Discover the Secrets of Singapore

Overview of Singapore: History, Culture, and Development

• Singapore is an island country and city-state located in maritime Southeast Asia, north of the equator, with a multicultural population and four official languages.

• Its history dates back at least a millennium, having been a maritime emporium known as Temasek and subsequently as a major constituent part of several successive thalassocratic empires.

• In 1819, Stamford Raffles established Singapore as an entrepôt trading post of the British Empire, which later became a British possession and part of the Straits Settlements.

• Singapore gained self-governance in 1959 and in 1963 became part of the new federation of Malaysia, but eventually became an independent sovereign country in 1965.

• Despite lacking natural resources and a hinterland, Singapore rapidly developed to become one of the Four Asian Tigers, with a highly developed economy based on international trade, economic globalization, and minimal-to-no trade barriers or tariffs.

• Singapore is a unitary parliamentary republic with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government, and its legal system is based on common law.

• The People's Action Party (PAP) has governed the country continuously since full internal self-government was achieved in 1959, with significant control and dominance over politics and society.

• Singapore is a member of ASEAN, the United Nations, World Trade Organization, and other international organizations, and is a major aviation, financial, and maritime shipping hub.

• Singapore ranks highly in key social indicators, such as education, healthcare, quality of life, personal safety, infrastructure, and housing, with a high home-ownership rate and one of the lowest levels of corruption in the world.

• Singaporeans enjoy one of the longest life expectancies, fastest Internet connection speeds, and lowest infant mortality rates in the world.

• Singapore is known for its parks and tree-lined streets, and is sometimes referred to as the "Garden City" or the "Little Red Dot".

• The English name of "Singapore" is an anglicisation of the native Malay name for the country, Singapura, which was in turn derived from the Sanskrit word for "lion city".A Brief History and Overview of Singapore

• Singapore was originally a fishing village and became a trading post for the British East India Company in the early 19th century.

• During World War II, Singapore was occupied by Japan and suffered greatly with a high death toll and economic devastation.

• After the war, Singapore struggled with economic and social issues but eventually recovered with international demand for tin and rubber.

• Singapore became a Crown Colony in 1946 and achieved full internal self-government in 1959, with the People's Action Party winning a landslide victory.

• Singapore joined Malaysia in 1963 but was expelled in 1965 due to political and economic disagreements.

• Singapore became an independent republic and has since experienced rapid economic growth and development in industries such as high-tech, tourism, and transportation.

• The government is based on the Westminster system with a strong emphasis on meritocracy and good governance, and the People's Action Party has remained in power since independence.

• The President is head of state and exercises executive powers on the advice of the Cabinet, while the Prime Minister is head of government.

• Singapore has a dominant position in Southeast Asian politics and is a member of various regional and international organizations.

• The country's foreign policy priority is maintaining security in Southeast Asia and surrounding territories, with an emphasis on political and economic stability.

• Singapore's legal system is based on English common law, and both corporal and capital punishment are legal penalties.

• While Singapore is known for its strict regulation of political and media activities, there have been some significant political changes, such as the introduction of Non-Constituency members of parliament and Nominated members of parliament to increase opposition party representation.Overview of Singapore: Military, Human Rights, Economy, Employment, and Geography

• Singapore has border issues with Malaysia and Indonesia, including disputes over fresh water delivery, airspace access, and banned sale of marine sand.

• The country has resolved some disputes, such as the Pedra Branca dispute, through the International Court of Justice.

• Singapore has close economic ties with Brunei and is China's largest trading partner since 2013.

• The Singaporean military, consisting of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Digital and Intelligence Service, is the most technologically advanced in Southeast Asia.

• The government spends 4.9% of the country's GDP on the military, and one out of every four dollars of government spending is spent on defence.

• Singapore's military was developed with the help of Israel and maintains strong security ties with the country, purchasing arms and weapons systems from them.

• The country has conscription for all able-bodied males at age 18, and recruits undergo at least 9 weeks of basic military training.

• Singapore's economy is highly developed, based on extended entrepôt trade, and is regarded as free, innovative, dynamic, and business-friendly.

• The country attracts a large amount of foreign investment due to its location, skilled workforce, low tax rates, advanced infrastructure, and zero-tolerance against corruption.

• Singapore has the world's highest percentage of millionaires and is rated as the world's most expensive city.

• The country has no minimum wage and has one of the highest income inequalities among developed countries.

• Singapore consists of 63 islands, including the main island, Pulau Ujong, and has increased its land area through land reclamation projects. The country has lost 95% of its historical forests, and over half of its fauna and flora is present in nature reserves.Overview of Singapore: Climate, Water Supply, Transport, Industries, and Demographics

• Singapore aims to be a "garden city" and has set aside 10% of its land for parks and nature reserves.

• Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinctive seasons, high humidity, and abundant rainfall.

• The Singapore government recognizes the threat of climate change and rising sea levels and has set aside $5 billion for a Coastline and Flood Protection Fund.

• Singapore is the first Southeast Asian country to levy a carbon tax on its largest carbon-emitting corporations.

• Singapore considers water a national security issue and has implemented the "four national taps" strategy to ensure water supply.

• Singapore has a road system covering 3,356 kilometers, and private car ownership is restricted through a pre-set car population quota and Additional Registration Fees.

• Singapore's public transport network includes six MRT lines, three LRT lines, and over 300 bus routes.

• Singapore Changi Airport is a major international transport hub, connecting to over 100 airlines and more than 300 cities worldwide.

• The Port of Singapore is the world's second-busiest port in terms of shipping tonnage handled and containerized traffic.

• Singapore's economy is diversified, with top contributors being financial services, manufacturing, and oil-refining. The semiconductor industry alone contributes around 7% of Singapore's GDP.

• Tourism is a major industry, attracting 18.5 million international tourists in 2018 and contributing directly to about 4% of Singapore's GDP in 2019.

• As of mid-2018, Singapore's estimated population was 5.6 million people, with 61.6% being citizens and 38.4% being permanent residents or international students, foreign workers, or dependents. The majority of residents are of Chinese descent, followed by Malay and Indian descent.