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Singapore

Capital:Singapore
Population:5.9M
Currency:Singapore Dollar (SGD)
Language:Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil (official), English (official)
Museum of Asian Civilization, Singapore

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Quick Look Factsheet

A multi-page overview of Singapore.

Singapore Factsheet

Customs and Culture

About the People

People in Singapore do not use first names except with close friends. They also do not talk openly about feelings and emotions. For Singaporeans, it is important not to “lose face” (to be embarrassed or shamed) in public.

Cultural Attributes

People in Singapore do not use first names except with close friends. They also do not talk openly about feelings and emotions. For Singaporeans, it is essential not to “lose face” (to be embarrassed or shamed) in public.

Museum of Asian Civilization, Singapore

The Lion City's Garden of Prosperity

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5 more cultural topics for members

Social Customs & Etiquette · Diet · Family · Dating Customs · Recreation

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Holidays

  • Independence Day

    8/9

    Independence Day

  • Christmas

    12/25

    Christmas

    Even though less than fifteen percent of the Singaporean population is Christian, Christmas in Singapore is a wonderland of lights and good cheer. Every shop window is decorated with overflowing western-style Christmas décor such as snowmen, Santa Claus, poinsettias, fake snowflakes, bells and ribbons.

    Despite multicultural beliefs which characterize Singapore, Christmas preparations in Singapore begin around the twenty-fifth of November. Starting Christmas Eve, on December 24th, midnight services are held at all Singapore Anglican and Catholic Churches. Each church prepares a program where a nativity scene is performed and choirs sing Christmas carols. After church, many families enjoy a Christmas turkey dinner at home, which includes the very aromatic durian fruit. Other families opt to eat out at one of many Christmas buffets available at almost all good restaurants in Singapore. Families who plan to eat out after Midnight Mass need to book their tables weeks ahead in order to reserve a place.

    Aside from the traditional turkey, Christmas food in Singapore consists of roti pratha (fried bread with a curry dip). Singapore’s Europe-Asian heritage celebrates Christmas with dishes cooked at home including Devil curry, Feng and Sugee cake. Feng , which only makes an appearance during Christmas, is made of a rich stew of pig innards, ground spices and a lot of garlic, shallots and ginger. Devil Curry is prepared using traditional Christmas meal leftovers like ham, roast turkey, sausages, roast pork as well as carrots, onions, tomatoes and cabbages. Sugee is a Singapore Christmas cake made with chopped almonds, semolina, butter, eggs and a touch of brandy.

    Called Sheng Dan Lao Ren, pronounced ‘sheng -dahn-low-wren,’Santa Claus is dressed in a traditional red suit and white beard, even if Singapore is a tropical country. Tanglin Road is famous for its fake ‘snow’ display where a large snow machine spurts snow against a large Christmas backdrop.

    Gifts are exchanged and opened on Christmas morning and Christmas brunch usually consists of the leftovers from Christmas dinner the night before. Christmas in Singapore ends on New Year’s Eve, where a fireworks display on Marina Bay occurs at 11:59 pm each December 31st.

Dates of Interest

  • August 9th

    While not a traditional holiday, the Singapore Food Festival is a notable annual event celebrating the country's diverse culinary heritage with food tastings, cooking demonstrations, and food-related events.

How do people greet and address each other in Singapore?

Each ethnic group has its own style of greeting, and people generally do not use first names except with close friends. Naming conventions differ among Malays, Indians, and others.

Do

  • Address a Malay man as Encik (Mr) plus his given name, e.g., Encik Mohamed
  • Address an unmarried Malay woman as Cik and a married woman as Puan, plus her given name
  • Note that Malays and Indians are addressed by their given name, which comes before the father's name

Don’t

  • Don't offer anything with your left hand to Muslims and Hindus
  • Don't use first names except with close friends

Good to know

  • Singaporeans of Indian descent often have long names that include the father's initials, e.g., address Subramanian S.O. Manickavasagam as Mr Subramanian

What are the dining customs in Singapore?

Singapore's food reflects its multi-ethnic society, with Chinese, Malay, Peranakan, Indian, and increasingly Western cuisine widely available. At home, dishes are usually placed in the center of the table for everyone to share throughout the meal.

Do

  • Help yourself to shared dishes placed in the center of the table
  • Use chopsticks in Chinese homes
  • Eat with the fingers of your right hand in Malay and Indian homes

Good to know

  • Try Otak-Otak, a popular Peranakan dish of fish with spices and coconut milk wrapped in coconut leaves and grilled
  • In more conservative Malay and Indian homes, men usually eat first and women eat later

What etiquette should travelers know in Singapore?

