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OverviewThe island of Singapore was first founded as a British trading colony in 1819. After World War II, it joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent.
Singapore is today one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.
GeographySingapore is situated on the southern most point of the Malay Peninsula. It neighbors the state of Johor Bahru (in Malaysia) and is surrounded by small islands to the south. Climate-wise, Singapore is a temperate country and is sunny at most times of the year. Expect the occasional rainfall at times.HistoryIn the 14th century, Singapore was part of the mighty Sri Vijayan empire and was known as Temasek ("Sea Town"). It was a popular meeting point for sea routes at the tip of the Malay Peninsula. Most of the inhabitants were local fishermen and it was comprised of small villages.In 18th century, the might British Empire wanted to counter the growth of Dutch power in the region. This led to the founding of Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles who established it as a trading station. After the World War II, Singapore became a British Crown Colony. The growth of nationalism led to self-government in 1959 and on 9 August 1965, Singapore became an independent republic. PeopleAs at July 2006, Singapore had a population of 4.4 million people. The people are a mix of Chinese, Indian, Malay and other nationalities, with English being the main language. Chinese, Malay or Indian is usually spoken as a secondary language.GovernmentThe government of Singapore is considered a parliamentary republic. It is run by a Chief of State (the President) and a Head of Government (the Prime Minister). There is a cabinet of ministers elected, appointed by the President and responsible to parliament.
EconomySingapore runs on a free-market economy model. It has a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP equal to that of the four largest West European countries.ConclusionHopefully, you know have a better idea of Singapore and what to expect when you arrive here. Do more research to understand the little city state. Happy traveling!
Thinking of exploring the region around Singapore? Visiting
neighboring countries is a breeze, with the more popular destinations being Bangkok, Bali, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. Just
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Top 5 places to get a tan in Singapore © 2007 Best-Singapore-Vacation.com
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Touring The Region