Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is known as the Lion City (Singapura) and consists of the main island and about 64 smaller offshore islands, including Sentosa (the largest of the offshore islands), Pulau Ubin, St John’s Island and the Sisters’ Islands. It has a total area of 719 square km. Its capital and largest city is Singapore (city-state). English, Tamil, Malay and Chinese are its official languages. Singapore shares maritime borders with Malaysia and Indonesia.
Singapore was originally a part of Malaysia. It was one of the 14 states that made Malaysia. However, because of political skirmishes between Malaysia’s ruling party – United Malays National Organization and People’s Action Party based in Singapore, steep-rising racial riots took precedence.
Singapore has its national tree planting day on 7th November every year.
The Singapore dollar was introduced two years later in 1967. However, before separating the currencies, the Malayan government and government of Singapore tried to come to an agreement of having a common currency.
More than 80% of Singapore’s population lives in government-subsidized houses while the home ownership rate in Singapore is a staggering 92% (The highest in the world).
Singapore is both a state and a country.
In Singapore, stop chewing your gum if you see the police. Or simply don’t carry one. Currently, it is banned except without medical prescription.
The People’s Action Party has been the dominating politics since 1959, and the Prime Minister of the country is from the People’s Action Party.
Car use is heavily discouraged by the government and car owners have to pay additional 1.5 times the car price to get their car certified.
The President of the nation has a 6-year term while legislators can serve only a 5-year term. The role of the President is ceremonial. The real powers lie with the Prime Minister and his council.
Singapore has a limit on the height of its buildings- a fair 280 m. There are three buildings in Singapore exactly 280 m in length.
Singapore is the world’s third-most densely populated country with a population density of nearly 7,000 people per square kilometer that translates into nearly 19,000 people per square mile. As of 2017, the total population of Singapore stands at 5.71 million.
Singapore has compulsory military conscription of 1-2 years.
In Singapore, 63% of the population are actually Singaporeans that is, they are citizens of Singapore by birth. The remaining 37% are foreign-born, but are either permanent residents of Singapore or are guest workers.
Elevators in Singapore have Urine Detection Device, and if it detects the smell of kidney filtered water, it locks the doors until the police arrive. Singapore has passed a very specific law which prohibits urinating in the elevators.
Going by ethnicity, 74% of citizens of Singapore are Chinese while Malays make up 13.4%. Indians makeup 9.2% while the remaining 3% come from mixed ethnicity.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIRP), Singapore is the world’s 5th largest arms importer.
Over 50% of the population of Singapore have Chinese as their mother tongue.
It’s a crime to not flush the public toilet after use in Singapore.
English as a first language has been adopted by nearly 32% of the citizens of the nation.
The Hort Park in Singapore is the first Park dedicated to exclusive gardening niche and is a gardening lifestyle hub in Asia.
12% of the total population of Malay has their first language and Tamil is the first language for nearly 3% of Singaporeans.
The five stars in the national flag of Singapore represents the ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality. The color red signifies brotherhood while white represents purity.
Nearly 43% of the total population of Singapore follow Buddhism.
The Singapore Grand Prix Racing Circuit is not only Asia’s first one but also held the first ever F1 night-race in its 2008 inaugural race.
About 15% of Singaporeans are Muslims.
The Singapore zoo is a tropical paradise, filled with animals from all over the equatorial belt. It is named the best zoo in Asia and the third best in the world, by TripAdvisor.
10% of people of Singapore come from other Christian denominations and a staggering 15% belong to the class with no religious preference at all.
Ainan Celeste Cawley, of Singapore, is a record holder for being the youngest child ever to pass O-level chemistry, at 7 years old. At 9 years he cracked the Physics “O level certificate”, too.
The largest of all the islands of Singapore is Pulau Ujong. It also goes by the name Singapore Island.
Singapore has an amazing thrill ride called the Megazip or the Flying bat, of Sentosa Islands. It lets people experience life through the eyes of a flying bat.
Each person in Singapore earns an average of USD 60,500 per year.
Singapore’s National Stadium, has the world’s largest retractable dome, at 312m in diameter. The huge canopy can shelter 55 thousand fans from rain and the sun alike.
In the whole world, Singapore takes 5th position as the least corrupt country.
he only tropical garden with a UNESCO World Heritage Site tag is the 156-year-old Singapore Botanical Garden. With 4.5 million annual visitors and a National Orchid Garden, it is the mother of all botanic gardens.
The temperature in Singapore ranges between 23°C and 32°C.
Singapore had a brief name change. Syonan-to, which means the Light of the South, was the name given to Singapore under Japanese occupation.
The lowest point of the country lies at the sea level while the highest point that the country has is located at 545 feet or 166 meters. The highest point is known as Bukit Timah.
Singapore is one of the only three surviving city-states in the world. The other two are Monaco and Vatican City.
It is illegal in Singapore to have gay sex. Lesbian sex is allowed. Oral sex between male and female or two females was forbidden till 2007, but that ban has been lifted. A man and woman or two women can have anal, vaginal and oral sex.
The Prime Minister of Singapore earns a whopping $1.7 million annually, which is four times higher than what the US president earns.
Two gay men adopting a child is also totally illegal in Singapore. Also, gay men are required to attend National Service, but with very limited duties.
For ten consecutive years since 2006, Singapore has topped the ease of doing business list by the World Bank.
Littering on roads is also a serious offense in Singapore where the culprit can be fined up to USD 1,000 for littering and he or she will be forced to pick up the trash in public as humiliation.
Lee Kuan Yew was the first prime minister of Singapore who held the office for three decades.
Benjamin Sheares – Singapore’s second President – is the man responsible for the invention of Vaginoplasty – a method of making artificial vagina.
17% of the population in Singapore, or one in every six people, has assets worth $1 million or more, which is the highest in the world.
In the whole of Southeast Asia, the Yakult bottles that are sold in Singapore are the largest. They are also the most expensive of all.
Both the IMF and the World Bank have placed Singapore at the 3rd position in their GDP per capita list.
Vanda Miss Joaquim is the national flower of the Singapore. The flower was discovered in 1893.
Singapore remains the world’s most expensive city in 2016.
Singapore is the largest exporter in the world when it comes to ornamental fish. The country accounts for 25% of the world market.
Staying informed and engaged with the world around us is crucial. It’s important to develop critical thinking skills and discern reliable sources of information. By taking an active role in shaping the world around us, we can work towards building a more just and equitable future for all.