www.cia.

gov

Background: Singapore was founded as a British tradi ng c olony in 1819. It joi ned the Malaysi an Federati on in 1963 but s eparat ed two years lat er and became independent. Singapor e subs equently bec ame one of the worl d's most pr osperous countries with strong i nter national tr adi ng links (its port is one of t he world's busiest in t erms of tonnag e handled) and wit h per capit a GDP equal to t hat of the leading nati ons of W estern Eur ope Geogr aphy :: SI NGAPORE Locati on: Southeastern Asia, islands bet ween Mal aysia and Indonesia Geogr aphic coordi nat es : 1 22 N, 103 48 E Map r efer ences: Southeast Asia Ar ea: total: 697 s q km countr y comparison t o the worl d: 192 land: 687 s q km water: 10 s q km

Ar ea - comparati ve: slightl y mor e than 3. 5 times the size of W ashington, DC Land boundari es: 0 km Coastline: 193 km Maritime clai ms: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusi ve fi shi ng zone: within and beyond territ orial sea, as defi ned i n treaties and practice Climat e: tropical; hot, humi d, rainy; two distinct monsoon s eas ons - Northeast ern monsoon (Dec ember to Marc h) and Sout hwester n monsoon (June t o Sept ember); inter -monsoon - frequent after noon and early evening thunderstorms Terrain: lowl and; gently undul ating central pl ateau c ont ai ns water catc hment area and natur e pr eser ve Elevati on extr emes: lowest point: Si ngapore Strait 0 m highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m Natur al resources: fish, deepwater ports Land use: arable l and: 1. 47% permanent crops: 1.47% other: 97. 06% (2005) Irrigated land: NA Total renewable wat er resour ces : 0.6 cu km ( 1975) Freshwat er withdrawal (domestic/i ndustrial/agricul tural) : total: 0. 19 c u km/yr (45%/ 51%/4%) per capita: 44 cu m/yr ( 1975) Natur al hazar ds:

NA Environment - current i ssues: industrial poll ution; limit ed nat ural fr eshwat er resources; limited land avail ability presents waste disposal problems; seas onal smok e/haze r esulti ng fr om for est fires in I ndonesi a Environment - inter nati onal agreement s : part y t o: Bi odi versity, Climate Change , Climat e Change- Kyot o Prot ocol, Des ertification, Endanger ed Speci es, Hazardous W astes, Law of t he Sea, Ozone Layer Pr ot ection, Shi p Poll ution signed, but not ratified: none of the select ed agreements Geogr aphy - note: focal poi nt for Southeast Asian sea routes

Peopl e and Soci et y :: SI NGAPORE Nationalit y: noun: Si ngaporean(s) adj ecti ve: Singapore Ethni c gr oups: Chi nes e 76.8%, Mal ay 13. 9%, Indi an 7. 9%, other 1. 4% (2000 c ens us) Languages: Mandarin ( official) 35%, English (offici al) 23%, Malay (official) 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5. 7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil (official) 3.2%, other Chinese dial ects 1. 8%, other 0.9% ( 2000 census) Religi ons: Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%, Cat holic 4.8%, ot her Christian 9. 8%, other 0. 7%, none 14.8% (2000 census) Popul ation: 5,353,494 (Jul y 2012 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 114 Age structur e: 0-14 years: 13. 8% (male 338, 419/f emale 314, 704) 15- 64 year s: 77% (male 1, 774, 444/femal e 1, 874, 985) 65 year s and over: 9. 2% ( mal e 196, 101/f emale 242, 084) ( 2011 est.) Medi an age: total: 40.1 years male: 39.6 years femal e: 40. 6 years (2011 est.)

Popul ation growth rat e: 1.993% (2012 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 51 Birth rate: 7.72 birt hs/1, 000 populati on (2012 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 219 Death rat e: 3.41 deaths/ 1,000 popul ati on (Jul y 2012 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 212 Net mi gration rat e: 15. 62 migr ant(s)/1, 000 populati on ( 2012 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 6 Urbanization: urban popul ation: 100% of total populati on ( 2010) rate of urbanizati on: 0.9% annual r ate of change (2010-15 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1. 07 male(s)/female under 15 year s: 1. 05 mal e(s)/female 15- 64 year s: 0. 96 mal e(s)/femal e 65 year s and over: 0. 82 male(s)/femal e total populati on: 0.96 mal e(s)/femal e (2012 est.) Mater nal mortalit y rat e: 9 deaths/100,000 live birt hs (2008) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 148 Infant mortalit y rat e: total: 2. 65 deat hs/1, 000 li ve birt hs countr y comparison t o the worl d: 219 male: 2.76 deat hs/1,000 li ve births femal e: 2. 53 deat hs/1, 000 live births (2012 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total populati on: 83. 75 years countr y comparison t o the worl d: 4 male: 81.47 years femal e: 86. 2 years (2012 est.) Total fertilit y rat e: 0.78 chil dren bor n/woman ( 2012 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 222

