Singapore

Singapore
This article is about the city-state. For other uses, see Singapore (disambiguation).

Coordinates: 1°18′N 103°48′E / 1.3°N 103.8°E / 1.3; 103.8

Republic of Singapore
新加坡共和国 (Chinese)
Republik Singapura (Malay)
சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு (Tamil)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: 
"Majulah Singapura"  (Malay)
"Onward, Singapore"
Anthem: Majulah Singapura
"Onward, Singapore"
Location of  Singapore  (green)
Capital Singapore
(Downtown Core, Central)1
1°17′N 103°50′E / 1.283°N 103.833°E / 1.283; 103.833
Official language(s) English
Malay
Chinese
Tamil
Official scripts English alphabet
Malay alphabet
Simplified Chinese
Tamil script
Demonym Singaporean
Government Parliamentary republic
 -  President Tony Tan Keng Yam
 -  Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
 -  Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer
 -  Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong
Legislature Parliament
Formation
 -  Founding 6 February 1819[1] 
 -  Self-government 3 June 1959[2] 
 -  Independence from the United Kingdom 31 August 1963[3] 
 -  Merger with Malaysia 16 September 1963[3] 
 -  Separation from Malaysia 9 August 1965[3] 
Area
 -  Total 694 km2 (191st)
268 sq mi 
 -  Water (%) 1.444
Population
 -  2011 census 5,183,700 (of whom 3,257,000 are Singapore citizens)[4] 
 -  Density 7,315[5]/km2 (3rd)
18,943/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2010 estimate
 -  Total $291.9 billion[6] (41st)
 -  Per capita $62,100[6] (5th)
GDP (nominal) 2010 estimate
 -  Total $222.7 billion[7] 
 -  Per capita $43,867[8] (15th)
Gini (2009) 47.8[6] (29th)
HDI (2010) increase 0.846[9] (very high) (27th)
Currency Singapore dollar (SGD)
Time zone SST (UTC+8)
Date formats dd/mm/yyyy
Drives on the left
ISO 3166 code SG
Internet TLD .sg
Calling code +65
1 Singapore is a city-state.
2 STD code 02 from Malaysia.

Singapore Listeni/ˈsɪŋəpɔər/, officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, 137 kilometres (85 mi) north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the Singapore Strait to its south. Singapore is highly urbanised but almost half of the country is covered by greenery. More land is being created for development through land reclamation.

Singapore had been a part of various local empires since it was first inhabited in the second century AD. It hosted a trading post of the East India Company in 1819 with permission from the Sultanate of Johor. The British obtained sovereignty over the island in 1824 and Singapore became one of the British Straits Settlements in 1826. Singapore was occupied by the Japanese in World War II and reverted to British rule after the war. It became internally self-governing in 1959. Singapore united with other former British territories to form Malaysia in 1963 and became a fully independent state two years later after separation from Malaysia. Since then it has had a massive increase in wealth, and is one of the Four Asian Tigers. The economy heavily depends on the industry and service sectors. Singapore is a world leader in several areas: it is the world's fourth leading financial centre, the world's second biggest casino gambling market, the world's top three oil refining centre. The port of Singapore is one of the five busiest ports in the world, most notably being the busiest transshipment port in the world. The country is home to more US dollar millionaire households per capita than any other country. The World Bank notes Singapore as the easiest place in the world to do business.

Singapore is a parliamentary republic with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government. The People's Action Party (PAP) has won every election since the British grant of internal self-government in 1959. The legal system of Singapore has its foundations in the English common law system, but modifications have been made to it over the years, such as the removal of trial by jury. The PAP's popular image is that of a strong, experienced and highly qualified government, backed by a skilled Civil Service and an education system with an emphasis on achievement and meritocracy; but it is perceived by some voters, opposition critics and international observers as being authoritarian and too restrictive on individual freedom.

Some 5 million people live in Singapore, of whom 2.91 million were born locally. Most are of Chinese, Malay or Indian descent. There are four official languages: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. One of the five founding members of the Association of South East Asian Nations, Singapore also hosts the APEC Secretariat, and is a member of the East Asia Summit, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Commonwealth.

Contents

Etymology

Main article: Names of Singapore

The English name of Singapore is derived from the Malay Singapura (Sanskrit सिंहपुर Lion City), hence the customary reference to the nation as the Lion City. Lions probably never lived there; the beast seen by Sang Nila Utama, founder of ancient Singapore, who gave the city its name, was most likely a tiger.[10][11]

History

Main article: History of Singapore
A parade of Japanese soldiers in a street of Singapore
Victorious Japanese troops marching through Singapore City after British capitulation at the Battle of Singapore

The earliest known settlement on Singapore was in the second century AD. It was an outpost of the Sumatran Srivijaya empire, named Temasek ('sea town'). Between the 16th and early 19th centuries, it was part of the Sultanate of Johor. In 1613, Portuguese raiders burnt down the settlement and the island sank into obscurity for the next two centuries.[12]

In 1819, Thomas Stamford Raffles arrived and signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah on behalf of the British East India Company to develop the southern part of Singapore as a British trading post. In 1824 the entire island became a British possession under a further treaty whereby the sultan and the Temenggong transferred it to the British East India Company. In 1826 it became part of the Straits Settlements, a British colony. Before Raffles arrived, there were around 1,000 people living in Singapore, mostly Malays and a few dozen Chinese.[13] By 1869, due to migration from Malaya and other parts of Asia, Singapore's population had reached 100,000.[14]

