) The People's Action Party: The ruling party. Established in November 1954 by Lee Kuan Yew and others. It has maintained its position as the ruling party since 1959. Lee Kuan Yew served as the Secretary General of the party for a long time, and was succeeded by Goh Chok Tong in 1991. In December 2004, Lee Hsien Loong succeeded Goh Chok Tong as the Secretary General of the party. Current Party Chairman Wang Ruijie.

(2) The Worker's Party was founded in November 1957. In recent years, the impact has expanded. Since 1981, he has won several seats in the general election. Received 10 seats in the 2020 general election (with one person resigning later). Current Chairman Lin Ruilian, Secretary General Bi Danxing, who serves as the leader of the opposition party in the parliament.

[Important Person] Shang Daman: President. Born in February 1957, of Indian descent. Obtained a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the London School of Economics, a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Cambridge, and a Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University. I worked at the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Central Bank of Singapore in the early days. Elected as a member of parliament in October 2001, he has held various positions since 2002, including Minister of Education, Minister of Finance, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Minister of Human Resources, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic and Social Coordination. Appointed as State Counsellor and Minister of Social Policy Coordination from May 2019. Resigned from public office and left the party in July 2023, announcing his candidacy for the presidency of Singapore. In September, he was elected as the ninth President of Singapore.

Huang Xuncai: Premier. Born in December 1972. Obtained a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin Madison, a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, and a Master's degree in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He has served as the Chief Private Secretary to Singapore's President Wang Dingchang and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Elected as a member of parliament in 2011, he has held various positions including Minister of Defense and Minister of Education, Minister of Information, Communications and the Arts and Senior Minister of Education, Minister of Culture, Communities and Youth and Second Minister of Communications and Information, Minister of National Development, Minister of National Development and Second Minister of Finance, Minister of Education and Second Minister of Finance, Minister of Finance, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. In May 2024, he became the fourth Prime Minister of Singapore.

【 Economy 】 It belongs to the foreign trade driven economy, mainly consisting of electronics, petrochemicals, finance, shipping, and service industries, highly dependent on the markets of China, the United States, Japan, Europe, and surrounding areas. The total amount of foreign trade is three times the GDP. The economy has experienced long-term high-speed growth, with an average annual GDP growth rate of 9% from 1960 to 1984. In 1997, it was hit by the Asian financial crisis, but it was not severe. In 2001, due to the global economic slowdown, the economy experienced a negative growth of 2% and fell into the most severe recession since independence. To stimulate economic development, the government has proposed to "build a new Singapore", strive to transform into a knowledge-based economy, and establish an economic restructuring committee to comprehensively review economic development policies and actively negotiate free trade agreements with major economies around the world. In 2008, multiple industries such as finance, trade, manufacturing, and tourism were impacted by the international financial crisis. The Singapore government has taken proactive measures to strengthen financial market regulation, strive to maintain financial market stability, boost investor confidence, and reduce inflation rates, and has launched a new round of economic stimulus policies. The economy grew by 14.5% in 2010. In 2011, due to the negative impact of the European debt crisis, economic growth slowed down again. The economic growth rate from 2012 to 2016 ranged from 1% to 2%. In February 2017, Singapore's Future Economic Council released its economic development strategy for the next decade, proposing goals such as an average annual economic growth rate of 2% to 3%, achieving inclusive development, and building a country full of opportunities. It also formulated seven development strategies, including deepening international connections, promoting and implementing industrial transformation blueprints, and creating interconnected cities. The economic growth rates in 2017, 2018, and 2019 reached 3.5%, 3.2%, and 0.8%, respectively. In 2020, affected by the COVID-19, the economy will decline by 5.8%. In 2021, the Singapore economy experienced a strong rebound, with a year-on-year growth of 7.6%. In 2022, the growth rate of gross domestic product will decline to 3.6%. The main economic data for 2023 are as follows:

Gross Domestic Product (2023): SGD 673.3 billion (approximately USD 487.9 billion).

Per capita Gross Domestic Product (2023): SGD 114000 (approximately USD 82000).

Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate (2023): 1.1%.

Total trade volume of goods (2023): SGD 1206 billion (approximately USD 873.91 billion).

Total trade in services (2023): SGD 837.3 billion (approximately USD 606.74 billion)

Currency: Singapore Dollar.

Exchange rate: 1 US dollar ≈ 1.38 Singapore dollars.

Natural resources are scarce.

Industry mainly includes manufacturing and construction industries. Manufacturing products mainly include electronics, chemistry and chemical engineering, biomedicine, precision machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, refining and other products. New is the world's third-largest oil refining center.

Agriculture: Agricultural land accounts for about 1% of the total land area, and its output value accounts for less than 0.1% of the national economy. The vast majority of grain and vegetables are imported from Malaysia, China, Indonesia, and Australia.

The service industry includes financial services, retail and wholesale trade, hotel tourism, transportation and telecommunications, commercial services, etc., and is a leading driver of economic growth.

One of the main sources of foreign exchange in the tourism industry. Tourists mainly come from China, ASEAN countries, Australia, India, and Japan. The main attractions include Marina Bay, Sentosa Island, Botanical Garden, Night Zoo, etc.