Health expendit ures: 3.9% of GDP ( 2009) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 168 Physi cians densit y: 1.833 physicians/1, 000 popul ation ( 2009) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 72 Hospit al bed densit y: 3.14 beds/1, 000 popul ati on (2008) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 69 Drinki ng wat er sour ce: improved: urban: 100% of populati on total: 100% of popul ation ( 2008) Sanitation facilit y access : improved: urban: 100% of populati on total: 100% of popul ation unimproved: urban: 0% of popul ation total: 0% of popul ation (2008) HIV/ AI DS - adult preval ence r ate : 0.1% ( 2009 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 154 HIV/ AI DS - peopl e living with HIV/ AIDS : 3,400 (2009 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 127 HIV/ AI DS - deaths: fewer than 100 ( 2009 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 130 Obesit y - adult pr eval ence rat e : 6.9% ( 2004) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 61 Childr en under t he age of 5 year s underweight : 3.3% ( 2000) countr y comp arison t o the worl d: 103 Education expenditur es:

3% of GDP (2009) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 131 Literacy: definiti on: age 15 and over can read and write total populati on: 92. 5% male: 96.6% femal e: 88. 6% (2000 cens us) School life expectancy ( primar y to t ertiar y educati on) : NA Unempl oyment, yout h ages 15 -24: total: 12.9% countr y comparison t o the worl d: 87 male: 9.9% femal e: 16. 6% (2009)

Gover nment :: SINGAPORE Countr y name: conventional long f orm: Republic of Singapore conventional short form: Singapore local long form: Republic of Si ngapor e local short form: Singapore Gover nment t ype: parli ament ary r epublic Capital: name: Si ngapore geogr aphic coordi nat es: 1 17 N, 103 51 E time differ ence: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of W ashingt on, DC duri ng Standar d Ti me) Admi nistr ative di visi ons : none Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Mal aysian Feder ation) National holi day: Nati onal Day, 9 August (1965) Constituti on:

3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on pr e -independence St at e of Si ngapore Constitution) Legal syst em: English common l aw International l aw organiz ation participation : has not submitt ed an ICJ jurisdiction declar ation; non -part y state t o the ICCt Suffrage: 21 years of age; uni versal and compulsor y Executive br anch: chi ef of st ate: Presi dent Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 Sept ember 2011) head of government: Prime Minist er LEE Hsi en Loong (since 12 August 2004); Deput y Prime Minister TEO Chee Hean ( since 1 April 2009) and Deput y Prime Mi nister THARMAN Shanmugarat nam (since 21 May 2011); Senior Mi nister HENG Che e How (sinc e 21 May 2011) cabinet: appoi nted by pres ident, res ponsibl e to parliament (For more i nformati on visit the W orld Leaders website ) elections: presi dent el ected by popul ar vot e for si x- year t erm; el ection last hel d on 27 August 2011 (next electi on t o be held by August 2017); foll owing l egisl ative elections, leader of majority part y or l eader of majority coalition usually appoi nted prime mi nister by pres ident; deputy prime minist ers appoint ed by pr esident election result s: Tony TAN Keng Yam elect ed presi dent fr om a fi el d of f our candidat es with 35. 2% of the vot es cast Legisl ative br anch: unic ameral Parli ament (87 seats; members el ected by popular vot e to s erve five- year terms); not e - in additi on, t her e ar e up to ni ne nominat ed members; up t o thr ee l osing opposition candidates who came clos est to wi nni ng seats may be appoi nted as Nominated Members of Parli ament (NMP) elections: l ast held on 7 May 2011 (next to b e hel d i n May 2016) election result s: percent of vote by party - PAP 60.1%, W P 12.8%, NSP 12. 1%, others 15%; seats by party - PAP 81, W P 6 Judici al br anch: Supreme Court (chief justice is appoint ed by the presi dent wit h the advice of the pr ime minister, ot her judges ar e appoint ed by the pr esident with the advice of the chi ef justice); Court of Appeals Political parties and l eaders : Nati onal Soli darit y Party or NSP [ Hazel POA]; Peopl e's Action Part y or PAP [ LEE Hsien Loong]; Ref orm Party [ Kennet h JEYARETNAM]; Si ngapor e Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong]; Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; W orkers' Party or W P [Sylvi a LIM Swee Li an] not e:SDA incl udes Si ngapore Justice Part y or SJP, Singapor e National Mal ay Organizati on or PKMS, Si ngapor e Peopl e's Part y or SPP Political pr essure groups and leaders :

