Singapore
Asia · South-Eastern Asia
Asia's financial hub: ultra-safe, low tax, small but globally connected.
At a Glance
📈Singapore's Human Development Index
0.949
Very High human development#8 of 191 countries worldwide, #1 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 96% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Singapore
Singapore is a city-state of extraordinary efficiency, multiculturalism, and ambition, where Malay, Chinese, Indian, and colonial British influences combine in a society that takes its food, its gardens, and its airports with equal seriousness. The tropical botanical heritage, the Hawker Centre food culture, and the seamless urban design make it one of the most liveable places in Asia. Those seeking spontaneity or chaos may find it too controlled, but for those who value order, diversity, and excellent food, it is hard to beat.
- Went from third-world to first-world in a single generation — Lee Kuan Yew's phrase, and roughly accurate.
- Chewing gum was banned from 1992 to 2004, and is still restricted.
- More millionaires per capita than anywhere outside Monaco and Liechtenstein.
Quick Facts
Capital
Singapore
Languages
English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil
Currency
$ SGD
Area
718 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
421Mbps
Mobile
200Mbps
GDP / Capita
$99K
PPP / Capita
$163K
Inflation
0.9%
Unemployment
2.8%
Innovation (GII)
59.9
GNI / Capita
$82K
Tax Revenue
13.6%
FDI Inflows
26.3%
Education Spend
2.2%
Cost of Living
87.7
Price Level Index
27th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.780 → 0.949 (+0.169)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Singapore for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Singapore head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Singapore's Human Development Index?
Singapore's Human Development Index is 0.949 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #8 of 191 countries.
Is Singapore safe?
Singapore scores 1.44 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #8 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Singapore?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Singapore at 87.7 (New York = 100); that is #139 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Singapore?
Life expectancy at birth in Singapore is 83.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #12 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Singapore?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Singapore at 158.1, ranked #36 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.