Singapore |
|
| OVERVIEW |
| |
| Background |
Singapore
was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined
the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later
and became independent. It subsequently became one of the
world's most prosperous countries with strong international
trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest) and
with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of
Western Europe. |
| Natural
resources |
fish, deepwater ports
|
| Land
use |
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 98.36% (1998 est.) |
| Population |
4,608,595 (July 2003 est.)
|
| Ethnic
groups |
Chinese 76.7%, Malay 14%,
Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% |
| Religions |
Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim
(Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist |
| Languages |
Chinese (official), Malay
(official and national), Tamil (official), English (official)
|
| Literacy |
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write
total population: 93.2%
male: 96.7%
female: 89.7% (2003 est.) |
| Capital |
Singapore |
| Government
type |
parliamentary republic
|
| Independence |
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian
Federation) |
| National
holiday |
Independence Day, 9 August
(1965) |
|
|