During World War II the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Malaya culminating in the Battle of Singapore. The British were defeated, and surrendered on 15 February 1942. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill called this "the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history".[15] The Sook Ching massacre of ethnic Chinese after the fall of Singapore claimed between 5,000 and 25,000 lives.[16] The Japanese occupied Singapore until the British repossessed it in September 1945 after the Japanese surrender.[17]

Singapore's first general election in 1955 was won by the pro-independence David Marshall, leader of the Labour Front. Demanding complete self-rule he led a delegation to London but was turned down by the British. He resigned when he returned and was replaced by Lim Yew Hock, whose policies convinced Britain to grant Singapore full internal self-government for all matters except defence and foreign affairs.[18]

In elections in May 1959 the People's Action Party won a landslide victory. Singapore had become an internally self-governing state within the Commonwealth, with Lee Kuan Yew as the first Prime Minister.[19] Governor Sir William Allmond Codrington Goode served as the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara, and was succeeded by Yusof bin Ishak who in 1965 became the first President of Singapore.[20]

Singapore declared independence from Britain on 31 August 1963 before joining the new Federation of Malaysia in September along with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak as the result of the 1962 Merger Referendum. Tunku Abdul Rahman separated Singapore from the Federation two years later after heated ideological conflict between the ruling parties of Malaya and Singapore.[3]

Singapore gained sovereignty as the Republic of Singapore (remaining within the Commonwealth) on 9 August 1965[3] with Yusof bin Ishak as president and Lee Kuan Yew as prime minister. In 1967 it helped found the Association of Southeast Asian Nations [21] and in 1970 it joined the Non-aligned movement. In 1990 Goh Chok Tong succeeded Lee as prime minister. During his tenure the country faced the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the 2003 SARS outbreak and terrorist threats posed by Jemaah Islamiyah. In 2004, Lee Hsien Loong, the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, became the country's third prime minister.[22]

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of Singapore, Politics of Singapore, and Human rights in Singapore
Singapore's Parliament House.

Singapore is a parliamentary republic with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government representing constituencies. Its constitution establishes representative democracy as its political system.[6] Freedom House ranks Singapore as "partly free" in its Freedom in the World report,[23] and The Economist ranks Singapore as a "hybrid regime", the third rank out of four, in its "Democracy Index".[24] Singapore is consistently rated one of the least corrupt countries in the world by Transparency International.[25]

Executive power rests with the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, and the President.[20] The president is elected through popular vote, and has some veto powers for a few key decisions such as the use of the national reserves and the appointment of judges, but otherwise occupies a ceremonial post.[dated info][26]

The Parliament serves as the legislative branch of government.[20] Members of Parliament (MPs) consist of elected, non-constituency and nominated members. Elected MPs are voted into parliament on a "first-past-the-post" (plurality) basis and represent either single-member or group-representation constituencies.[27] The People's Action Party has won control of Parliament with large majorities in every election since self-governance was secured in 1959.[23] However, in the most recent parliamentary elections in 2011, the opposition, led by the Workers' Party, made significant gains and increased its representation in the House to 6 elected MPs.[28]

The legal system of Singapore is based on English common law, albeit with substantial local differences. Trial by jury was entirely abolished in 1970 leaving judicial assessment performed wholly by judgeship.[29] Singapore has penalties that include judicial corporal punishment in the form of caning for rape, rioting, vandalism, and some immigration offences.[30][31] There is a mandatory death penalty for murder, and for certain drug-trafficking and firearms offences.[32] Amnesty International has said that some legal provisions conflict with the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and that Singapore has "possibly the highest execution rate in the world relative to its population".[33] The government has disputed Amnesty's claims.[34] In a 2008 survey, international business executives believed Singapore, along with Hong Kong, had the best judicial system in Asia.[35]

Geography

Main article: Geography of Singapore
Map showing Singapore's island and the territories belonging Singapore and its neighbours
Outline of Singapore and the surrounding islands & waterways

Singapore consists of 63 islands, including the main island, widely known as Singapore Island but also as Pulau Ujong.[36] 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 are the largest of Singapore's smaller islands. The highest natural point is Bukit Timah Hill at 166 m (545 ft).[37]

There are ongoing land reclamation projects, which have increased Singapore's land area from 581.5 km2 (224.5 sq mi) in the 1960s to 704 km2 (272 sq mi) today; it may grow by another 100 km2 (40 sq mi) by 2030.[38] Some projects involve merging smaller islands through land reclamation to form larger, more functional islands, as with Jurong Island.[39] About 23% of Singapore's land area consists of forest and nature reserves.[40] Urbanisation has eliminated most primary rainforest, with Bukit Timah Nature Reserve the only significant remaining forest.[39] Even though there is very little primary rainforest left, there are more than 300 parks and 4 nature reserves in Singapore. There are also many trees planted throughout Singapore and almost fifty per cent of the country is covered by greenery. Because of this, Singapore is also commonly known as the 'Garden City'. [41]

Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinctive seasons, uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. Temperatures usually range from 23 to 32 °C (73 to 90 °F). Relative humidity averages around 79% in the morning and 73% in the afternoon.[42] April and May are the hottest months, with the wetter monsoon season from November to January.[43] From July to October, there is often haze caused by bush fires in neighbouring Indonesia.[44] Although Singapore does not observe daylight saving time, it follows time zone GMT+8, one hour ahead of its geographical location.[45]