Avoiding public embarrassment (not "losing face") is very important, and Singaporeans tend not to talk openly about feelings and emotions. Great respect is shown to the elderly.

Do

  • Hold doors open for the elderly, rise before they enter a room, and give up your seat to them on public transportation
  • When seated, cross your legs at the knees so the sole of your shoe is not shown

Don’t

  • Don't cause someone to "lose face" or be embarrassed in public
  • Don't litter, including throwing away cigarettes, as it is strictly forbidden and subject to heavy fines
  • Don't display the sole of your shoe to others

How should I dress in Singapore?

Standard business attire is quite formal but adapted to the hot, tropical climate.

Do

  • Men should wear a shirt and tie; women should wear a dress or skirt and blouse
  • Wear suits and coats to official functions

Good to know

  • Younger people enjoy the latest fashions

What gestures are polite or rude in Singapore?

Pointing with the forefinger is rude, and public displays like hugging and kissing are forbidden, though same-sex physical contact between friends is acceptable.

Do

  • Point with an open hand rather than a forefinger
  • Understand that men holding hands or walking arm-in-arm is a gesture of friendship

Don’t

  • Don't offer anything with your left hand to Muslims
  • Don't point with your forefinger, which is used for pointing at animals
  • Don't hug or kiss in public

What is family life like in Singapore?

Singapore is an urban society where most people live with their immediate families in high-rise apartments or condominiums, with an average household of four.

Good to know

  • About 78% of families consist of parents and children only
  • The traditional belief that a son carries on the family name and cares for aging parents is still strong, and the birth of a male child is much celebrated
  • Arranged marriages are still common, especially among Indians and Malays, sometimes using matchmakers
  • Most couples have a civil ceremony at the Registry of Marriages followed by a traditional wedding

What do people do for recreation in Singapore?

Sports facilities are found throughout Singapore, with soccer considered the national sport and many traditional games and martial arts popular.

Good to know

  • Soccer, cricket, and field hockey were introduced by the British; Singapore competes for the Malaysia Cup
  • Try or watch sepak takraw (formerly sepak raga), a traditional kicking game
  • Martial arts like tai chi, qi gong, and si lat are popular
  • Board and tile games like carom, mahjong, xiang qi, and wei qi (Go), plus kite flying and top spinning (gasing), are common pastimes

Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports

Photos of Singapore

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Travel and Tourism

Travel Alert Status
Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Currency
Singapore dollar (SGD)
Time Difference
UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
Vegetation is lush and tropical. Seasons are nonexistent. In this "Land of Eternal Summer," the mean high temperature is 90ºF and varies little from month to month. Humidity is high (average 70%) and annual rainfall is about 96 inches. Wet and dry seasons are not distinct, but November through February is wetter and cooler than other months.
Airports
9
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Recipes

Featured Dish

Peanut Sauce for Satay

Side Dish

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History

Historical Eras

  1. Early Settlements

    300 – 1819

    Known to mariners from at least the third century A.D., Singapore — then called Temasek — served as a trading outpost within successive maritime empires, including Srivijaya, Majapahit, and the Malacca and Johor sultanates. In 1299, Sang Nila Utama founded the city of Singapura ('lion city') on the island. Portuguese raiders burned its trading post in 1613, effectively ending the island's prominence for two centuries.

  2. British Colonial Era

    1819 – 1942

    Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles of the British East India Company established a free-trade port on Singapore in 1819, rapidly transforming it into one of Asia's most prosperous entrepôts. By 1867 the Straits Settlements became a Crown Colony ruled directly from London, and the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 further accelerated Singapore's commercial dominance. Ethnic Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Arab communities swelled the city's population, though deep social inequalities persisted into the twentieth century.

  3. Japanese Occupation

    1942 – 1945

    Japan launched its assault on Singapore in December 1941, and British forces surrendered in February 1942 in what Winston Churchill called 'the worst disaster' in British military history. Renamed Syonan-to ('Light of the South'), Singapore endured brutal occupation marked by the Sook Ching massacre of Chinese civilians, forced labor, and widespread deprivation. Japan's defeat in August 1945 returned the island to British administration.

