Singapore Country Profile

Geography and Climate

• Located in Southeast Asia, at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula
• Island city-state, comprising 63 islands
• Total area: 720 km² (278 sq mi)
• Climate: Tropical rainforest climate, with high temperatures and high humidity throughout the year

History

• Founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles as a British trading colony
• Became a Crown colony in 1867
• Occupied by Japan during World War II (1942-1945)
• Gained self-government in 1959 and merged with Malaysia in 1963
• Became an independent and sovereign nation on August 9, 1965

Government and Economy

• Parliamentary republic with a Westminster system
• President serves as head of state, while the Prime Minister is head of government
• High-income economy, with a GDP per capita of over $60,000
• Free market economy, with a strong focus on finance, trade, and tourism
• Member of the Commonwealth, ASEAN, and the UN

Demographics

• Population: approximately 5.69 million people
• Multicultural society, with four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, and Tamil
• Ethnic groups: Chinese (76.2%), Malays (12.2%), Indians (3.2%), and others (8.4%)
• Religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism, and Hinduism

Culture

• Rich cultural heritage, with a blend of Asian and Western influences
• Food: popular dishes include chili crab, Hainanese chicken rice, and laksa
• Festivals: Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa, and National Day
• Arts: Singapore is home to numerous museums, galleries, and performance venues