Climate data for Singapore
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 30.1
(86.2)		 31.1
(88.0)		 31.6
(88.9)		 31.7
(89.1)		 31.6
(88.9)		 31.3
(88.3)		 30.9
(87.6)		 30.9
(87.6)		 30.9
(87.6)		 31.1
(88.0)		 30.6
(87.1)		 29.9
(85.8)		 31.0
Average low °C (°F) 23.3
(73.9)		 23.6
(74.5)		 23.9
(75.0)		 24.4
(75.9)		 24.8
(76.6)		 24.7
(76.5)		 24.5
(76.1)		 24.4
(75.9)		 24.2
(75.6)		 24.0
(75.2)		 23.7
(74.7)		 23.4
(74.1)		 24.1
Rainfall mm (inches) 242.5
(9.547)		 162.0
(6.378)		 184.8
(7.276)		 178.8
(7.039)		 171.8
(6.764)		 161.2
(6.346)		 158.3
(6.232)		 176.2
(6.937)		 169.7
(6.681)		 193.9
(7.634)		 255.7
(10.067)		 288.2
(11.346)		 2,343.1
(92.248)
% humidity 84.7 82.9 83.8 84.8 84.4 83.0 82.8 83.0 83.5 84.1 86.4 86.9 84.2
Avg. rainy days 15 11 14 15 14 13 13 14 14 16 19 19 177
Sunshine hours 173.6 183.6 192.2 174.0 179.8 177.0 189.1 179.8 156.0 155.0 129.0 133.3 2,022.4
Source no. 1: National Environment Agency (Temp 1929-1941 and 1948-2009, Rainfall 1869-2009, Humidity 1929-1941 and 1948-2010, Rain days 1891-2009) [46]
Source no. 2: Hong Kong Observatory (sun only, 1982—2008) [47]

Economy

Main article: Economy of Singapore
The port of Singapore with a large number of shipping containers with the skyline of the city visible in the background
The port of Singapore, one of the world's five busiest,[48] with the skyline of Singapore in the background

Before independence in 1965, Singapore was the capital of the British Straits Settlements and a Crown Colony The country was also the main British naval base in East Asia. [49] Because of its status as the main British naval base in the region, as well as hosting the largest dry dock in the world at that time in the form of the Singapore Naval Base, Singapore was ballyhooed in the press as the 'Gibraltar of the East'. [50] The opening of the Suez Canal in in 1869 caused global trade to boom and Singapore became a major trade node in the world, with the Port of Singapore becoming one of the largest and busiest ports in the world. [51] Before independence in 1965, Singapore had a GDP per capita of $511, then the third highest in East Asia.[52] After independence, foreign direct investment and a state-led drive for industrialisation based on plans by Goh Keng Swee and Albert Winsemius created a modern economy.[53]

Today, Singapore has a highly developed market-based economy, based historically on extended entrepôt trade. Along with Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan, Singapore is one of the original Four Asian Tigers. The Singaporean economy is known as one of the freest[54], most innovative[55], most competitive[56], most business friendly [57] and least corrupt in the world. The 2011 Index of Economic Freedom ranks Singapore as the second freest economy in the world, behind Hong Kong. According to the Corruption Perceptions Index Singapore is also consistently ranked as one of the least corrupt countries in the world, along with New Zealand and the Scandinavian countries.

Singapore is the 14th largest exporter and the 15th largest importer in the world. The country has the highest trade to GDP ratio in the world at 407.9 percent, signifying the importance of trade to its economy. The country is currently the only Asian country to have AAA credit ratings from all three major credit rating agencies – Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch. [58] [59] Singapore attracts a lot of foreign direct investment because of its location, corruption-free environment, skilled work force, low tax rates and advanced infrastructure. There are more than 7,000 multi-national corporations from the United States, Japan, and Europe in Singapore. There are also 1,500 companies from China and another 1,500 from India based in Singapore. Foreign firms are found in almost all sectors of the economy.[6] Singapore is also the second largest foreign investor in India. [60] Roughly 44 percent of the Singaporean workforce is made up of non Singaporeans. [61] Over ten free trade agreements have been signed with other countries and regions.[62]

Singapore also possesses the world's tenth largest foreign reserves.[63][64] The currency of Singapore is the Singapore dollar, issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.[65] It is interchangeable with the Brunei dollar.[66]

The Singaporean economy depends heavily on exports and refining imported goods, especially in manufacturing,[67] which constituted 27.2% of GDP in 2010[6] and includes significant electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, mechanical engineering and biomedical sciences sectors. In 2006 Singapore produced about 10% of the world's foundry wafer output.[68] Despite its small size, Singapore has a diversified economy, a strategy which the government considers vital for growth and stability. [69]

Tourism also forms a large part of the economy, and 10.2 million tourists visited the country in 2007.[70] To attract more tourists, in 2005 the government legalised gambling and allowed two casino resorts (called Integrated Resorts) to be developed.[71] Singapore is promoting itself as a medical tourism hub: about 200,000 foreigners seek medical care there each year, and Singapore medical services aim to serve one million foreign patients annually by 2012 and generate USD 3 billion in revenue.[72] Singapore is an education hub, and many foreign students study in Singapore. Singapore hosted over 80,000 international students in 2006. [73] There are also more than 5000 Malaysians students who cross the Johor–Singapore Causeway every morning with hopes of receiving a better education in Singapore. [74] In 2009, 20% of all students in Singaporean universities were international students. The students were mainly from ASEAN, China and India. [75]

Singapore is a world leader in several economic areas: the country is the world's fourth leading financial centre,[76] the world's second biggest casino gambling market,[77] one of the world's top three oil refining centres, the world's largest oil-rig producer, and a major ship-repairer.[78][79][80] The port is one of the five busiest ports in the world.[77] The World Bank has praised Singapore as the easiest place in the world to do business[77] and ranks Singapore the world's top logistics hub.[81] Lastly, the country is also the world's fourth largest foreign-exchange trading centre after London, New York and Tokyo.[82]