  4. Road to Independence

    1945 – 1965

    Postwar Singapore was reconstituted as a separate Crown Colony in 1946, and growing nationalist sentiment propelled the People's Action Party, led by Lee Kuan Yew, to electoral victory in 1959, achieving full self-governance. Singapore merged with Malaya, Sabah, and Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, but ethnic tensions and political conflict led to its expulsion from the federation on 9 August 1965, making Singapore a fully sovereign nation.

  5. Nation-Building

    1965 – 1990

    Under Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore pursued rapid industrialization, export-led growth, and strict social policy, transforming within a generation from a developing port city into a high-income economy. The last British military forces departed in 1971, compelling Singapore to build its own defense forces. By the 1980s, per capita income had reached levels comparable to Western Europe, underpinned by one of the world's busiest ports and a globally competitive financial sector.

  6. Modern Singapore

    1990 – present

    Goh Chok Tong succeeded Lee Kuan Yew as Prime Minister in 1990, beginning a gradual liberalization of public life, while Ong Teng Cheong became the country's first directly elected president in 1993. Singapore weathered the 1997–99 Asian financial crisis and subsequent global disruptions, continuously reinventing its economy around finance, biotechnology, and digital services. The city-state remains one of the world's most competitive and open economies, governed by the PAP with an emphasis on meritocracy, multiracialism, and long-term strategic planning.

Overview

Statue of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, founder of modern Singapore

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Timeline of Key Events

  1. 1201 BCE – 1300

    Century Sang Nila Utama renames the island Singa Pura.

    Century Sang Nila Utama renames the island Singa Pura.

  2. 1819

    Sir Stamford Raffles of British East India Company establishes trading post on Singapore island.

    Sir Stamford Raffles of British East India Company establishes trading post on Singapore island.

  3. 1826

    Singapore, Malacca and Penang become British colony of the Straits Settlements.

    Singapore, Malacca and Penang become British colony of the Straits Settlements.

  4. 1832

    Singapore becomes capital of Straits Settlements.

    Singapore becomes capital of Straits Settlements. The port attracts thousands of migrants from China, India and other parts of Asia.

  5. 1867

    Straits Settlements become crown colony of British Empire.

    Straits Settlements become crown colony of British Empire.

  6. 1869

    Suez Canal opens, trade booms.

    Suez Canal opens, trade booms.

  7. 1941

    World War II. Japan bombs Singapore.

    World War II. Japan bombs Singapore.

View full timeline (18 events)
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Interesting Facts

  • When a child loses a tooth they throw their lower teeth straight up to the roof so that the new teeth will grow straight up. They throw their lower teeth straight down to the grownd. IF they throw them slanted, the new tooth might grow in slanted.

  • Many beautiful orchids grow in Singapore. The Vanda Miss Joaquim, an indigenous hybrid, was first discovered in the Singapore garden of Miss Agnes Joaquim and was chosen in 1981 as the national flower of Singapore.

  • During the 20th century, Singaporeans have been British subjects, then Japanese subjects, then Malaysians, and finally Singaporeans.

  • The symbol of Singapore, the Merlion, is a mythical beast said to be half lion, half fish. The eight-metre high Merlion statue stands at the mouth of the Singapore River.

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Geography and Environment

The Republic of Singapore is a small city/state island located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, 85 miles north of the Equator. It is a flat country of 250 square miles (641 square miles) with a maximum elevation of 581 feet. At its widest points it measures 26 miles from east to west and 14 miles north to south.
Terrain
lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve
Climate
Vegetation is lush and tropical. Seasons are nonexistent. In this "Land of Eternal Summer," the mean high temperature is 90ºF and varies little from month to month. Humidity is high (average 70%) and annual rainfall is about 96 inches. Wet and dry seasons are not distinct, but November through February is wetter and cooler than other months.
Natural Hazards
NA
Current Environmental Issues
industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
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People & Demographics

Languages Spoken

Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil (official), English (official)

  • Bahasa
  • English
  • Malay
  • Tamil

Population

Population
5,917,600
Nationality Noun
Singaporean(s)
Ethnic Groups
Chinese 76.7%, Malay 14%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4%

Education

Literacy Definition
age 15 and over can read and write
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Government & Politics

