Singapore

The island city-state on the southern tip of Malay Peninsula has seen many rulers in its history. It has been an outpost of the ancient Sumatran Srivijaya empire; it was part of the Sultanate of Johore in the 15th and 16th century, and it was burned down by Portugese forces in 1617.
In the beginning of the 19th century Singapore became a trade post and settlement of the British East India Company and some years later a British crown colony.
Singapore is today (beside Monaco) the most densely populated independent country in the world. Its strategic location combined with a largely corruption-free government, a skilled work force, pro-foreign investment and export-oriented, led to a successful free-market economy which attracts international investment funds on a large scale despite its relatively high-cost operating environment.

related countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, United Kingdom

Official Name:
Republik Singapura
Republic of Singapore
short form: Singapore
Chinese (pinyin): Xinjiapo Gònghéguó
Malay: Republik Singapura

ISO Country Code: sg

Time:
Local Time = UTC +8h

Country Calling Code: +65

Capital City: Singapore (Sanskrit Singapura--Lion City; pop. 3.5 million)

Government:
Type: Parliamentary Republic.
Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
Constitution: 3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution)

Geography:
Location: Southeast Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia.
Area: 597 sq km
Terrain: Lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve.

Climate: equatorial, a tropical rainforest climate; hot and humid.

People:
Nationality: noun: Singaporean(s), adjective: Singapore
Population: 4.4 million
GNI per capita PPP: int'l $ 28 228
Ethnic Groups: Chinese 77%, Malay 14%, Indian 8%
Religions: Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist.
Languages: PuTongHua (Mandarin Chinese, official), Malay (official and national), Tamil (official), English (official)
Literacy: 93%

Natural resources: Fish, deepwater ports.
Agriculture - products: Rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables, poultry, eggs, fish, ornamental fish.

Industries: Electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, life sciences, entrepot trade.

Currency: Singapore Dollar (S$, SGD)

Singapore in Figures
More Singapore statistical data.