As a result of global recession and a slump in the technology sector, the country's GDP contracted by 2.2% in 2001. The Economic Review Committee was set up in December 2001 and recommended several policy changes to revitalise the economy. Singapore has since recovered, largely due to improvements in the world economy; the economy grew by 8.3% in 2004, 6.4% in 2005,[83] and 7.9% in 2006.[84] After a contraction of 0.8% in 2009, the economy recovered in 2010 with a GDP growth of 14.5%.[6] Most work in Singapore is in the service sector, which employed 2,151,400 people out of 3,102,500 jobs in December 2010. The percentage of unemployed economically active people above age 15 is about 2%.[85]

Large high-rise buildings at night time
Singapore skyline, dusk

Poverty levels are low in Singapore compared to other countries in the region. The government provides cheap housing (in the form of Housing Development Board flats) and financial assistance to poorer people.[86] Singapore has the world's highest percentage of millionaire households, with 15.5 percent of all households owning at least one million US dollars.[87] Despite its relative economic success, Singapore does not have a minimum wage, believing that it will lower its competitiveness. The country also has one of the highest income inequality amongst developed countries, coming in just behind Hong Kong and in front of the United States. [88] [89]

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Singapore
Ambassador to the USA Chan Heng Chee, Lee Kuan Yew, and US Secretary of Defense William Cohen in a room
Then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and Ambassador to the U.S. Chan Heng Chee meet with Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen during Lee's visit in 2000

Singapore's foreign policy is directed to maintaining a secure environment in Southeast Asia as well as the territories that surround it. An underlying principle is regional political and economic stability in the region.[62] It has diplomatic relations with 175 other Sovereign states.[90] As one of the five founding members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN),[91] the country is a strong supporter of the ASEAN Free Trade Area and the ASEAN Investment Area, because Singapore's economic growth is closely linked with the economic progress of the region as a whole. Former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong proposed the formation of an ASEAN Economic Community, a step beyond the current AFTA bringing it closer to a common market. This idea was agreed to in 2007 for implementation in 2015. Other regional organisations are also important to Singapore, and it is the host of the APEC Secretariat. Singapore also maintains membership in other regional organisations, such as Asia-Europe Meeting, the Forum for East Asia-Latin American Cooperation, and the East Asia Summit.[62] It is also a member of the Non-Aligned Movement[92] and the Commonwealth.[93]

Bilateral relations with other ASEAN members are generally strong; however, disagreements have arisen,[62] and relations with neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia have historically been difficult.[94] Malaysia has often come into conflict with Singapore over the delivery of fresh water to Singapore,[95] and access to Malaysian airspace for the Singapore Armed Forces, among others.[94] Border issues exist with both Malaysia and Indonesia, and both have banned the sale of marine sand to Singapore over disputes about Singapore's land reclamation.[96] Some previous disputes have been solved by the International Court of Justice. Piracy in the Malacca Strait has been a cause of concern for all three countries.[95] Close economic ties exist with Brunei, and the two share a pegged currency value.[97]

Singapore and the United States share a long-standing and strong relationship, particularly in defence, the economy, health and education. The USA is Singapore's third largest trading partner in 2010 after the People's Republic of China(2nd) and the European Union(1st).[98] The government of Singapore believes that regional security, and by extension, Singapore's security will be affected if the United States loses its resolve in Iraq.[99] Singapore has pushed regional counter-terrorism initiatives, with a strong resolve to deal with terrorists inside its borders. To this end it has given support to the US-led coalition to fight terrorism, with bilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism and counter-proliferation initiatives, and joint military exercises. Relations with the United States have expanded in other areas, and the two countries share a free trade agreement and take part in joint policy dialogues.[62]

Relations with the People's Republic of China were established in the 1970s, and since then the two countries have enjoyed a strong relationship, being major players in strengthening the ASEAN-China relationship.[100]

Military

Main article: Singapore Armed Forces
CARAT SINGAPORE 2010, Republic of Singapore Navy's RSS Steadfast and RSS Vigilance sailing line-abreast.

The Singaporean military is arguably the most technologically advanced in Southeast Asia.[101] It comprises the Army, Navy, and Air Force.[6] It is seen as the guarantor of the country's independence.[102] The nation's philosophy of defence is one of diplomacy and deterrence.[103] This principle translates into the culture, involving all citizens in the country's defence.[104] The government spends 4.9% of the country's GDP on the military [6] and one out of every four dollars of government spending is being spent on defence. [105]

At the time of independence, Singapore had two infantry regiments commanded by British officers. This force was considered too small to provide effective security to the new country and so the development of the military became a priority. Britain pulled its military out of Singapore in October 1971, leaving behind only a small British, Australian and New Zealand force as a token foreign military presence. The last British soldier left Singapore in March 1976. New Zealand troops were the last to leave in 1989. [106] [107]

The Singaporean army was initially established with help from Britain and Israel, a country which is not recognised by neighbouring Islamic Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. [108] [109] [110] The main fear after independence was an invasion by Malaysia and/or Indonesia. Israel Defense Forces commanders were tasked with creating the Singapore Armed Forces from scratch and Israeli instructors were brought in to train Singaporean soldiers. Military courses were conducted according to the Israel Defense Forces' format and Singapore adopted the Israel Defense Forces' model of conscription and reserve service, which remains till this day.[107] Today, Singapore still maintains strong security ties with Israel and is one of the biggest buyers of Israeli arms and weapons systems.[111] The MATADOR is one example of recent Singapore-Israeli collaboration.

