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Singapore SOCIETY
Population: 2,674,362 in July 1989. Low birth
and death
rates; at some points in the 1980s, negative rate of
population
increase.
Languages and Ethnic Groups: Multiethnic
population; 76.4
percent Chinese, 14.9 percent Malay, 6.4 percent Indian,
2.3
percent other. National language Malay but language of
administration English. Four official languages--Malay,
English,
Chinese, and Tamil--but English predominates. Government
policy for
all citizens to be bilingual--competent in English and an
Asian
"mother tongue." Large resident alien population composed
of
unskilled laborers from neighboring countries and skilled
managers
and professionals from developed countries.
Religion: Religious diversity reflects ethnic
diversity.
Major religions in 1988: Buddhist, 28.3 percent;
Christian, 18.7
percent: no religion, 17.6 percent; Islam, 16 percent;
Daoist, 13.4
percent; Hindu, 4.9 percent; "other," 1.1 percent. Rapid
growth of
Christianity and decline of Chinese folk religion in
1980s.
Health: Conditions approach those of developed
countries;
adequate number of physicians and hospitals. Government
enforces
strict sanitation and public health regulations. Heart
disease,
cancer, stroke, and pneunonia major causes of death. In
1987 life
expectancy 71.4 years for males and 76.3 years for
females.
Education: British-inspired system with six-year
primary
and four-year secondary schools and two-year junior
colleges for
quarter of student population preparing for higher
education.
English primary language of instruction. Six institutions
of higher
education, government supported. Education system
emphasizes
English, science and technology, and vocational skills.
Data as of December 1989
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