Country Identity

Country Name
Singapore
Full Country Name
Republic of Singapore

Government Structure

Government Type
parliamentary republic
Legal System
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive Branch
chief of state: President THARMAN Shanmugaratnam (since 14 September 2023) head of government: Prime Minister LAWRENCE Wong (since 15 May 2024); Deputy Prime Ministers GAN Kim Yong and HEng Swee Keat (both since 15 May 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president, responsible to Parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term; last election held on 1 September 2023 (next election to be held by September 2029); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: THARMAN Shanmugaratnam elected president on 1 September 2023; he won outright in a three-way contest, receiving approximately 70.4 percent of the vote; Ng Kok Song received approximately 15.7 percent and TAN Kin Lian received approximately 13.9 percent
Legislative Branch
Unicameral Parliament (97 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); in addition, there are up to nine nominated members appointed by a special select committee; the losing opposition candidate who comes closest to winning a seat may be appointed as a "nonconstituency" member, with up to 12 such members permitted. Elections: last held on 10 July 2020 (next to be held by November 2025). Election results: percent of vote by party - People's Action Party (PAP) 61.2%, Workers' Party (WP) 11.2%, other parties 27.6%; seats by party - PAP 83, WP 10, nonconstituency members 2.
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal and compulsory
Constitution
3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution)
Independence
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
National Holiday
Independence Day, 9 August (1965)

Capital City

Capital Name
Singapore
Capital - geographic coordinate
1 17 N, 103 51 E
Capital Time Difference
UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

name derives from the Sanskrit words simha (lion) and pura (city), thus creating the city's epithet "lion city"

Military

Branches: Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense)

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

The U.S. Embassy

27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508

Telephone: [65] 6476-9100

Facsimile: [65] 6476-9340

Emergency after-hours telephone: [65] 6476-9100.

Email: SingaporeACS@state.gov

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Economy

Singapore boasts a highly developed and successful free-market economy, characterized by an exceptionally open, transparent, and corruption-free business environment, stable prices, and one of the highest per capita GDPs in the world.

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code
Singapore Dollar (SGD)
GDP — official exchange rate
$110,600,000,000 (USD)
GDP Real Growth Rate
6.4%
Gini Index
42.5
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News & Weather

Current Weather

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Latest News

News via Google News

Climate Overview

Vegetation is lush and tropical. Seasons are nonexistent. In this "Land of Eternal Summer," the mean high temperature is 90ºF and varies little from month to month. Humidity is high (average 70%) and annual rainfall is about 96 inches. Wet and dry seasons are not distinct, but November through February is wetter and cooler than other months.

Videos

1 curated YouTube videos.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Singapore?
The population of Singapore is approximately 5.9M.
How do people greet and address each other in Singapore?
Each ethnic group has its own style of greeting, and people generally do not use first names except with close friends. Naming conventions differ among Malays, Indians, and others. Do: Address a Malay man as Encik (Mr) plus his given name, e.g., Encik Mohamed Address an unmarried Malay woman as Cik and a married woman as Puan, plus her given name Note that Malays and Indians are addressed by their given name, which comes before the father's name Don't: Don't offer anything with your left hand to Muslims and Hindus Don't use first names except with close friends Singaporeans of Indian descent often have long names that include the father's initials, e.g., address Subramanian S.O. Manickavasagam as Mr Subramanian
What are the dining customs in Singapore?
Singapore's food reflects its multi-ethnic society, with Chinese, Malay, Peranakan, Indian, and increasingly Western cuisine widely available. At home, dishes are usually placed in the center of the table for everyone to share throughout the meal. Do: Help yourself to shared dishes placed in the center of the table Use chopsticks in Chinese homes Eat with the fingers of your right hand in Malay and Indian homes Try Otak-Otak, a popular Peranakan dish of fish with spices and coconut milk wrapped in coconut leaves and grilled In more conservative Malay and Indian homes, men usually eat first and women eat later
What etiquette should travelers know in Singapore?
Avoiding public embarrassment (not "losing face") is very important, and Singaporeans tend not to talk openly about feelings and emotions. Great respect is shown to the elderly. Do: Hold doors open for the elderly, rise before they enter a room, and give up your seat to them on public transportation When seated, cross your legs at the knees so the sole of your shoe is not shown Don't: Don't cause someone to "lose face" or be embarrassed in public Don't litter, including throwing away cigarettes, as it is strictly forbidden and subject to heavy fines Don't display the sole of your shoe to others
How should I dress in Singapore?
Standard business attire is quite formal but adapted to the hot, tropical climate. Do: Men should wear a shirt and tie; women should wear a dress or skirt and blouse Wear suits and coats to official functions Younger people enjoy the latest fashions
What gestures are polite or rude in Singapore?
Pointing with the forefinger is rude, and public displays like hugging and kissing are forbidden, though same-sex physical contact between friends is acceptable. Do: Point with an open hand rather than a forefinger Understand that men holding hands or walking arm-in-arm is a gesture of friendship Don't: Don't offer anything with your left hand to Muslims Don't point with your forefinger, which is used for pointing at animals Don't hug or kiss in public
What is family life like in Singapore?
Singapore is an urban society where most people live with their immediate families in high-rise apartments or condominiums, with an average household of four. About 78% of families consist of parents and children only The traditional belief that a son carries on the family name and cares for aging parents is still strong, and the birth of a male child is much celebrated Arranged marriages are still common, especially among Indians and Malays, sometimes using matchmakers Most couples have a civil ceremony at the Registry of Marriages followed by a traditional wedding
What do people do for recreation in Singapore?
Sports facilities are found throughout Singapore, with soccer considered the national sport and many traditional games and martial arts popular. Soccer, cricket, and field hockey were introduced by the British; Singapore competes for the Malaysia Cup Try or watch sepak takraw (formerly sepak raga), a traditional kicking game Martial arts like tai chi, qi gong, and si lat are popular Board and tile games like carom, mahjong, xiang qi, and wei qi (Go), plus kite flying and top spinning (gasing), are common pastimes
What is the capital of Singapore?
Singapore serves as both the capital and the entirety of the country — a city-state occupying a single main island at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, the city grew into one of Asia's most strategically vital ports. Today it functions simultaneously as seat of government, financial hub, and cultural center, making it one of the rare examples in the world where the capital and the nation are indistinguishable.
Where is Singapore located?
Singapore is located in Southeast Asia, situated at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, just north of the Equator. The country consists of one main island and over 60 smaller islets, bordered by the Strait of Johor to the north and the Singapore Strait — part of the broader South China Sea — to the south. Its position along one of the world's busiest maritime corridors has shaped its identity as a global trading and logistics powerhouse.
What bodies of water border Singapore?
As an island city-state, Singapore shares no land borders with other nations in the conventional sense, though it is separated from Malaysia to the north by the narrow Strait of Johor, and from Indonesia to the south by the Singapore Strait. These waterways connect the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea, placing Singapore at one of the most heavily trafficked maritime chokepoints on Earth. The country's port is recognized as the world's busiest by tonnage handled.
What currency is used in Singapore?
Singapore's official currency is the Singapore Dollar, with the ISO code SGD. Issued and managed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the SGD is considered one of the most stable and consistently valued currencies in Asia. Since independence in 1965, Singapore has leveraged disciplined monetary policy and its role as a global financial center to maintain the currency's strength, supporting a per capita GDP comparable to the leading economies of Western Europe.
What languages are spoken in Singapore?
Singapore recognizes four official languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. Malay holds special status as the national language and is used in the national anthem. English functions as the primary language of government, business, and education, serving as a common tongue across the country's multiethnic population. Many Singaporeans are bilingual or multilingual, and a distinctive local creole known as Singlish — blending English with Hokkien, Malay, and Tamil elements — is widely spoken in informal settings.
What is the geography of Singapore like?
Singapore is a compact, low-lying city-state comprising one main island and more than 60 smaller islets, with a total land area of roughly 728 square kilometers. The terrain is predominantly flat to gently undulating, with a central forested ridge representing the highest point. Extensive land reclamation projects have steadily expanded the country's coastline over the decades. Despite its small size and dense urbanization, Singapore maintains nature reserves and botanical gardens, including those celebrated for their extraordinary collections of tropical orchids.
What languages are spoken in Singapore?
Singapore recognizes four official languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. Malay holds special status as the national language and is used in the national anthem. English functions as the primary language of government, business, and education, serving as a common tongue across the country's multiethnic population. Many Singaporeans are bilingual or multilingual, and a distinctive local creole known as Singlish — blending English with Hokkien, Malay, and Tamil elements — is widely spoken in informal settings.
What is Singapore known for?
Singapore is known internationally for its role as a global financial and trading hub, operating the world's busiest port by tonnage. Its hawker centre culture — where Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Peranakan dishes are served side by side at open-air food courts — has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. The country is also noted for its rigorously maintained public order, dramatic skyline landmarks such as Marina Bay Sands, and its national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim, an indigenous orchid hybrid first discovered in a private Singapore garden and designated the national flower in 1981.

Last reviewed 2026

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