The SAF is being developed to respond to a wide range of issues, in both conventional and unconventional warfare. The Defence Science and Technology Agency is responsible for procuring resources for the military.[103] The geographic restrictions of Singapore mean that the SAF must plan to fully repulse an attack, as they can not fall back and re-group. The small population has also affected the way the SAF has been designed, with a small active force but a large number of reserves.[104]

Republic of Singapore Air Force's F-15SG Strike Eagle (Peace Carvin V) training detachment at Mountain Home Air Force Base.

Singapore has a draft which extends to all able-bodied males at the age of 18, except to those who have a criminal record, or can prove that their loss would bring hardships to their families. In addition, males who have yet to complete pre-university education or are awarded the Public Service Commission scholarship can opt to defer their draft. Though not required to perform military service, the number of women in the Singapore Armed Forces has been increasing, with women allowed since 1989 to fill military vocations formerly reserved for men. Before induction into a specific branch of the armed forces, recruits undergo at least 9 weeks of basic military training.[112]

Because of the scarcity of open land on the main island, training involving activities such as live firing and amphibious landings is often carried out on smaller islands, typically barred to civilian access. This also avoids risk to the main island and the city. However, large-scale drills are considered too dangerous to be performed in the area, and since 1975 have been performed in Taiwan,[112]. Training is also held in about a dozen other countries. Military exercises are generally held with foreign forces once or twice per week.[104]

Due to airspace and land constraints, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) maintains a number of overseas bases in Australia, the United States, and France. The RSAF's 130 Squadron is based in RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia[113] and its 126 Squadron is based in the Oakey Army Aviation Centre, Queensland. [114] The RSAF has one squadron - the 150 Squadron - based in Cazaux Air Base, Southern France. [115] [116] The RSAF also has a few overseas detachments in the United States, namely in San Diego, Marana, Arizona, Grand Prairie, Texas and Luke Air Force Base among others. [117] [118]

The SAF has sent forces to assist in operations outside the country in areas such as Iraq[119] and Afghanistan,[120] in both military and non-military roles. Regionally it has helped stabilise East Timor and provided aid to Aceh in Indonesia following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The SAF has also helped in relief efforts during Hurricane Katrina. [121] Singapore is part of the Five Power Defence Arrangements, a military alliance with Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.[104]

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Singapore

As of 2011, the resident population of Singapore is 5.18 million people, of whom 3.25 million (63%) are Singaporean citizens while the rest (37%) are permanent residents or foreign workers. 23% of Singaporean citizens were born outside Singapore i.e. foreign born citizens. There are half a million permanent residents in Singapore in 2011. The resident population does not take into account the 11 million transient visitors who visit Singapore annually. [122] [4] [123]

The median age of Singaporeans is 37 years old and the average household size is 3.5 persons. Due to scarcity of land, four out of five Singaporeans live in subsidised, high-rise, public housing apartments known as HDB flats.[124] In 2010, three quarters of Singaporean residents live in properties that are equal to or larger than a four room HDB flat or in private housing. House ownership rate is at 87.2%. [125][126] Mobile phone penetration rate is extremely high at 1,400 mobile phone subscribers per 1000 people. Around 1 in 10 residents owns a car.[123]

In 2010, the total fertility rate was 1.1 children per woman, the third lowest in the world and well below the 2.1 needed to replace the population.[6] To overcome this problem, the Singapore government has been encouraging foreigners to immigrate to Singapore for the past few decades. The large number of immigrants has kept Singapore's population from declining.[127] Singapore traditionally has one of the lowest unemployment rate amongst developed countries. Singaporean unemployment rate has not exceeded 4% in the past decade, hitting a high of 3% during the 2009 global financial criss and falling to 1.9% in 2011. [128][129]

About 40 percent of Singapore's residents are foreigners, one of the highest percentage in the world.[130] The government is considering capping these workers, although it is recognised that they play a large role in the country's economy.[131] Foreign workers make up 80% of the construction industry and up to 50% in the service industry.[132][133]

In 2009, the government census reports that 74.2% of residents were of Chinese, 13.4% of Malay, and 9.2% of Indian descent,[134] while Eurasians and other groups form 3.2%. Prior to 2010, each person could only register as a member of one race, by default that of his or her father, therefore, mixed-race persons were solely grouped under their father's race in government censuses. From 2010 onwards, people may register using a "double-barrelled" classification, in which they may choose one primary race and one secondary race, but no more than two.[135]


Religion

Religion in Singapore[136]
religion percentage
Buddhism
  
 33%
Christianity
  
 18%
No religion
  
 17%
Islam
  
 15%
Taoism
  
 11%
Hinduism
  
 5.1%
Others
  
 0.9%

Buddhism is the most widely practised religion in Singapore, with 33% of the resident population declaring themselves adherents at the most recent census. The next largest religions, in order of size, are Christianity, Islam, Taoism and Hinduism. The proportion of Christians, Taoists and non-religious people increased between 2000 and 2010 by about 3% each, while the proportion of Buddhists decreased. Other faiths remained largely stable in their share of the population.[136]

There are monasteries and Dharma centres from all three major traditions of Buddhism in Singapore: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. Most Buddhists in Singapore are Chinese and are of the Mahayana tradition.[137] Chinese Mahayana is the most predominant form of Buddhism in Singapore, with missionaries from Taiwan and China for several decades. However, Thailand's Theravada Buddhism has seen growing popularity amongst the people (not only the Chinese) in the past decade. Soka Gakkai International, a Japanese Buddhist organisation, is practised by many people in Singapore, but by mostly those of Chinese descent. Tibetan Buddhism has also made slow inroads into the country in recent years.[138]

