Singapore is an island nation, located at the southern tip of Malay Peninsula. The country is situated 137 km north of the equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of the Indonesian Riau. With its 710.2 km square, Singapore is a micro state, and it is the smallest country in Southeast Asia. It is considerably bigger than Monaco and the Vatican, the only other independent city states.
Before Europeans came, the island now known as Singapore, a Malaysian fishing village at the mouth of the Singapore River. Several hundred indigenous Orang Laut people also lived along the nearby coast, rivers and small islands. In 1819 founded the British East India Company, led by Sir Stamford Raffles, a trading post on the island, which was then used as a strategic trading post along the spice route. Singapore was one of the most important commercial and military centers of the British Empire and the core of the British power in South Asia.
During the second World War, the British colonial occupation of Japan following the Battle of Singapore, as Winston Churchill called "Britain's greatest defeat." Singapore returned to British rule immediately after the war, in 1945. 18 years later, in 1963, achieved the city's independence from Britain and joined with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to the formation of Malaysia. But only less than two years later joined it out of the federation and became an independent republic on 9 August 1965. Singapore joined the United Nations on 21 September the same year. It is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Since independence, Singapore's standard of living have increased significantly. Direct foreign investment and state-led industrialization plans based on plans prepared by the Dutch economist Albert Winsemius has created a modern economy with a focus on industry, education and urban planning. Singapore is the fifth wealthiest country in the world when it comes to GDP (PPP) per day. capita. In December 2008, its foreign currency reserves of about 174.2 billion U.S. dollars. The Singapore government announced in presidential approval in March 2009 that it would take money from the official reserves for the first time ever. The money was a part of a rescue package of 20.5 billion U.S. dollar unveiled by Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on 5 February 2009. As of January 2009 is Singapore's official reserves at 170.3 billion U.S. dollars. Singapore Tourism also a major industry and attracts millions of tourists each year. Its cultural attraction can be attributed to its cultural diversity that reflects its colonial history and Chinese, Malay, Indian and Arab ethnicities.
In 2009 the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Singapore as the tenth in the list of most expensive places to live. It was also chosen as number three in Asia after Tokyo and Osaka. Living Cost Index from 2009, made by consulting firm Mercer, has also placed Singapore at number ten of the most expensive cities to live in.
Singapore's population, including non-resident is approximately 4.99 million. Singapore is cosmopolitan and diverse in many Chinese, who constitute an ethnic majority. There is also a large population of Malays, Indians and other peoples. English, Malay, Tamil and Chinese are the official languages.
Singapore is a parliamentary republic and Singapore's constitution establishes a representative democracy as the country's political system. People's Action Party (PAP) dominates the political landscape and has won control of parliament in every election since becoming autonomous in 1959.
Attractions in Singapore
Before Europeans came, the island now known as Singapore, a Malaysian fishing village at the mouth of the Singapore River. Several hundred indigenous Orang Laut people also lived along the nearby coast, rivers and small islands. In 1819 founded the British East India Company, led by Sir Stamford Raffles, a trading post on the island, which was then used as a strategic trading post along the spice route. Singapore was one of the most important commercial and military centers of the British Empire and the core of the British power in South Asia.
During the second World War, the British colonial occupation of Japan following the Battle of Singapore, as Winston Churchill called "Britain's greatest defeat." Singapore returned to British rule immediately after the war, in 1945. 18 years later, in 1963, achieved the city's independence from Britain and joined with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to the formation of Malaysia. But only less than two years later joined it out of the federation and became an independent republic on 9 August 1965. Singapore joined the United Nations on 21 September the same year. It is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Since independence, Singapore's standard of living have increased significantly. Direct foreign investment and state-led industrialization plans based on plans prepared by the Dutch economist Albert Winsemius has created a modern economy with a focus on industry, education and urban planning. Singapore is the fifth wealthiest country in the world when it comes to GDP (PPP) per day. capita. In December 2008, its foreign currency reserves of about 174.2 billion U.S. dollars. The Singapore government announced in presidential approval in March 2009 that it would take money from the official reserves for the first time ever. The money was a part of a rescue package of 20.5 billion U.S. dollar unveiled by Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on 5 February 2009. As of January 2009 is Singapore's official reserves at 170.3 billion U.S. dollars. Singapore Tourism also a major industry and attracts millions of tourists each year. Its cultural attraction can be attributed to its cultural diversity that reflects its colonial history and Chinese, Malay, Indian and Arab ethnicities.
In 2009 the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Singapore as the tenth in the list of most expensive places to live. It was also chosen as number three in Asia after Tokyo and Osaka. Living Cost Index from 2009, made by consulting firm Mercer, has also placed Singapore at number ten of the most expensive cities to live in.
Singapore's population, including non-resident is approximately 4.99 million. Singapore is cosmopolitan and diverse in many Chinese, who constitute an ethnic majority. There is also a large population of Malays, Indians and other peoples. English, Malay, Tamil and Chinese are the official languages.
Singapore is a parliamentary republic and Singapore's constitution establishes a representative democracy as the country's political system. People's Action Party (PAP) dominates the political landscape and has won control of parliament in every election since becoming autonomous in 1959.
Attractions in Singapore
