The Singapore Government has no net debt. We have a strong balance sheet with assets in excess of liabilities.

Some observers have pointed out that Singapore has a high level of debt as a percentage of our Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”). Some may wonder why this is so given that the Government runs a balanced budget, and whether it is fiscally sustainable. We explain why Singapore takes on such debt.

Why Does Singapore Have Gross Debt but No Net Debt?

A country’s debt position is commonly measured by its gross debt-to-GDP ratio, which compares a country’s public debt to its economic output. While Singapore’s gross debt-to-GDP ratio may appear large on its own, it does not consider Singapore’s sizeable asset position.

In fact, the Singapore Government has a strong balance sheet with no net debt. Our financial assets are well in excess of our debt. This net asset position is reflected in the net investment returns generated on our reserves, which is made available for Government spending via the Net Investment Returns Contribution. In addition, our strong balance sheet explains why Singapore receives the top credit rating of AAA from the three leading international credit-rating agencies (S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch).

Why Does Singapore Issue Government Debt?

The Singapore Government does not borrow for recurrent spending needs. Instead, the Government issues debt to meet specific long-term objectives:

Government's long-term objectives for issuing debt

1. To facilitate debt market development and other non-spending purposes

Borrowings issued under the Government Securities (Debt Market and Investment) Act. The proceeds from such borrowings are invested as part of our reserves and cannot be spent.

Examples:

Publicly Held

• Singapore Government Securities (“SGS”) (Market Development) and Treasury Bills (“T-Bills”) help to develop the domestic debt market by providing a robust yield curve for the pricing of private debt securities.

• Singapore Savings Bonds (“SSB”) provide a long-term savings option to individual investors.

Non-Publicly Held

• Special Singapore Government Securities (“SSGS”) primarily issued to meet the investment needs of the Central Provident Fund (“CPF”). Singaporeans’ CPF monies are invested in these securities which are fully guaranteed by the Government.

• Reserves Management Government Securities (“RMGS”) facilitate transfers of Official Foreign Reserves (“OFR”) above what the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) requires to the Government for longer-term investment.

2. To finance nationally significant infrastructure

Borrowings issued under the Significant Infrastructure Government Loan Act (“SINGA”). Such borrowings are raised within the legislative safeguards that include a gross borrowing limit and the proceeds can only be spent on qualifying nationally significant infrastructure projects.

Examples:

• SGS (Infrastructure) are issued to finance spending on nationally significant infrastructure, and to spread the costs of nationally significant infrastructure across multiple generation of users

• Green SGS (Infrastructure) are Singapore sovereign green bonds that finance qualifying green infrastructure under the Singapore Green Bond Framework (opens in new tab).

For more information on Government borrowings, click here (opens in new tab).
For more information on Singapore’s reserves, click here (opens in new tab).