Languages

Main article: Languages of Singapore
Native languages of Singaporeans[139]
language % of first language speakers
Chinese
  
 49.9%
English
  
 32.3%
Malay
  
 12.2%
Tamil
  
 3.3%

Singapore has four official languages: English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil.[140] English is the first language of the nation and is the language of business, government and medium of instruction in schools.[141][142] The Singapore constitution and all laws are written in English.[143] 80% of Singaporeans are literate in English as either their first or second language. Chinese Mandarin is the next commonly spoken, followed by Malay and Tamil.[136][144] Singaporean English is based on British English,[145] and forms of English spoken range from Standard English to a pidgin known as Singlish. Singlish is heavily discouraged by the government.[146] According to the 2010 official census, nearly one in three Singaporeans speak English as their home language.[147]

Chinese is the most common home language, used by about half of all Singaporeans.[139] Singaporean Mandarin is the most common version of Chinese in the country,[148] with 1.2 million using it as their home language. Nearly half a million speak other Chinese languages (which the government describes as "dialects"), mainly Hokkien, Teochew, and Cantonese, as their home language, although the use of these is declining in favour of Mandarin and English.[149]

Malay is the "national language", a ceremonial rather than functional designation to reflect the country's history.[140][150][151] It is used in the national anthem "Majulah Singapura"[152] and in military commands. Today Malay is generally spoken within the Singaporean Malay community, with only 16.8% of Singaporeans literate in Malay[153] and only 12% using it as their home language.[139] Public bodies in Singapore conduct their businesses in English, and official documents written in a non-English official language such as Chinese, Malay or Tamil typically have to be translated into English to be accepted for submission. Translators are also required if one wishes to address the Singaporean Courts in a language other than English. [154] [155]

Around 0.1 million or 3% of Singaporeans speak Tamil as their home language.[139] Even though only Tamil has official status, there have been no attempts to discourage the use or spread of other Indian languages.[156]

Education

Main article: Education in Singapore
The Administrative Building of Nanyang Technological University, one of five public universities in Singapore

Education for primary, secondary, and tertiary levels is mostly supported by the state. All institutions, private and public, must be registered with the Ministry of Education.[157] English is the language of instruction in all public schools[158] and all subjects are taught and examined in English except for the "Mother Tongue" language paper.[159] While "Mother Tongue" generally refers to the first language internationally, in Singapore's education system it is used to refer to the second language as English is the first language.[160][161] Students who have been abroad for a while or who struggle with their "Mother Tongue" language are allowed to take a simpler syllabus or drop the subject.[162][163]

Education takes place in three stages: "Primary education", "Secondary education", and "Pre-university education", of which only the Primary level is compulsory. Students begin with six years of primary school, which is made up of a four-year foundation course and a two-year orientation stage. The curriculum is focused on the development of English, the mother tongue, and maths.[164] There are four standard subjects taught to all students: English, the mother tongue, mathematics, and science.[165] Secondary school lasts from four to five years, and is divided between "Special", "Express", "Normal (Academic)", and "Normal (Technical)" streams within each school, depending on a student's ability level.[166] The basic coursework breakdown is the same as in the primary level, although classes are much more specialised.[167] Pre-university education takes place over two to three years at senior schools mostly called Junior Colleges.[168] Some schools have a degree of freedom in their curriculum, and are known as autonomous schools. These exist from the secondary education level.[166]

Educational attainment of non-student Singaporeans aged above 15yo in 2005[169]
Highest qualification Percentage
No education
  
 18%
Primary school
  
 45%
Secondary school
  
 15%
Post-secondary diploma
  
 8%
Degree
  
 13%

National examinations are standardised across all schools, with a test taken after each stage of school. After the first six years of education, students take the Primary School Leaving Examination,[164] which determines their placement at secondary school. At the end of the secondary stage, GCE 'O' Level exams are taken; at the end of the following pre-university stage, the GCE 'A' Level exams are taken. Of all non-student Singaporeans aged 15 and above, 18% have no educational qualifications at all while 45% have the Primary School Leaving Examination as their highest qualification. 15% have the GCE 'O' Level as their highest qualification and 13% have a degree.[169]

Singaporean students consistently rank top five in the world in the two major international assessments of mathematics and science knowledge. Singaporean students were ranked first in the latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement and have been ranked top three every year since 1995.[170] [171] Singaporean students were also ranked top five in the world in terms of mathematics, science and reading in the 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment conducted by the OECD.[172] The country's two main public universities - the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University - are amongst the top 100 universities in the world.[173]

Health

Main article: Healthcare in Singapore

Singapore has a generally efficient healthcare system, even with a health expenditure relatively low for developed countries.[174] The World Health Organization ranks Singapore's healthcare system as 6th overall in the world in its World Health Report.[175] Singapore generally has the lowest infant mortality rate in the world for the past two decades. [123] Life expectancy in Singapore is 79 for males and 83 for females, placing the country 15th in the world for life expectancy. Almost the whole population has access to improved water and sanitation facilities. There are fewer than 10 annual deaths from HIV per 100,000 people. There is a high level of immunisation. Adult obesity is below 10%.[175]

The government's healthcare system is based upon the "3M" framework. This has three components: Medifund, which provides a safety net for those who could not otherwise afford healthcare, Medisave, a compulsory health savings scheme covering about 85% of the population, and Medishield, a government-funded health insurance scheme.[174] Public hospitals in Singapore have autonomy in their management decisions, and compete for patients. A subsidy scheme exists for those on low income.[176] In 2008, 31.9% of healthcare was funded by the government. It accounts for approximately 3.5% of Singapore's GDP.[177]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Singapore

Singapore is a very diverse and young country. It has many languages, cultures and religions for a country its size. [178] Due to the many different languages and cultures in the country, there is no single set of culturally acceptable behaviours.

