The Republic of Singapore

Singapore is a Southeast Asian island country that lies off the southern point of the Malay Peninsula. The Johor Straits divide it from Malaysia, while the Singapore Strait separates it from Indonesia's Riau Islands. Singapore's geographical position makes it an important transit hub for Southeast Asian marine routes.

Income group

High income

Region

Southeast Asia

Capital

Singapore

Currency

Singapore Dollar (SGD)

Administrative divisions

24 towns and 3 estates

Mainland area

734.3 km²

Internet penetration

96% (2024)

Mobile phone penetration

162.2% (2024)

Demographic profile

Population hit

0 M

100%

Urban population (2023)

0%

Rural population​ (2023)

52.2%

Male (2023)

47.8%

Female (2023)

21%

Baby boomer (2023)

23%

Gen X (2023)

24%

Gen Y (2023)

17%

Gen Z (2023)

Employment profile

The labour force reached

0 M

68.6%

Participation rate (2023)

97.56%

Employment rate (2023)

71%

Labour force at SMEs (2022)

56%

High-skilled labour ratio (2017)

US$ 3850

Monthly average income (2023)

16.5%

Attrition rate (2023)

0.1%

Employment in Agriculture (2022)

14.2%

Employment in Industry (2022)

85.7%

Employment in Services (2022)

Economic profile​

Singapore ranks as the

0 th

US$ 501.4B

GDP (2023)

US$ 84,730

GDP per capita (2023)

US$ 22B

Digital economy GMV (2023)

US$ 44.21B

ICT market size (2023)

99%

Percentage of MSMEs (2023)

US$ 6.1B

Total capital invested in startups (2023)

The third-largest economy in Southeast Asia

FDI inflows

Singapore's foreign direct investment attracted nearly US$ 141.2 billion by 2022

Export turnovers

Singapore's export turnovers reached US$ 483.4 billion by 2023

Newly-established businesses

There were 70,402 businesses established in 2023

GDP, by industry

Wholesale trade contributed the most to Singapore's GDP in 2023

US$ 141.2B

FDI Inflow (2022)

Leading FDI sectors

Finance & insurance

56.4%

Wholesale & retail trade

15.7%

Manufacturing

12.3%

Professional and administrative & support services

6.7%

Transportation & storage

4.3%

Information & communications

1.8%

US$ 483.4B

Export turnovers​ (2023)

Top exports

Oil export

18.2%

Non-oil export

81.8%

Machinery & transport equipment

62.6%

Chemicals & chemical products

14.6%

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

10.7%

Manufactured goods

3.5%

Food & live animals

2.4%

70,402

Number of newly-established businesses

Top industries

Professional services

17.1%

Wholesale trade

15.9%

Information & communications

13.3%

Finance & insurance

10.6%

Retail trade

8.5%

US$ 501.4B

GDP, by industry (2023)

Top industries

Wholesale trade

22.3%

Manufacturing

18.6%

Finance & insurance

13.8%

Other services industries

9.6%

Transportation & storage

6.8%

Doing business in Singapore

Opportunities & challenges

Opportunities

• Large FDI inflows, generous tax regime

• Major goods transport and trading hub, financial centre

• Political stability, and excellent business climate

• High non-price competitiveness

Challenges

• Vulnerable to the structural slowdown of the Chinese economy and to US-China geopolitical tensions

• Rely on exports/imports

• Ageing population

• Skilled labour and housing shortages

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