Singapore Geography Profile 2009

Location

Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Geographic coordinates

1 22 N, 103 48 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area

total: 697 sq km
land: 687 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

193 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice

Climate

tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - Northeastern monsoon (December to March) and Southwestern monsoon (June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms

Terrain

lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m

Natural resources

fish, deepwater ports

Land use

arable land: 1.47%
permanent crops: 1.47%
other: 97.06% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

Total renewable water resources

0.6 cu km (1975)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.19 cu km/yr (45%/51%/4%)
per capita: 44 cu m/yr (1975)

Natural hazards

NA

Environment - current issues

industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes