Singapore
Everybody knows about the well-known city, but where is Singapore? Is it a city, an island, or a nation?
The quick answer is: all three!
Singapore is a small but rich island republic, both a city and a nation, located just off the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia in Southeast Asia. It is located one degree (137 kilometres or 85 miles) north of the equator, at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, between Indonesia’s Riau Islands to the south and Peninsular Malaysia to the north. Singapore’s territory comprises of one major island and 62 smaller islands. Since independence, considerable land reclamation has expanded its overall area by 23% (130 square kilometres or 50 square miles). Under the guidance of its founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, the country rose from third to first world status in a single generation.
Singapore is an outlier, and they are extremely happy about it. The nation is currently the world’s largest island-city nation. Despite being a city-island, Hong Kong is considered a Special Administrative Region of China.
In reality, Singapore’s domain includes over 60 islands and islets. Perceiving the distinction becomes fairly fuzzy. Every year, a growing land recovery effort creates much-needed space. Numerous new imitation islands are created, which greatly concerns the geologists in charge of keeping track.
What to Know About Singapore?
Singapore is a highly developed nation in Southeast Asia with one of the world’s most stable economies. Singapore is slightly smaller than the city of Lexington, Kentucky in the United States. However, unlike Lexington, 5.6 million people are crammed into the little nation’s 277 square miles of territory.
Singapore is a global leader in education, entertainment, finance, healthcare, human capital, innovation, logistics, manufacturing, technology, tourism, commerce, and transportation. The city ranks highly in numerous international rankings and has been recognised as the most “technology-ready” nation (WEF), top International-meetings city (UIA), city with “best investment potential” (BERI), world’s smartest city, world’s safest country, third-most competitive country, third-largest foreign exchange market, third-largest financial centre, third-largest oil refining and trading centre, fifth-most innovative country, and the second-busiest container port.
Despite its size, Singapore has one of the world’s highest per capita GDPs. However, in addition to thriving and a well-defined wealth distribution, the country receives good marks for education, innovation, medical services, and personal pleasure. Expenses are large, and wrongdoing is minimal. Singapore ranks third in the world for the future, whereas the United States is 31st (according to the World Health Organisation).
Despite the fact that Singapore’s massive population and reputation for cleanliness conjure up images of a cutting-edge city built entirely of cement and steel, reconsider. The National Parks Board is achieving their lofty goal of making Singapore into a “city in a garden”—tropical vegetation abounds!
In any case, Singapore is clearly not an ideal world for everyone; several regulations are considered as draconian by human rights organisations. The administration is frequently chastised for exerting control and limiting freedom of expression. In reality, homosexuality is prohibited. Medication offences carry a mandatory death penalty.
Buddhism is the most widely practiced religion in Singapore, with 33% of residents identifying as devotees according to the most recent census. Christianity is the next most widely practiced religion, followed by Islam, Taoism, and Hinduism. 17% of the population had no religious affiliation. Between 2000 and 2010, the proportion of Christians, Taoists, and non-religious persons climbed by almost 3% each, while the proportion of Buddhists fell. Other faiths’ population shares remained relatively steady. According to a Pew Research Centre analysis, Singapore has the world’s most religiously diversified population. Singapore is a conservative society.
Singapore has monasteries and Dharma centres representing all three major Buddhist traditions: Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. Most Buddhists in Singapore are Chinese and follow the Mahayana tradition, with missionaries coming from Taiwan and China for decades. However, Thailand’s Theravada Buddhism has grown in popularity over the last decade, not just among Chinese. Many people in Singapore worship the religion of Soka Gakkai International, a Japanese Buddhist organisation, although largely those of Chinese heritage. Tibetan Buddhism has also made gradual inroads into the country in recent years.
The location of Singapore
Singapore is located in Southeast Asia, approximately 85 miles north of the Equator, south of Peninsular Malaysia, and east of West Sumatra (Indonesia), right over the Strait of Malacca. The massive island of Borneo deceives the east of Singapore.
Unexpectedly, Singapore’s nearest neighbours, Sumatra and Borneo, are two of the world’s most out-of-control islands. Indigenous people continue to live in the rainforests. Only a short distance away, Singapore has one of the highest per capita rates of tycoons on the planet. One out of every six families has at least a million dollars in disposable income!
Singaporeans take food very seriously. From inexpensive hawker fare to Michelin-starred fine dining, food-loving Singaporeans would queue up and fiercely debate whether it is ‘die, die, must try’ – Singlish slang for ‘to die for’. Don’t worry about finding a spot to eat; each neighbourhood has local hawker centres and coffee shops that serve some of the island’s tastiest meals for a few dollars. Simply follow your nose or join the largest queue; whatever morsels are at the end are nearly likely to be delicious.
The concrete jungles that formerly dominated Singapore’s skyline are progressively giving way to green towers that resemble living ecosystems rather than commercial districts. Working tirelessly towards its ‘City in a Garden’ vision, the country is investing money to become more sustainable and, well, green. Heading out of town, you’ll discover plenty of walking paths, treetop jungle bridges, animals abounding, and the city’s green jewel, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens, which serve as Singapore’s lungs.
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