World Happiness Report for Singapore 2024
- Overall Happiness Rank Singapore: 30
- Happiness Score Singapore:6.523
Happiness is a subjective concept that has long been debated by philosophers, psychologists, and economists alike. However, in recent years, there has been a growing interest in quantifying happiness and using it as a measure of a nation’s overall well-being. This is where the concept of the Happiness Index comes into play.
What is the Happiness Index?
The Happiness Index is a measure that attempts to quantify the overall happiness and life satisfaction of a country’s population. It is based on the idea that traditional economic indicators, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), do not fully capture the overall well-being of a society. The Happiness Index takes into account various factors that contribute to an individual’s sense of happiness and life satisfaction, including social support, freedom to make life choices, healthy life expectancy, and perceptions of corruption.
How is the Happiness Index Calculated?
The Happiness Index is calculated through a combination of subjective and objective data. The primary source of data is the Gallup World Poll, which is a survey conducted in over 160 countries. The survey asks respondents to rate their overall life satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being the worst possible life and 10 being the best possible life.
In addition to the life satisfaction score, the Happiness Index also takes into account the following factors:
- GDP per capita: This is a measure of a country’s economic output and standard of living.
- Social support: This factor measures the extent to which individuals have supportive relationships and love in their lives.
- Healthy life expectancy: This is a measure of the number of years an individual is expected to live in good health.
- Freedom to make life choices: This factor measures the extent to which individuals are able to make decisions about their lives without external constraints.
- Generosity: This factor measures the extent to which individuals engage in charitable activities and donate to others.
- Perceptions of corruption: This factor measures the extent to which individuals perceive their society to be free from corruption.
These factors are weighted and combined to produce an overall Happiness Index score for each country.
What Does the Happiness Index Affect?
The Happiness Index has significant implications for policymaking and societal well-being. Countries with higher Happiness Index scores are generally considered to have better overall quality of life and well-being for their citizens. This can have positive impacts on various aspects of society, including:
- Economic productivity: Happier individuals tend to be more productive and engaged in their work, which can contribute to a country’s economic growth.
- Public health: Higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction are associated with better physical and mental health outcomes, which can reduce healthcare costs and improve overall well-being.
- Social cohesion: Societies with higher levels of happiness tend to have stronger social bonds and lower levels of conflict and crime.
- Environmental sustainability: Happier individuals may be more likely to engage in environmentally-friendly behaviors and support policies that promote sustainability.
By focusing on the factors that contribute to happiness and well-being, policymakers can develop strategies to improve the overall quality of life for their citizens. The Happiness Index provides a valuable tool for measuring progress and identifying areas where improvements can be made.
Short information
- Abbreviation of Singapore. SG.
- Known for its highly efficient and corruption-free government
- A melting pot of diverse cultures, with Chinese, Malay, and Indian influences
- One of the world’s leading financial centers with a strong economy and strategic location in Southeast Asia
Singapore – A Comprehensive Overview
Early History and Ancient Settlements
The earliest known settlement in Singapore dates back to the 7th century AD, when the island was part of the maritime trade route between India and China. The island was known as Temasek, meaning “Sea Town” in Javanese. It was a prosperous trading port and part of the powerful Srivijayan maritime empire based in Sumatra.
Colonial Period and British Rule
In 1819, Sir Stamford Raffles, an agent of the British East India Company, established a British settlement on the island. Singapore’s strategic location at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula made it a valuable trading post. The British colony grew rapidly, attracting migrants from various parts of Asia. It became a Crown Colony in 1867 and played a significant role in the British Empire’s trade and defense strategies.
Independence and Modern Era
Singapore gained independence in 1965 after separating from the Federation of Malaysia. Under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew, the country embarked on a remarkable journey of economic development and nation-building. Despite its small size and lack of natural resources, Singapore transformed into a thriving global hub for finance, trade, and technology.
Current Political Situation
Singapore is a parliamentary republic with a unicameral legislature. The People’s Action Party (PAP) has been the dominant political force since independence, led by the current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The country is known for its stable governance, efficient bureaucracy, and low levels of corruption.