none International organiz ation participation : ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FATF, G - 77, I AEA, IBRD, I CAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, I FRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, I nter pol, IOC, IPU, ISO, I TSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW , PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIT, UPU, W CO, W HO, W IPO, W MO, W TO Diplomati c representati on in the US : chi ef of mi ssi on: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee chancer y: 3501 I nt ernational Plac e NW , W ashingt on, DC 20008 telephone: [1] ( 202) 537-3100 FAX: [ 1] (202) 537- 0876 consulat e(s) general: San Francisco consulat e(s): New York Diplomati c representati on from the US : chi ef of mi ssi on: Ambassador Davi d I. ADELMAN embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508 mailing addr ess: FPO AP 96507- 0001 telephone: [65] 6476- 9100 FAX: [ 65] 6476-9340 Flag descripti on: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and whit e; near the hoist side of t he r ed band, ther e is a vertical, white cr escent ( closed porti on is toward t he hoist side) parti ally enclosing five whit e five- poi nt ed stars arranged in a circle; red denot es br otherhood and equality; white signifi es purit y and virt ue; t he waxi ng crescent moon s y mboli zes a young nation on t he as cendancy; t he five stars repres ent t he nat ion's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality National symbol(s) : lion

Economy ::SINGAPORE Economy - over view: Singapore has a hi ghly developed and successful fr ee -market ec onomy. It enjoys a remarkably open and c orruption-free envir onment, stable prices, and a per capit a GDP higher than t hat of most devel oped countri es. The ec onomy depends heavily on exports, particularl y in cons umer electronics, infor mati on t ec hnol ogy pr oducts, pharmac euti c als, and on a gr owi ng financial services sector. Real GDP growth aver aged 8. 6% bet ween 2004 and 2007. The economy contract ed 1.0% in 2009 as a result of the gl obal fi nancial crisis, but rebounded 14.8% i n 2010 and 4.9% i n 2011, on the strength of renewed exports. Over the longer term, t he government hopes to est ablis h a new growth path t hat f ocus es on raising productivit y, which has sunk to a compound annual growt h r ate of just 1. 8% i n the l ast dec ade. Si ngapor e has attr acted major investments in pharmaceu t icals and medic al technology production and will cont inue efforts to establish Si ngapor e as Southeast Asia's financial and hi gh -tech hub.

GDP ( pur chasi ng power parit y) : $314.2 billion (2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 40 $299.5 billion (2010 est.) $260.9 billion (2009 est.) not e:data are i n 2011 US doll ars GDP ( official exchange rate) : $266.5 billion (2011 est.) GDP - real gr owt h rate: 4.9% ( 2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 81 14. 8% ( 2010 est.) -1% (2009 est.) GDP - per capita (PPP) : $59, 900 (2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 5 $57, 800 (2010 est.) $51, 400 (2009 est.) not e:data are i n 2011 US doll ars GDP - composition by sector : agri cultur e: 0% industr y: 26.6% ser vices: 73.4% (2010 est .) Labor for ce: 3.212 million countr y comparison t o the worl d: 100 not e:excl udes non-residents (2011 est.) Labor for ce - by occupati on: agri cultur e: 0. 1% industr y: 19.6% ser vices: 80.3% not e:excl udes non-residents (2011) Unempl oyment rat e: 2% (2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 13 2.2% ( 2010 est.) Popul ation below povert y line : NA%

