Singapore

Singapore

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. The country’s territory is composed of one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. There are four official languages of Singapore: English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil.

About Singapore in brief

Summary SingaporeSingapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bordering the Straits of Malacca to the west, the Riau Islands to the south, and the South China Sea to the east. The country’s territory is composed of one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet, the combined area of which has increased by 25% since the country’s independence as a result of extensive land reclamation projects. It has the second greatest population density in the world. There are four official languages of Singapore: English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil, with English being the lingua franca. 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. Singapore is ranked ninth on the UN Human Development Index, and has second-highest GDP per capita in the World. It is a major financial and shipping hub, consistently ranked the most expensive city to live in since 2013. Singaporeans enjoy one of the world’s longest life expectancies, fastest Internet connection speeds and the lowest infant mortality rates in theWorld. The People’s Action Party has ruled continuously since independence. The name possibly means ‘Sea Town’, being derived from Malay tasek, meaning’sea’ or ‘lake’ It may also be a transcription of ‘Temasek’, which may be a combination of Malay Tanah Tanah and Chinese Tanah Xi meaning ‘land’ and ‘tin’ It is the only country in Asia with an AAA sovereign rating from all major rating agencies, and is a member of the United Nations, World Trade Organization, East Asia Summit, Non-Aligned Movement and the Commonwealth of Nations.

In Hindu-Buddhist culture, lions were associated with power and protection, which may explain the attraction of such a name before the 15th century, after the establishment of the semi-historical Annals of the Kingdom of Palembang. The Chinese traveller Wang Dayuan visited a place around 1330 named Danmaxi or Tam ma siak, depending on pronunciation. The country has almost 5.7 million residents, 61% of whom are Singaporean citizens, and it is considered generally free, but the government exercises significant control over politics and society. The population is divided into four ethnic groups: Singaporeans, Chinese, Malaysians, Singaporeans and Singaporeans of other nationalities. The majority of Singaporeans are of Chinese descent, with the majority of the Chinese population being of Tamil descent. The Singaporean population is more than 80% Chinese. The number of Chinese citizens in Singapore is higher than in any other Asian country, with more than 60% of the population living in Singapore. The city is home to the largest Chinese diaspora in the region.