International Relations
Singapore maintains strong economic and diplomatic ties with countries around the world. It is a member of various international organizations, including the United Nations, ASEAN, and the Commonwealth of Nations. The country has robust defense partnerships with the United States and other regional powers.
Human Development and Economy
Singapore has a highly developed and prosperous economy driven by industries like finance, manufacturing, and logistics. It boasts one of the highest per capita incomes globally and ranks highly on human development indices. Key economic sectors include electronics, chemicals, and services like banking and tourism.
Cultural Highlights
Singapore is a multicultural society with a unique blend of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Western influences. The country is known for its diverse cuisine, vibrant festivals, and impressive architectural landmarks like the Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay. Singapore’s official languages are English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil.
Challenges and Opportunities
Some of the key challenges facing Singapore include managing limited land resources, addressing an aging population, and maintaining economic competitiveness in a rapidly changing global landscape. Opportunities lie in leveraging its strategic location, investing in innovation and technology, and further strengthening its position as a regional hub for trade and finance.
Main facts
1. Location
Singapore is a Southeast Asian island city-state located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, between Malaysia and Indonesia. It lies about 137 kilometers (85 miles) north of the equator, off the southern coast of the Malay Peninsula, in the Singapore Strait.
2. Map References
Singapore is part of Southeast Asia and is situated in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula.
3. Area – Comparative
With a total land area of 719.2 square kilometers (277.6 square miles), Singapore is slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
4. Land Boundaries and Border Countries
Singapore has a total land boundary length of 193 kilometers (120 miles), which it shares entirely with Malaysia.
5. Coastline
Singapore has a coastline of 193 kilometers (120 miles), featuring various islands, straits, and harbors.
6. Maritime Claims
Singapore’s maritime claims include territorial sea of 3 nautical miles, contiguous zone of 12 nautical miles, and exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles.
7. Climate
Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinct seasons, characterized by uniform temperature, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. There is no significant variation in temperature throughout the year.
8. Terrain
Singapore’s landscape consists primarily of lowlands and gently undulating central plateau. The highest point is Bukit Timah, with an elevation of 163.63 meters (537 feet).
9. Elevation Extremes
Highest Elevation: Bukit Timah, 163.63 meters (537 feet)
Lowest Elevation: Singapore Strait, 0 meters (0 feet)
10. Natural Resources
Singapore has no significant natural resources, and its economy depends heavily on export revenues from manufacturing and services.
11. Major Bodies of Water
The Singapore Strait separates Singapore from Indonesia’s Riau Islands, and the Johor Strait separates it from Malaysia.
12. Natural Hazards
The main natural hazards in Singapore are occasional torrential rainfalls, which can cause flash floods. The country is also affected by seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in neighboring Indonesia.
13. Geography – Notes
Singapore is a highly urbanized island city-state with limited natural resources. Its strategic location along major sea lanes has played a crucial role in its economic development. The country has reclaimed land to increase its total area, and it relies heavily on imports for most of its natural resources and water supply.
- Forest Area (% of land area): 23.10%. This is the percentage of a country’s total land area that is covered by natural or planted forests.
- Co2 Emissions: 37,535. CO2 emissions refer to the release of carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy production, transportation, and industrial processes.
- Agricultural Land( %). 0.90%. Agricultural land refers to the share of land area that is arable and used for cultivating crops or raising livestock.
- Geographic Coordinates: 1.352083103.819836.
- Capital: The capital of Singapore is Singapore
- Major Cities:
- Singapore City – Population: 5.6 million
- Population: 5,703,569
- Area(Km2): 716
- Population Density( P/Km²):8358. This is the number of people living per square kilometer of land area in a given region or country.
- Calling Code:65
- Official Language(s):Singapore is English 36.9%, Mandarin 34.9%, Malay 9.0%, Tamil 3.2%
- Currency: SGD
Main Economic Indicators
Singapore has a highly developed market-based economy that enjoys a stable environment with an open and corruption-free business climate. The country has a diversified economy with strengths in financial services, manufacturing, oil-rig construction, and tourism. Singapore faces key economic challenges of slowing productivity growth, an aging population, and ensuring economic competitiveness. Notable economic policies focus on free trade, pro-business regulations, and fiscal prudence.