When Singapore became independent from the United Kingdom in 1963, most of the newly minted Singaporean citizens were uneducated labourers from China, Malaysia and India. Many of them were transient labourers who were seeking to make some money in Singapore and they had no intentions of staying for good. A sizeable minority of middle-class, local-born people, known as the Peranakans also existed. With the exception of the Peranakans who pledged their loyalties to Singapore, most of the labourers' loyalties lie with their respective homelands of China, Malaysia and India. For instance, the Chinese wore pigtails to signify their loyalty to the Chinese emperor and remitted money to China. [179] [180] After independence, the process of crafting a Singaporean identity and culture began. Both ex Prime Ministers of Singapore -- Lee Kuan Yew (who was Prime Minister for over 30 years) and Goh Chok Tong -- have 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. [181] [178] Even though English is the first language of the nation, according to the government's 2010 census, 20% of Singaporeans, or one in five, are illiterate in English. This is a marked improvement from 1990 where 40% of Singaporeans were illiterate in English. [182] [183]

Unlike many other countries, languages, religions and cultures amongst Singaporeans are not delineated according to skin colour or ancestry. Amongst Singaporean Chinese, one in five are Christians, another one in five are atheists and the rest are mostly Buddhists or Taoists. One-third speak English as their home language, while half speak Mandarin Chinese as their home language. The rest speak other mutually unintelligible Chinese languages at home. [182] Singaporean Indians are a much more religious bunch. Only 1% of them are atheists. Six in ten are Hindus, two in ten are Muslims and the rest are mostly Christians. Four in ten speak English as their home language, three in ten speak Tamil, one in ten speak Malay and the rest speak other Indian languages as their home language. [182] Each Singaporean's behaviours and attitudes would therefore be influenced by, amongst many other things, his or her home language and his religion. Singaporeans who speak English as their native language tend to lean towards Western Culture. While those who speak Chinese languages as their native language tend to lean towards Chinese culture and Confucianism. Malay-speaking Singaporeans tend to lean towards Malay culture which itself is closely linked to Islamic culture. Those who speak Indian languages as their native language would probably lean towards Indian culture.

Singapore, as a country, is generally conservative socially but some liberalisation has occurred.[184] At the national level, meritocracy, where one is judged based on one's ability, is heavily emphasised. [185] Racial and religious harmony is regarded by the government as a crucial part of Singapore's success and played a part in building a Singaporean identity.[186] Singapore has a reputation as a nanny state. [187] [188] The national flower of Singapore is the Vanda Miss Joaquim. Many national symbols such as the National Coat of Arms and the Lion Head symbol make use of the lion, as Singapore is known as the 'Lion City'. Public holidays in Singapore cover major Chinese, Western, Malay and Indian festivals. [189]

Due to scarcity of land, four out of five Singaporeans live in subsidised, high-rise, public housing apartments known as HDB flats.[124] Singaporeans generally take off their shoes before entering their homes. [190] Live-in domestic helpers are quite common in Singapore and there are nearly 200,000 domestic helpers there.[191] As with most Commonwealth countries, vehicles on the road and people walking on the streets keep to the left. [192] Unlike some Western countries and ASEAN countries in the Golden Triangle, Singapore does not have a culture of recreational drug use. The country has strict laws against drug use and has one of the lowest rates of drug use in the world. [193] Singaporean employees work an average of around 45 hours weekly, which is relatively long compared to many other nations. Three in four Singaporean employees surveyed stated that they take pride in doing their work well, and that doing so helps their self-confidence. [194]

Foreigners also make up 42% of the population[130][149] and have a strong influence on Singaporean culture. A.T. Kearney named Singapore the most globalised country in the world in 2006 in its Globalization Index.[195] The Economist Intelligence Unit in its "Quality-of-Life Index" ranks Singapore as having the best quality of life in Asia and eleventh overall in the world.[196]

Cuisine

Main article: Singaporean cuisine

Dining, along with shopping, is said to be the country's national pastime.[197] The diversity of food is touted as a reason to visit the country,[198] and the variety of food representing different ethnicities is seen by the government as a symbol of its multiculturalism.[199] The "national fruit" of Singapore is the Durian[200] In popular culture, food items belong to a particular ethnicity, with Chinese, Indian, and Malay food clearly defined. The diversity of cuisine has been increased further by the "hybridization" of different styles, e.g. the Peranakan style, a mix of Chinese and Malay cuisine.[198]

Arts

Domed black building with bumps reminiscent of those on a Durian
The durian-shaped Esplanade, performing arts centre, stands out in front of the Marina Square area.