Household i ncome or consumption by percentage share : lowest 10 %: 4.4% highest 10 %: 23. 2% (2008) Distribution of famil y income - Gi ni index: 47. 3 (2011) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 31 48. 1 (2008) Investment (gross fi xed) : 23. 4% of GDP (2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 80 Budget: revenues: $39.33 billion expenditures: $38.52 billi on not e:expendit ures i nclude bot h operati onal and development expenditur es (2011 est.) Taxes and ot her revenues: 14. 8% of GDP (2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 189 Budget surplus (+) or deficit ( -): 0.3% of GDP ( 2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 42 Public debt : 118. 2% of GDP ( 2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 10 112. 4% of GDP ( 2010 est.) not e:for Si ngapor e, public debt consists largel y of Si ngapore Gover nment Sec uri ties (SGS) issued t o assist the Centr al Provident Fund (CPF), which administ ers Singapore' s defined contributi on pension f und; special issues of SGS are hel d by t he CPF, and ar e non -tr adeabl e; the government has not borrowed t o financ e deficit expenditur es since the 1980s Inflation rat e (consumer prices) : 5.2% ( 2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 121 2.8% ( 2010 est.) Central bank discount r ate : NA% ( 31 Dec ember 2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 143 0.13% ( 31 December 2010 est.) Commer cial bank prime l ending rat e :

5.4% ( 31 December 2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 157 5.38% ( 31 December 2010 est.) Stock of narrow money: $102.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 33 $82. 48 billion (31 Dec ember 2010 est.) Stock of broad money: $359.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 27 $300.8 billion (31 Dec ember 2010 est.) Stock of domestic credit : $334.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 34 $236.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) Market val ue of publicl y t raded shares : $569.4 billion (31 December 2011) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 19 $620.5 billion (31 December 2010) $474.3 billion (31 December 2009) Agricultur e - products: orchids, vegetables; poultr y, eggs; fish, ornament al fi sh Industries: electronics, chemic als, financial ser vices, oil drilling equi pment, petrol eum refi ni ng, r ubber processing and rubber products, pr ocessed food and beverages, shi p repair, off shore pl atform construction, life sciences, entr epot trade Electricit y - production: 45. 37 billi on kW h (2010 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 53 Electricit y - consumption : 41. 2 billi on kW h (2010 est. ) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 52 Electricit y - export s: 0 kW h (2010 est.) Electricit y - import s:

0 kW h (2010 est.) Oil - producti on: 10, 910 bbl/ day ( 2010 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 85 Oil - consumption: 1.08 milli on bbl/day ( 2010 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 20 Oil - export s: 1.374 million bbl/ day (2009 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 20 Oil - imports: 2.052 million bbl/ day (2009 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 11 Oil - proved reser ves: 0 bbl (1 J anuar y 2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 191 Natur al gas - production: 0 cu m ( 2009 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 124 Natur al gas - consumption: 8.4 billion cu m ( 2010 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 50 Natur al gas - exports: 0 cu m ( 2009 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 179 Natur al gas - import s: 8.4 billion cu m ( 2010 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 27 Natur al gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m ( 1 January 2011 est .) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 191 Current account bal ance: $56. 98 billion (2011 est.)

countr y comparison t o the worl d: 11 $55. 51 billion (2010 est.) Exports: $409.2 billion (2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 14 $351.2 billion (2010 est.) Exports - commodities: machi nery and equipment ( including el ectronics and t elec ommunic ations), phar maceuticals and other chemicals, refi ned petrol eum pr oducts Exports - part ner s: Mal aysi a 12.2%, Hong Kong 11%, Chi na 10.4%, I ndonesia 10. 4%, US 5. 4%, Japan 4. 5% (2011 est.) Import s: $36. 55 billion (2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 59 $310.4 billion (2010 est.) Import s - commodities: machi nery and equipment, mineral f uels, chemicals, f oodstuffs, consumer goods Import s - part ner s: Mal aysi a 10.7%, US 10.7%, Chi na 10. 4%, Japan 7. 2%, South Kor ea 5. 9%, Taiwan 5. 9% (2011 est.) Reser ves of forei gn exchange and gold : $237.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 12 $225.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) Debt - ext ernal: $23. 59 billion (31 December 2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 75 $21. 82 billion (31 December 2010 est.) Stock of direct for eign investment - at home: $318.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 18 $456.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) Stock of direct for eign investment - abroad: $178.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 22

$288.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Exchange rat es: Singapore doll ars (SGD) per US dollar 1.234 (2011 est.) 1.3635 ( 2010 est.) 1.4545 ( 2009) 1.415 (2008) 1.507 (2007)

