Singapore
Capital: Singapore · South-Eastern Asia
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country in Southeast Asia.
Photo: chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Singapore: Flower Dome and Cloud Forest in The Gardens by the Bay .
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Photographs of The Fullerton Hotel of Singapore at night with colorful lights reflecting in the water (view from the Marina Bay Sands observation deck)
Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
World's tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex, inside Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore .
Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Did you know?
In its early history, Singapore was a maritime emporium known as Temasek; subsequently, it was a major constituent of several successive thalassocratic empires. Its contemporary era began in 1819, when Stamford Raffles established Singapore as an entrepôt trading post of the British Empire. In 1867, Singapore came under direct British control as part of the Straits Settlements. During World War II, Singapore was occupied by Japan in 1942 and returned to Britain as a Crown colony following Japan's surrender in 1945.
Wikipedia: Singapore – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Merlion, Marina Bay, Singapore
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Hindu statues: in the center god Rama with his wife Sita . Sri Krishnan Temple . Rochor , Central Region , Singapore .
Photo: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Northwestern Entrance of CHIJMES ( Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Middle Education School ), a historic building complex in Singapore, at night on August 17, 2023
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name and etymology
The English name of "Singapore" is an anglicisation of the native Malay name for the country, Singapura (Malay pronunciation: [siŋapura] ), which was in turn derived from the Sanskrit word for 'lion city' (Sanskrit: सिंहपुर; romanised: Siṃhapura; Brahmi: 𑀲𑀺𑀁𑀳𑀧𑀼𑀭; literally "lion city"; siṃha means 'lion', pura means 'city' or 'fortress').
Wikipedia: Singapore – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Marina Bay, Singapore: Firework display at midnight in Marina Bay, launching the Chinese New Year 2015
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay at blue hour, Singapore
Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Marina Bay, Singapore
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
History
In 1299, according to the Malay Annals, the Kingdom of Singapura was founded on the island by Sang Nila Utama. Although the historicity of the accounts as given in the Malay Annals is the subject of academic debates, it is nevertheless known from various documents that Singapore in the 14th century, then known as Temasek, was a trading port under the influence of both the Majapahit Empire and the Siamese kingdoms, and was a part of the Indosphere. These Indianised kingdoms were characterised by surprising resilience, political integrity and administrative stability.
Wikipedia: Singapore – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Mirror Balls in front of Asian Civilisations Museum . Downtown Core , Central Region , Singapore .
Photo: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Marina Bay, Singapore: Firework display at midnight in Marina Bay, launching the Chinese New Year 2015
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
ArtScience Museum , Marina Bay Sands, in the late afternoon, in front of the skyline of the Central Business District, Singapore. Architect : Moshe Safdie.
Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Geography
Singapore consists of over 60 islands, including the main island, also known as Pulau Ujong. There are two man-made connections to Johor, Malaysia: the Johor–Singapore Causeway in the north and the Tuas Second Link in the west. Jurong Island, Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin and Sentosa Island are the largest of Singapore's smaller islands. The highest natural point is Bukit Timah Hill at 163.63 m (537 ft). Under British rule, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Labuan were administered from Singapore.
Wikipedia: Singapore – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Apple Marina Bay Sands, Marina Bay, Singapore
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Government and politics
Singapore is a parliamentary republic based on the Westminster system. The Constitution of Singapore is the supreme law of the country, establishing the structure and responsibility of governance. The President is the head of state. The governance of Singapore is separated into three branches:
Executive: The executive consists of the Cabinet, led by the prime minister, and the Attorney-General's chambers, led by the attorney-general. The Cabinet is collectively responsible for all government policies and the day-to-day administration of the affairs of state.
Wikipedia: Singapore – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Economy
Singapore has a highly developed market economy, based historically on extended entrepôt trade. Along with Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan, Singapore is one of the Four Asian Tigers, and has surpassed its peers in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. Between 1965 and 1995, growth rates averaged around 6 per cent per annum, transforming the living standards of the population.
The Singaporean economy is regarded as free, innovative,
dynamic and business-friendly.
Wikipedia: Singapore – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Demographics
As of mid-2025, Singapore's total population stood at 6,110,200, of whom 3,660,200 (59.9%) were citizens and the remaining 2,450,000 (40.1%) were either permanent residents (543,800, 8.9%) or international students, foreign workers, or dependants (1,906,700, 31.2%). It is the world's largest and most populous city-state.
Wikipedia: Singapore – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Culture
Despite its small size, Singapore has a diversity of languages, religions, and cultures. Former prime ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong stated that Singapore does not fit the traditional description of a nation, calling it a society-in-transition, pointing out the fact that Singaporeans do not all speak the same language, share the same religion, or have the same customs.
Wikipedia: Singapore – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Works cited
Bose, Romen (2010). The End of the War: Singapore's Liberation and the Aftermath of the Second World War. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 978-981-261-066-9.
Legg, Frank (1965). The Gordon Bennett Story: From Gallipoli to Singapore. Sydney, New South Wales: Angus & Robertson. OCLC 3193299.
Miksic, John N. (2013). Singapore & the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300–1800. Singapore: NUS Press. ISBN 978-9971-69-558-3.
Smith, Colin (2006). Singapore Burning: Heroism and Surrender in World War II. Penguin military history. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-101036-6.
Wikipedia: Singapore – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0