Singapore Country Facts

Singapore is an island and city state and at the same time the smallest state in Southeast Asia. Singapore is located between Malaysia and Indonesia just before the south end of the Hindu and Malay peninsulas. Since Singapore is almost directly at the equator and thus in the middle of the tropics, the climate is hot and humid all year round.

The city ​​of Singapore takes up most of the island. The city center is divided into several districts. The most interesting for the visitor are Orchard Road, Singapore’s world-famous shopping mile and Riverside. Riverside is the location of various monuments, theaters and museums, as well as bars, clubs and restaurants.

In the central part of Singapore there are still some rain forests protected by nature reserves. Lazarus Island, Kusu Island, Sister Island and St. Johns Island are popular among bathers. Pulau Ubin is in the north. On the second largest island of Singapore you can admire a still relatively untouched nature.

The ethnic groups are as diverse as the nature of Singapore. Chinese, Malays, Indians and many other cultures, among others, mostly live peacefully here. Around 1.2 million are guest workers who work in Singapore.

The birth rate is surprisingly low, with women in Singapore having an average of only 1.29 children. This is a problem that the country’s government has been addressing for some time. Because of this low birth rate, the population will drop sharply over the next few decades. In order to reproduce the people naturally, a quota of 2.1 children per woman would be necessary.

Another related problem is the rising average age. The population in Singapore is getting older. However, if one looks at the total population together with the immigrant groups, this immigration partially offsets the aging of the entire society in Singapore.

Singapore Country Facts

Area: 697 km² (land: 687 km², water: 10 km²)

Population: 4.7 million people (July 2011, COUNTRYAAH.COM). Chinese 76.8%, Malays 13.9%, Indians 7.9%, others 1.4% (2000 census).

Density: 6,802 people per sq . Km

Population growth: 0.863% per year (2010, CIA)

Capital: Singapore (4.61 million inhabitants, 2008)

Highest point: Bukit Timah, 166 m

Lowest point: street of Singapore, 0 m

Form of government: Singapore has been a republic in the Commonwealth since 1959. The constitution dates from the same year, the last constitutional change was made in 1996. The unicameral parliament consists of 84 members. Singapore has been independent of Malaysia since August 9, 1965.

Prime Minister: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, since August 12, 2004

Head of State: President Tony Tan Keng Yam, since September 1, 2011

Language: The national language is Malay, Chinese and Tamil are spoken official languages. English is also an official language and is used as a traffic, commercial and administrative language. The proportions of languages ​​are: Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8 %, Others 0.9% (2000 census).

Religion: Buddhism 42.5%, Islam 14.9%, Taoism 8.5%, Hinduism 4%, Catholicism 4.8%, other Christians 9.8%, others 0.7%, no confession 14.8% ( 2000 census).

Local time: CET + 7 h.
There is no changeover between summer and winter time in Singapore.
The time difference to Central Europe is +7 h in winter and +6 h in summer.

International dialing code: +65

Internet ID:.sg

Mains voltage: 220/240 V, 50 Hz; Adapters are recommended.

Geography

The city-state of Singapore is located directly in front of the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula between Indonesia in the south and Malaysia in the north. Singapore is connected to Malaysia through the Johor-Singapore Causeway and the Second Link bridge over the approximately 1 km wide Jojorstrasse. Singapore consists of a main island, three larger and about 50 smaller islands.

Singapore is largely flat, with 166 m the Bukit Timah in the Bukit Timah Reserve is the highest elevation in the country.

Tropical rainforest was the original vegetation in Singapore, only the south on the Singapore River was inhabited. Most of the rainforest was cleared, the swamps drained.

In the 1960s, the original urban area was expanded to include satellite cities. The land use for the 55 planning areas (including two water protection areas) is determined in a development plan.

Due to the limited area, land reclamation is an important issue in Singapore. Land is brought into the sea from the hills, from the sea floor or from neighboring countries. As a result, the area has increased from 581.5 sq km to 692.7 sq km since the 1960s and is expected to increase by an additional 100 sq km to a total of around 800 sq km by 2030.

Singapore Population by Year (Historical)