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)
0.4% (2019 est.)
0.4% (2018 est.)
Source: CIA World Factbook
Credit Ratings
Fitch Rating: AAA
Moody’s Rating: Aaa
Standard & Poor’s Rating: AAA
GDP – Composition by Sector of Origin
Agriculture: 0% (2017 est.)
Industry: 25.6% (2017 est.)
Services: 74.4% (2017 est.)
Key Agricultural and Industrial Products
Agricultural Products: vegetables, poultry, eggs, fish, ornamental fish
Industrial Products: machinery and equipment (including electronics and telecommunications equipment), consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, other chemicals, petroleum refining products, scientific instruments, fabricated metal products, ships
Labor Force
Total Labor Force: 3.719 million (2020 est.)
Ranked 96th in the world
Current Account Balance
$59.77 billion (2019 est.)
$59.68 billion (2018 est.)
Ranked 9th in the world
Exports and Imports
Exports: $409.29 billion (2019 est.)
Key Partners: China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, United States
Main Commodities: machinery and equipment (including electronics and telecommunications), consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, other chemicals, petroleum refining products
Imports: $359.65 billion (2019 est.)
Key Partners: China, Malaysia, United States, Japan, Taiwan
Main Commodities: machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
Foreign Exchange Reserves: $287.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
Gold Reserves: 127.4 tons (February 2021 est.)
- GDP (Current US$):$372,062,527,489. It represents a country’s gross domestic product measured in current US dollars. Higher values indicate a larger economy and economic output.
- Tax Revenue (% of GDP): 13.10%. It refers to the amount of tax revenue collected by the government, expressed as a percentage of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Higher values indicate a higher tax burden relative to the size of the economy.
- Total Tax Rate (% of commercial profits): 21.00%. This is the sum of all taxes payable by businesses, expressed as a percentage of their commercial profits. Higher values indicate a higher tax burden on businesses.
- Gasoline Price. $1.25. It refers to the cost of one liter or gallon of gasoline/petrol. Higher values indicate more expensive gasoline prices for consumers and businesses.
- Minimum wage. . It refers to the lowest legally mandated hourly wage that employers must pay their workers. Higher values indicate a higher minimum level of pay for low-wage workers.
- Unemployment Rate (%): 4.11%. It represents the percentage of the labor force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment. Higher values indicate more joblessness in the economy.
Social Indicators
1. National Identity
Nationality: Singaporean(s)
Adjective: Singaporean
2. Ethnic Groups
- Chinese: 74.3%
- Malay: 13.5%
- Indian: 9%
- Others: 3.2%
3. Religions
- Buddhism: 33.2%
- Christianity: 18.8%
- Islam: 14%
- Taoism: 10%
- Hinduism: 5%
- Other religions: 0.6%
- No religion: 18.4%
4. Age Structure
- 0-14 years: 12.6%
- 15-64 years: 72.2%
- 65 years and over: 15.2%
5. Dependency Ratios
Total dependency ratio: 38.4
Youth dependency ratio: 17.5
Elderly dependency ratio: 20.9
6. Median Age
Total: 42.2 years
Males: 41.1 years
Females: 43.4 years
7. Lifestyle Indicators
Obesity rate: 6.1% of the adult population
Alcohol consumption: 2.8 liters of pure alcohol per capita per year
Tobacco use: 14.7% of adults (aged 15 and over) smoke tobacco
- Life Expectancy at Birth: 83.1. Life Expectancy at Birth refers to the estimated average number of years a newborn is expected to live based on current mortality rates. Higher values indicate better health outcomes and living conditions in a country or region.
- Literacy Rate (% of adults): 97.5%. It refers to the percentage of the population aged 15 and above who can read and write with understanding of a short simple statement about their everyday life. Higher literacy rates indicate better educational attainment within a population.