Transportation is well-developed with convenient facilities. It is an important transit port in the world and an aviation center connecting Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania.

Railway: mainly consisting of subway, with additional light rail connecting to the subway.

Highways: As of the end of 2018, the total mileage is 3500 kilometers, and the island's road network is well connected.

Water transportation: It is one of the busiest ports in the world and a major transit hub in Asia. It is the world's largest fuel supply port and the second largest cargo port. There are over 200 shipping routes connecting more than 600 ports around the world. In 2023, Singapore International Ports Group processed a total of 94.8 million TEUs, an increase of 4.3% compared to 2022. Among them, the container terminal in Singapore processed a total of 38.8 million standard containers, which is 4.8% more than in 2022.

Air freight: mainly Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary, SilkAir. Singapore Changi Airport has been rated as the world's best airport for several consecutive years. In 2019, there were 382000 flights taking off and landing, with a passenger volume of 68.3 million and a cargo volume of 2 million tons. Due to the impact of the epidemic, the number of flights taking off and landing in 2020 decreased to 125000, the passenger volume decreased to 11.8 million, and the cargo volume decreased to 1.54 million tons. In 2021, the number of flights taking off and landing decreased to 109000, the passenger volume decreased to 3.05 million, and the cargo volume increased to 1.947 million tons. In 2022, 32.2 million passengers will be received, equivalent to 47.2% before the COVID-19 epidemic; There were 219000 takeoffs and landings in Banda, accounting for 57.2% of pre pandemic levels. In 2023, Changi Airport will have approximately 328000 takeoffs and landings, with a passenger throughput of 58.9 million and an air cargo throughput of 1.74 million metric tons.

Foreign trade is an important pillar of the national economy. The total amount of foreign trade in goods in 2023 is approximately SGD 1206 billion (approximately USD 873.91 billion), of which approximately SGD 638.4 billion (approximately USD 462.61 billion) is exported and SGD 567.6 billion (approximately USD 411.3 billion) is imported. The main imported goods are electronic vacuum tubes, crude oil, processed petroleum products, office and data processing machine parts, etc. The main export commodities are refined oil, electronic components, chemicals, and industrial machinery. The main trading partners are China, Malaysia, and the United States.

Promote the "regional economic development strategy" and vigorously invest overseas. As of the end of 2022, the cumulative outward direct investment amounted to SGD 1.39 trillion (approximately USD 1 trillion), mainly concentrated in the financial services and manufacturing industries. The main direct investment targets are China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

As of the end of 2022, Singapore has attracted a total of SGD 2.62 trillion (approximately USD 1.89 trillion) in overseas direct investment, mainly concentrated in the financial services and manufacturing industries. The main sources of direct investment are the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and China.

In 2023, the per capita gross domestic product is 114000 Singapore dollars (approximately 82000 US dollars). The government has unified the construction of public housing, and the homeownership rate of residents has reached 91%. The average life expectancy is 83.0 years, the literacy rate is 97.5% (over 15 years old), there are 24 doctors per 10000 people, and there are 110 private cars per 1000 people.

The Singapore Armed Forces was established in 1965. The president is the commander-in-chief of the three armed forces. Implement compulsory military service system, with a service period of 2-3 years. The Singaporean military mainly trains abroad. In 1971, it formed the "Five Nation Joint Defense" with the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia. Pay attention to national defense education. Committed to building the third generation of "intelligent" military. The defense budget for 2024 is approximately SGD 20.2 billion (approximately USD 15 billion).

While preserving the traditional cultures of various ethnic groups, encourage the evolution of a unified national culture towards Singapore.

Singapore's education system emphasizes bilingualism, physical education, moral education, innovation, and independent thinking abilities. The bilingual policy requires students to not only learn English, but also be proficient in their mother tongue. The government promotes "information technology education" to encourage students to master computer knowledge. The vast majority of schools are public institutions, with renowned higher education institutions including the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, and Singapore University of Technology and Design.

English newspapers include Strait Times, Business Times, and Xin Bao; Chinese newspapers include Lianhe Zaobao, Lianhe Evening News and Xinming Daily; The Malay language newspaper has the Daily News; The Tamil language newspaper has the Tamil Daily.

The radio station broadcasts in Malay, English, Mandarin, and Tamil.

The television network covers the whole country. The New Media Group was formed by the merger of multiple television and radio companies, mainly operating six channels including Channel 5, Channel 8, and Asia News Channel, broadcasting programs in Chinese, English, Malay, and Tamil. There are also excellent channels and TV channels established by private newspaper holding groups.

Based on ASEAN, we are committed to maintaining ASEAN unity and cooperation, and promoting ASEAN to play a greater role in regional affairs; Highly value the development of relations with China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia; Highlighting economic diplomacy, actively promoting trade and investment liberalization, and having signed bilateral free trade agreements with multiple countries. We have joined the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and initiated the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) with New Zealand and Chile. The initiative has established cross continental cooperation mechanisms such as the Asia Europe Meeting and the East Asia Latin America Forum. Actively promoting the signing of the Asia Regional Government Anti Piracy Cooperation Agreement (ReCAAP), the Information Sharing Center established under the agreement was officially established in November 2006. We have established diplomatic relations with 193 countries.