Communi cations :: SI NGAPORE Telephones - main lines i n use: 1.984 million (2010) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 58 Telephones - mobil e cellular : 7.307 million (2010) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 86 Telephone syst em: gener al assessment: excellent ser vice domestic: excell ent domestic facilities; launched 3G wirel ess service in Febr uar y 2005; combi ned fi xed-line and mobil e-cell ular t eledensit y is 200 tel ephones per 100 persons; multipl e providers of high -s peed Int ernet connectivit y and the government is close to compl eting an isl and-wi de roll out of a hi gh -speed fiber -optic broadband net wor k international: country code - 65; numerous submari ne cables pr ovide links thr oughout Asia, Australi a, the Mi ddl e East, Eur ope, and US; satellit e earth stati ons - 4; s uppl emented by VSAT coverage ( 2008) Broadcast medi a: state controls br oadcast medi a; 8 domestic TV stati ons operat ed by Medi aCorp, wholly owned by a stat e investment company; br oadcasts from Mal aysi an and I ndonesi an stat ions availabl e; satellite dishes banned; multi -channel c abl e TV ser vi ce is accessible; a tot al of 18 domestic radi o stati ons br oadc asting with Medi aCor p oper ati ng more t han a dozen and another 4 stations are clos ely li nked to the ruli ng party or contr olled by t he Singapore Armed Forc es Reser vists Association; l arge number of Mal aysian and Indo nesian radio st ations are avail abl e (2008) Internet countr y code: .sg Internet host s: 1.932 million (2011) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 38 Internet users:

3.235 million (2009) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 65

Transport ation :: SI NGAPORE Air port s: 8 (2010) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 166 Air port s - with paved runways: total: 8 over 3, 047 m: 2 2,438 to 3, 047 m: 1 1,524 to 2, 437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 ( 2010) Pipelines: gas 111 km (2010) Roadways: total: 3, 356 km countr y comparison t o the worl d: 163 paved: 3, 356 km (i ncludes 161 km of expr essways ) (2009) Merchant marine: total: 1, 422 countr y comparison t o the worl d: 6 by t ype: bulk carrier 183, cargo 88, carrier 6, chemical tanker 233, contai ner 321, liquefi ed gas 117, petrol eum tanker 404, refri ger ated car go 5, r oll on/roll off 13, vehicle carrier 52 foreign-owned: 850 (Australia 11, Bangladesh 2, Bermuda 21, Chil e 7, Chi na 26, Cyprus 3, Denmark 125, Fr ance 3, Germa ny 30, Gr eec e 19, Hong Kong 38, Indi a 19, Indonesi a 53, Ital y 3, Japan 146, Mal aysia 27, Net herl ands 1, Norway 132, Sl ovenia 1, Sout h Afric a 3, Sout h Kor ea 9, Sweden 9, Switzerland 4, Tai wan 79, Thail and 30, UAE 10, UK 6, US 33) not e:this countr y all ows la rge numbers of shi ps owned by for ei gn entiti es to be r egist ered in its national shi ppi ng r egistry and to fl y its flag; t hes e ships operat e under t he l aws of the fl ag state regi ster ed in other count ries: 327 (Australia 2, Bahamas 7, Bangl adesh 3, Bel ize 7, Cambodi a 4, Cypr us 1, Dominica 1, Fr anc e 3, Gi br altar 1, Honduras 12, Hong Kong 13, Indonesia 42, Isle of Man 1, Kiribati 11, Li beri a 27, Malaysia 19, Malt a 3, Marshall Islands 28, Mongolia 1, North Kor ea 2, Panama 79, Philippines 1, Sai nt Kitts and Nevis 5, Si erra Leone 5, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 25, US 17, unk nown 6) (2010) Ports and termi nals: Singapore Transport ation - not e:

the I nter nati onal Maritime Bur eau reports the t erritori al and offshore wat ers in t he Sout h China Sea as high risk for pirac y and armed robber y against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hi jacked both at anchor and whil e underway; hi jacked vessels are often dis guis ed and car go di verted t o ports in East As ia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Militar y ::SINGAPORE Militar y br anches: Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (incl udes Air Defense) ( 2010) Militar y ser vice age and obligation : 18- 21 years of age f or mal e compuls ory milit ar y servi ce; 16 years of age f or vol unt eers; 2 -year conscript servic e obli gati on, with a res erve obli gati on to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 ( officers) (2008) Manpower avail abl e for militar y servi ce : males age 16- 49: 1,255,902 (2010 est .) Manpower fit for militar y ser vice : males age 16- 49: 1,018,839 femal es age 16-49: 1, 087, 134 (2010 est.) Manpower r eaching militarily significant age annuall y : male: 27,098 femal e: 25, 368 (2010 est.) Militar y expendit ures: 4.9% of GDP ( 2005 est.) countr y comparison t o the worl d: 17