- Singapore; 4,296,000
- 660 square kilometers (255 square miles)
- Chinese, Malay, Tamil, English
- Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist
- Singapore dollar
- Life Expectancy:
- GDP per Capita:
- U.S. $25,200
- Literacy Percent:
Singapore Facts Flag
The country of Singapore, consisting of Singapore island and some 50 smaller islands, is located in Southeast Asia at the tip of the Malay Peninsula. More than 3,000 multinational companies have offices on this tropical island at the entrance to the Strait of Malacca—the shortest sea route between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. As a trade center of the British Empire, Singapore attracted thousands of Chinese settlers—now 77 percent of the population. Independent since 1965, Singapore is Southeast Asia's financial hub and the world's busiest container port.
- Industry: Electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining
- Agriculture: Rubber, copra, fruit, orchids; poultry
- Exports: Machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, chemicals, mineral fuels
—Text From National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition
See photos of the top happiness hot spots around the world—Denmark, Singapore, Mexico, and San Luis Obispo, California—and discover some of the secrets of thrivers.
Get travel tips, see photos, take a quiz, and more with National Geographic's Ultimate Guide to Singapore.
How did a sleepy little island transform into a high-tech powerhouse in one generation? It was all in the plan.
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