Part 669

Population: 3,396,924 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (male 379,076; female 358,739) 15-64 years: 72% (male 1,220,131; female 1,219,412) 65 years and over: 6% (male 97,882; female 121,684) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.9% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 16.28 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 7.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.13 years male: 75.07 years female: 81.39 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality: noun: Singaporean(s) adjective: Singapore

Ethnic divisions: Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3%

Religions: Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist

Languages: Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil (official), English (official)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 91.1% male: 95.9% female: 86.3%

Government ----------

Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Singapore conventional short form: Singapore

Data code: SN

Type of government: republic within Commonwealth

Capital: Singapore

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)

National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965)

Constitution: 3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution)

Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch: chief of state: President ONG Teng Cheong (since 1 September 1993) was elected for a six-year term by popular vote; election last held 28 August 1993 (next to be held NA August 1999); results - ONG Teng Cheong was elected with 59% of the vote in the country's first popular election for president head of government: Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990) and Deputy Prime Ministers LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990) and Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 August 1995) were appointed by the president cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament: elections last held 31 August 1991 (next to be held by 31 August 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total) PAP 77, SDP 3, WP 1