This tiny nation state could easily be overlooked on a world map, but do not be misled by its size. Singapore is a vibrant cultural melting pot, a gateway to Asia and a land of opportunity for expatriates. Whether you are on the lookout for a city break, a stopover or intend to unpack your suitcases for much longer, Singapore definitely has something for you.
Singapore is officially known as the Republic of Singapore and is located in Southeast Asia. It is an island country off the Malay Peninsula and is 137 Kilometers north of the equator. Singapore is comprised of 63 islands which are separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor. As a country, it has been extensively urbanized and still has a little primary rainforest left despite the fact that most of its land is developed and has been acquired through land reclamation.
Demography
As of the end of June 2012, the Island’s population stood at 5.31 million, making it the second densest sovereign state in the world behind Monaco. It’s a multiracial and subsequently multicultural country, with a majority of the population being Chinese.
74.2% of Singapore’s population is Chinese with Malays accounting for 13.2%, the second largest but distantly placed community in the country. Indians also comprise part of the minority group and account for only 9.2% of the population. The Malays are acknowledged as the indigenous community in the Island, although they primarily are descendants of the post-1945 migrations from Malaysia and Indonesia.
Language
The official language of Singapore is Malay while there are four commonly used languages in Singapore: English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese and Tamil. English is the most widely spoken language, and the medium of instructions in school. English is also the language of business and government in Singapore, based on British English.
Currency
The Singapore dollar SGD is the official currency of Singapore. It is divided into 100 cents. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $.
Economy
Today, the Singapore economy is one of the most stable in the world, with no foreign debt, high government revenue and a consistently positive surplus. The Singapore economy is mainly driven by exports in electronics manufacturing and machinery, financial services, tourism, and the world’s busiest cargo seaport. The robust Singapore economy drives thousands of global professionals to its shores each year.
Climate
Singapore has a tropical climate and stays hot and humid throughout the year. Temperatures average around 31ºC during the day with little seasonal variation, although it’s slightly cooler in December and January, and hottest in April and May. Temperatures are unlikely to dip below 23ºC at night; the lowest temperature ever recorded was just over 19ºC.
Expatriation
Expats from all over the world move to Singapore in large numbers on a yearly basis and at present there are approximately 1.31 none permanent residents/citizens living in Singapore (June 2010). Singapore is widely regarded as the easiest city in Asia for expats to fit into and it allows foreigners an opportunity to become acquainted with different cultures in a relatively safe and modern environment.
Singapore is a great location in which to raise a family and the availability of high quality of education, low price of home help and strong security means that bringing up children here is often easier than it would be in your home country.
The standard of living available in this city is notoriously high and the healthcare facilities are second to none. Singapore has a very low crime rate and the streets are safe, even in the middle of the night. There is no shortage of expat groups and clubs throughout the city so, no matter what your nationality, you can always be sure of finding fellow expats somewhere in the city.
