GeoRealityMatch
A vibrant view of Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, featuring lush greenery and iconic structures.View of Singapore's skyline with the illuminated Singapore Flyer reflecting on Marina Bay at night.

Singapore

Asia · South-Eastern Asia

Very high safetyVery expensive cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and incomes are high. Living costs are high.

vs United Statesvs Japanvs South Korea
Safety

8th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.435lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#8 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.1per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
77.5Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferVery highNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$81,760national income per person, US dollarsVery high
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
73.1New York = 100Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
22.1years of median income to buy a median flatVery expensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 193% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 60% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$100K$200K$163,354 PPP$98,814Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $33,768 a person, $64,061 at PPP, inflation 1%2007, $39,433 a person, $68,805 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2008, $40,009 a person, $67,735 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2009, $38,927 a person, $66,213 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2010, $47,237 a person, $75,401 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2011, $53,891 a person, $80,052 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2012, $55,548 a person, $82,108 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2013, $56,967 a person, $83,088 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2014, $57,565 a person, $84,555 at PPP, inflation 1%2015, $55,646 a person, $87,156 at PPP, inflation -0.5%2016, $57,204 a person, $90,215 at PPP, inflation -0.5%2017, $61,436 a person, $96,057 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2018, $67,033 a person, $104,198 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2019, $66,069 a person, $105,522 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2020, $61,773 a person, $102,117 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2021, $80,885 a person, $133,990 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2022, $91,228 a person, $144,418 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2023, $86,383 a person, $144,728 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2024, $94,897 a person, $153,161 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2025, $98,814 a person, $163,354 at PPP, inflation 0.9%$0$100K$200KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $33,768 a person, $64,061 at PPP, inflation 1%2007, $39,433 a person, $68,805 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2008, $40,009 a person, $67,735 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2009, $38,927 a person, $66,213 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2010, $47,237 a person, $75,401 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2011, $53,891 a person, $80,052 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2012, $55,548 a person, $82,108 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2013, $56,967 a person, $83,088 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2014, $57,565 a person, $84,555 at PPP, inflation 1%2015, $55,646 a person, $87,156 at PPP, inflation -0.5%2016, $57,204 a person, $90,215 at PPP, inflation -0.5%2017, $61,436 a person, $96,057 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2018, $67,033 a person, $104,198 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2019, $66,069 a person, $105,522 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2020, $61,773 a person, $102,117 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2021, $80,885 a person, $133,990 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2022, $91,228 a person, $144,418 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2023, $86,383 a person, $144,728 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2024, $94,897 a person, $153,161 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2025, $98,814 a person, $163,354 at PPP, inflation 0.9%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
83.3years, at birthVery high
#12 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
88WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
11.8PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
2.8%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
421 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
Native EnglishEF English Proficiency Index scoreNativeEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet421 MbpsVery fast
Mobile200 MbpsVery fast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

View of Singapore's skyline with the illuminated Singapore Flyer reflecting on Marina Bay at night.
How it changed

Singapore's Human Development Index

0.946Very high human development

13th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 1st of 43 in Asia.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #11Ireland0.949
  2. #12Finland0.948
  3. #13Singapore0.946
  4. #13United Kingdom0.946
  5. #15United Arab Emirates0.940
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.819 in 1990 to 0.946 in 2023.

0.750.881.000.94619902000201020231990: 0.8191991: 0.8261992: 0.8331993: 0.8401994: 0.8481995: 0.8541996: 0.8591997: 0.8661998: 0.8691999: 0.8752000: 0.8822001: 0.8852002: 0.8912003: 0.8972004: 0.9052005: 0.9112006: 0.9112007: 0.9142008: 0.9242009: 0.9282010: 0.9322011: 0.9332012: 0.9332013: 0.9342014: 0.9342015: 0.9352016: 0.9342017: 0.9352018: 0.9392019: 0.9422020: 0.9442021: 0.9482022: 0.9422023: 0.9460.750.881.0019902000201020231990: 0.8191991: 0.8261992: 0.8331993: 0.8401994: 0.8481995: 0.8541996: 0.8591997: 0.8661998: 0.8691999: 0.8752000: 0.8822001: 0.8852002: 0.8912003: 0.8972004: 0.9052005: 0.9112006: 0.9112007: 0.9142008: 0.9242009: 0.9282010: 0.9322011: 0.9332012: 0.9332013: 0.9342014: 0.9342015: 0.9352016: 0.9342017: 0.9352018: 0.9392019: 0.9422020: 0.9442021: 0.9482022: 0.9422023: 0.946

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
83.3 years2024at birthUp 3.4 years from 80 years in 2005
Internet users
94%2024of people onlineUp 35 points from 59% in 2006
Urban population
100%2025of people in towns and citiesLevel with 2006
Births per woman
0.972024births per womanDown 0.29 from 1.26 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
1%2021of energy usedUp 1 point from 1% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
22024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsLevel with 2005
CO2 emissions per person
9.8 t2024of CO2 per person a yearLevel with 2005
Forest area
21%2023of land under forestDown 4 points from 25% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Asia's financial hub: ultra-safe, low tax, small but globally connected. The case for living here is peace, high incomes and long lives. The case against is a high cost of living.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalSingapore
  • LanguagesEnglish, Chinese, Malay, Tamil
  • CurrencySingapore dollar (SGD)
  • Area718 km²
  • Plug typeType G
  • Drives on theleft
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Side by side

vs United Statesvs Japanvs South Koreavs Malaysiavs United Arab Emiratesvs Australiavs United Kingdomvs Chinavs Taiwanvs IndiaCompare any two countries

Quick answers

What is Singapore's Human Development Index?

Singapore's Human Development Index is 0.946 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #13 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Singapore safe?

Singapore scores 1.44 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #8 of 161 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.