Introduction to Singapore

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  The Republic Singapore is an independent city state in South East Asia, comprising one major island and fifty nine small islets. This country located off the Malay Peninsula. The major island, Singapore Island, is separated from the Malaysia by the narrow Johor Strait. On the south, it is separated from the archipelago of Indonesia called Riau by Singapore Strait that is an important shipping channel linking the Indian Ocean on the west with the South China Sea on the east. Singapore city is known as one of important port cities and commercial centers of South East Asia. The total area of Singapore is 685 sq km. Singapore Island is low-lying with no prominent relief features. The maximum elevation of a central area of hills is 165 km. The longest river on the island, Seletar, less than 16 km long. The country has a wet tropical climate showing little variation with an average annual temperature of 27. 2º C and the wettest month are November to January. Singapore has limited natural fresh water resources, and the government has launched a project to improve the Singapore River.

The port city of Singapore was created as an entrerpôt, and the Republic has built upon the native commercial tradition. Singapore, one of the economic “tiger” of Asia has enjoyed economic growth rates that averaged 8.5 per cent per annum from 1966 and rose even higher in the 1990s, and has one of the highest standards of living of any country in the region. In 2004 the gross national product was estimated at US$104,994 million, or US$28,730 per capita (World Bank). The annual budget in 2004 comprised US$16,556 million in revenue and US$21,605 million in expenditure. Agriculture is relatively unimportant to the economy because of the limited land area and the relatively poor soil, but the market vegetables and fruits are grown. In 2006 manufacturing contributed roughly 29 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). Total installed generating capacity in 1994 was 4,513 mW, with 33.2 billion kW generated in 2003. 

Singapore has a population of 4,608,176 in 2008, and the low population growth rate of 1.14 per cent (2008) is achieved partly through a comprehensive birth control policy. The overall population density is 7,447 people per sq km. The majority of the population is concentrated on the southern part of the island. The population of Singapore is ethnically diverse and consists principally of Chinese about 77 per cent, Malay 14 per cent, and Indians 8 per cent. Virtually all inhabitants are descended from immigrants to the area who arrived after the foundation of the city of Singapore in 1819. Religion in Singapore reflects ethnic diversions. Of the Chinese population, 68 per cent or 54 per cent of overall population practice various combination of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism; and 14 per cent practice Christianity. The Malay population is 98 per cent Muslim. Of the Indian population, 53 per cent practice Hinduism, 26 per cent practice Islam, 13 per cent Christianity, and 7 per cent are other. There are also small groups of Zoroastrians and Jews.

The Republic of Singapore has four official languages: Malay, English, Mandarin Chinese, and Tamil. English is the official language of administration and education. Moreover, there are also sixteen other languages are spoken. State primary education is free, and enrollment at primary school level is essential universal, though not compulsory. Secondary state education incurs nominal fees. Most state education is conducted on a bilingual basis, which pupil being required to choose one of the official languages as well as English. In 1996 Singapore has some 198 primary school with 288,311 pupils and in 1995, 155 secondary schools with 181,548 students, plus a university enrolment of 83,914 with 9,476 at technical and vocational institutes. The principle institutions of higher education are the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technical University, several technical colleges, and a teacher- training college. 

Reference : Microsoft Encata