- Birth Rate:8.8. Birth Rate is the total number of live births per 1,000 population in a given year. Higher birth rates indicate a larger share of the population being born each year.
- Death Rate:6. Death Rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 population in a given year. Higher death rates indicate more people dying annually within a population.
- Fertility Rate: 1.14. Fertility Rate is the average number of children a woman would have over her reproductive years based on current birth rates. Higher fertility rates indicate larger family sizes and population growth.
- Internet Users (% of population): 81.1%. Internet Users (% of population) refers to the percentage of the total population in a country or region that has access to and uses the internet. Higher values indicate greater internet penetration and connectivity among the population.
- Urban Population: 5,703,569. Urban Population refers to the percentage or number of people living in urban areas or cities within a country or region. Higher urban population values indicate greater urbanization and concentration of people in cities compared to rural areas.
- Out of Pocket Health Expenditure (% of total health expenditure):36.70%. Out of Pocket Health Expenditure (% of total health expenditure) represents the portion of total health care costs that individuals pay directly out of their own pockets, rather than being covered by insurance or government programs. Higher values indicate greater personal financial burden for health care expenses.
Infrastructure and Services
Military and Security Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces consists of the following branches:
- Singapore Army: The largest service component, responsible for land operations and territorial defense.
- Republic of Singapore Air Force: Responsible for air defense and supporting ground operations.
- Republic of Singapore Navy: Tasked with maritime security and coastal defense.
Singapore also maintains the Singapore Civil Defence Force, a uniformed service responsible for emergency response and disaster management.
Internal security is handled by the Singapore Police Force and its specialized units, including the Special Operations Command for counterterrorism operations.
Military Expenditures
Singapore’s military spending as a percentage of GDP for the last five years:
- 2022: 3.2%
- 2021: 3.2%
- 2020: 3.2%
- 2019: 3.1%
- 2018: 3.0%
Singapore consistently ranks among the top five countries globally in terms of military spending as a percentage of GDP.
Personnel Strengths
Singapore has approximately 72,000 active-duty military personnel, with the breakdown as follows:
- Singapore Army: 48,000
- Republic of Singapore Air Force: 12,000
- Republic of Singapore Navy: 12,000
The Singapore Police Force has an additional strength of around 35,000 personnel.
Military Equipment Inventories and Acquisitions
Singapore’s military utilizes a mix of domestically produced and imported hardware, including:
- Main Battle Tanks: Leopard 2A4, M1A2 Abrams
- Infantry Fighting Vehicles: Bionix II, Bronco ATTC
- Fighter Aircraft: F-16C/D, F-15SG
- Naval Vessels: Formidable-class frigates, Victory-class missile corvettes
Significant future acquisitions include the procurement of F-35 fighter jets and the development of next-generation armored fighting vehicles.
Military Service Age and Obligation
Singapore has a policy of mandatory conscription for all male citizens and permanent residents, with a service obligation of two years upon reaching the age of 18. Opportunities for voluntary extension and reservist service are available.
Military Deployments
Singapore does not currently have any major overseas military deployments. However, it contributes forces to various United Nations peacekeeping missions, including:
- United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
- United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
Strategic Military Notes
Singapore’s defense strategy focuses on territorial defense and deterrence, with a strong emphasis on advanced military technology and a capable, well-trained force. The country’s strategic location along major maritime trade routes also requires robust naval capabilities.
Singapore is a member of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) with the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia, and participates in various bilateral and multilateral military exercises and partnerships, particularly with the United States and other regional allies.
- Armed Forces Size: 51000. Armed Forces Size refers to the total number of active personnel serving in a country’s military forces, including the army, navy, air force, and other branches. Higher values indicate a larger military presence and personnel.
- Physicians per Thousand: Number of doctors per 1,000 people is 2.29
- Population: Labor Force Participation (%): 70.50%. This is the percentage of the total population aged 15 and older that is economically active, meaning they are either employed or actively seeking employment. Higher values indicate a greater proportion of the working-age population engaged in the labor force.