Singapore

1819 (January 29, Friday): Sir Stamford Raffles establishes a British trading post on the island

1826 (April 1, Saturday): Singapore becomes part of the Straits Settlements under British rule

1942 (February 15, Sunday): Singapore falls to Japan during World War II, known as the Fall of Singapore

1959 (June 3, Wednesday): Singapore gains self-governing status as a British colony

1963 (September 16, Monday): Singapore joins Malaysia as part of the Federation of Malaysia

1965 (August 9, Monday): Singapore separates from Malaysia and becomes an independent republic

1971 (March 30, Tuesday): British forces withdraw from Singapore as the island’s defense responsibility shifts to Singapore itself

2004 (December 26, Sunday): Affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami; though damage was limited, there were concerns about the country’s vulnerability

2014 (June 1, Sunday): Severe haze from Indonesian forest fires causes air quality to reach hazardous levels in Singapore

2020 (January 23, Thursday): First confirmed COVID-19 case, leading to a temporary lockdown and border restrictions

2021 (May 19, Wednesday): Severe flooding occurs in some parts of Singapore after heavy rains

2023 (April 20, Thursday): Record-breaking temperatures during a heatwave cause disruptions to energy supply and public health concerns

Continent: Asia
Location: Southeast Asia, at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula
Capital: Singapore
Language: English (official), Malay, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil
Currency: Singapore Dollar (SGD)
Population: ~5.7 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Singapore Standard Time (SGT) / UTC +8

Borders: Malaysia to the north (via the Johor Strait), Indonesia to the south
Landscape: Flat, urbanized island nation with a few low hills and coastal areas
Major Rivers: Singapore River, Kallang River
Major Mountains: Bukit Timah Hill (highest point)
Deserts: None
Lakes: None (most water bodies are reservoirs)
Volcanoes: None
Highest Point: Bukit Timah Hill (163.63 m / 537 ft)
Lowest Point: Singapore Strait (0 m / 0 ft)
Climate: Tropical rainforest climate with hot, humid weather year-round and a short rainy season (November–January)
Geological Features: Coastal plains, urbanized areas, reclaimed land, reservoirs, and rivers

Ethnic Groups: Chinese (majority), Malay, Indian, and other ethnic groups
Religion: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Taoism
Urban Population: 100% (as it is an urbanized city-state)
Aging Population: ~15% aged 65+ (last updated: 2024)

Famous For: Modern city-state, cleanliness, high standard of living, cultural diversity
Cuisine: Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, chili crab, satay, roti prata
Arts: Traditional Chinese, Malay, Indian arts; modern art, theater, and music
Sports: Football (soccer), badminton, table tennis, rugby

Economy Type: Highly developed, free-market economy
GDP: Approx. $400 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Finance, manufacturing (electronics, chemicals, biomedical), tourism, port services
Key Exports: Electronics, machinery, refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, chemicals
Unemployment Rate: ~2.0% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: The central business district in downtown Singapore, industrial parks, and port areas

Government Type: Parliamentary republic, with a strong central government
Head of State: President Halimah Yacob (as of April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (as of April 2025)
Legislature: Unicameral (Parliament of Singapore)
Constitution: In effect since 1965, amended several times

Marina Bay Sands: Iconic integrated resort with a casino, observation deck, and luxury hotels
Gardens by the Bay: Futuristic park with giant Supertree structures, Flower Dome, and Cloud Forest
Sentosa Island: Resort island with attractions including Universal Studios Singapore, beaches, and marine life parks
Singapore Zoo & Night Safari: World-famous zoo and nighttime safari experience
Chinatown & Little India: Cultural neighborhoods with markets, temples, and historic landmarks