Since the 1990s, the government has been promoting Singapore as a centre for arts and culture, in particular the performing arts, and to transform the country into a cosmopolitan 'gateway between the East and West'.[201] One highlight was the construction of Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, a performing arts centre opened in October 2002.[202] The national orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, plays at the Esplanade. The annual Singapore Arts Festival is organised by the National Arts Council. The stand-up comedy scene has been growing, with a weekly open mic.[203] Singapore hosted the 2009 Genee International Ballet Competition, a classical ballet competition promoted by London's Royal Academy of Dance.[204]

Sport and recreation

Main article: Sport in Singapore
Closing ceremony for the National Stadium
National Stadium of Singapore

Popular sports include football, basketball, cricket, swimming, sailing, table tennis and badminton. Most Singaporeans live in public residential areas near amenities such as public swimming pools, outdoor basketball courts and indoor sport complexes. Water sports are popular, including sailing, kayaking and water skiing. Scuba diving is another popular recreational sport. The Southern island of Pulau Hantu, particularly, is known for its rich coral reefs.[205]

Singapore's football (soccer) league, the S-League, formed in 1994,[206] currently comprises 12 clubs including foreign teams.[207] The Singapore Slingers, formerly in the Australian National Basketball League, is one of the inaugural teams in the ASEAN Basketball League, founded in October 2009.[208] Singapore began hosting a round of the Formula One World Championship, the Singapore Grand Prix, in 2008. The race was staged at the Marina Bay Street Circuit and became the first night race on the F1 circuit[209] and the first street circuit in Asia.[210] Singapore won the bid to host the inaugural 2010 Summer Youth Olympics.[211]

Media

Main article: Media of Singapore

Companies linked to the government control much of the domestic media in Singapore.[212] MediaCorp operates most free-to-air television channels and free-to-air radio stations in Singapore. There are a total of seven free-to-air TV channels offered by Mediacorp. [213] The channels are Channel 5 (English channel), Channel News Asia (English channel), Okto (English channel)), Channel 8 (Chinese channel), Channel U (Chinese channel), Suria (Malay channel) and Vasantham (Indian channel). [214] Starhub Cable Vision (SCV) also offers cable television with channels from all around the world [215] and Singtel's MioTV provides an IPTV service. [216] Singapore Press Holdings, a body with close links to the government, controls most of the newspaper industry.[217]

Singapore's media industry has sometimes been criticised for being too regulated and lacking in freedom by human rights groups such as Freedom House. [212] In 2010, Reporters Without Borders, a France-based international non-governmental organisation, ranked Singapore 136 out of 178 in its Press Freedom Index, just below Mexico.[218]

The Media Development Authority regulates Singaporean media, claiming to balance the demand for choice and protection against offensive and harmful material.[219] Private ownership of TV satellite dishes is banned.[217] There are 3.4 million users of the internet in Singapore,[217] one of the highest internet penetration rates in the world. The Singapore government does not engage in widespread censoring of the internet,[220] but it maintains a list of one hundred websites (mostly pornographic) which it blocks as a 'symbolic statement of the Singaporean community's stand on harmful and undesirable content on the Internet' [221] As the block only covers only home Internet access, users can still visit the blocked websites from their office computers. [222]

Transport

Main article: Transport in Singapore
The Port with a large number of shipping containers and the ocean visible in the background
The Port of Singapore with Sentosa island in the background

Singapore is a small island with limited land and a large population, therefore, there is a need to restrict the number of private cars on the road. Car buyers must pay for duties one-and-a-half times the vehicle’s market value and bid for a Singaporean Certificate of Entitlement (COE) which allows the car to run on the road for a decade. The cost of the Singaporean certificate of entitlement alone would often allow one to buy a Porsche Boxster in the United States of America. Car prices are generally significantly higher in Singapore when compared to other English-speaking countries and only 1 in 10 residents own a car. [223] [123]

Electronic Road Pricing gantry at North Bridge Road

Most Singaporean residents travel by foot, bicycles, bus, taxis and by train (Mass Rapid Transit). Two companies run the public bus transport system -- SBS Transit and SMRT Corporation. SMRT also runs the public train system. There are almost a dozen taxi companies in Singapore who together put out 25,000 taxis on the road. Taxis are a popular form of public transport as the fares are relatively cheap compared to many other developed countries. [224] [225]

Singapore has a road system covering 3,356 kilometres (2,085 mi) which includes 161 kilometres (100 mi) of expressways.[6] [226] [227] The Singapore Area Licensing Scheme, implemented in 1975, became the world's first congestion pricing scheme, and included other complementary measures such as stringent car ownership quotas and improvements in mass transit.[228][229] The system was upgraded in 1998 and renamed Electronic Road Pricing. The ERP introduced electronic toll collection, electronic detection, and video surveillance technology.[230]

Singapore is a major international transportation hub in Asia, positioned on many sea and air trade routes. The Port of Singapore, managed by port operators PSA International and Jurong Port, was the world's second busiest port in 2005 in terms of shipping tonnage handled, at 1.15 billion gross tons, and in terms of containerised traffic, at 23.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). It is also the world's second busiest in terms of cargo tonnage, coming behind Shanghai with 423 million tons handled. In addition, the port is the world's busiest for transshipment traffic and the world's biggest ship refuelling centre.[231]

Singapore is an aviation hub for the Southeast Asian region and a stopover on the Kangaroo route between Sydney and London.[232] There are 8 total airports in the country,[6] and Singapore Changi Airport hosts a network of 80 airlines connecting Singapore to 200 cities in 68 countries. It has been rated one of the best international airports by international travel magazines, including being rated as the world's best airport for the first time in 2006 by Skytrax.[233] The national airline is Singapore Airlines.[234]

Ships in the ocean with Singapore visible in the background
Ships anchored at Singapore's Eastern Anchorage off the East Coast Park.

See also

Geography image Geography portal
Asia image Asia portal
Southeast Asia image Southeast Asia portal
Singapore image Singapore portal

References

Notes
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