Region
Southeast Asia

Neighbours
An independent city-state on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore is comprised of one major island—Singapore Island—and more than 50 adjacent islets. The narrow Johore Strait separates Singapore Island from Malaysia on the north. On the south, Singapore Strait, an important shipping channel, separates the island from the Riau Islands of Indonesia.

Area
648 square kilometres (250 square miles)

Size Comparison
About one-ninth the size of Brunei

Low-lying Singapore has no prominent relief features. A central area of hills rises to a maximum elevation of 174 metres (571 feet). Coral reefs are found in some coastal areas, and many short streams drain the island.

Singapore has a wet tropical climate, with an average annual temperature of 27°C (81°F). The average annual rainfall is 2,400 millimetres (95 inches); the wettest months are November, December, and January.

About 76 per cent of the people in Singapore are Chinese, 15 per cent are Malay, and about 6 per cent are Indian.

The population density is extremely high with more than 5,314 persons per square kilometre (1997) (13,763 persons per square mile).

Singapore also has the distinction of being the most urban society in the world—the entire population lives in areas that are officially classed as urban. In the past, the multicultural makeup of the country has led to some racial conflicts. However, the government has been remarkably successful in promoting racial harmony and national unity.

Singapore’s multiplicity of languages reflects its racial diversity. Malay, Chinese, Tamil, and English are all official languages.

Malay is the national language, whilst English is the language of administration. All Singaporeans are expected to learn English, which is widely used in science, technology, commerce, and tourism. The Chinese speak a number of different dialects (Hokkien, Chaozhou, and Cantonese, amongst others), but Mandarin (also called Putonghua) is gradually replacing all other forms of Chinese.

Most Singaporeans are bilingual or multilingual. The government encourages the use of all the languages, not just English, to maintain traditional cultures and values.

Singaporeans enjoy freedom of worship, although some religious groups have not been allowed to organize because they are considered anti-government.

Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Judaism, as well as a number of smaller religions, are all practised in Singapore. About half the people, most of whom are Chinese, are either Buddhist or Taoist. Many actually practise a combination of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Nearly all the Malays are Muslim. Ten per cent of the people are Christian, most of them from the Chinese or European communities. About 5 per cent are Hindu. A significant minority, many of them Chinese, are either atheist or agnostic.

All the religions coexist in harmony, with Buddhist and Hindu temples next to Muslim mosques and Christian churches. There are two synagogues.

The national holidays include International New Year (1 January), Chinese New Year (date varies according to the Chinese lunar calendar, usually in February), Easter (including Good Friday), Labour Day (1 May), Vesak Day, Singapore National Day (9 August), and Christmas Day (25 December).

Vesak Day, during the fifth lunar month, celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and attainment of nirvana of Buddha. It is the holiest of Buddhist holy days and is celebrated with candlelit processions around temples and the decoration of homes with paper lanterns. National Day commemorates Singapore’s gaining of independence in 1965. A dazzling parade flows through the streets, and traditional dances and fireworks are featured in the celebration.

Hari Raya Puasa is a feast at the end of the Islamic month-long fast of Ramadan. This feast in Singapore is unique because other religions are welcome to join in a celebration that expresses tolerance and renewal. Hari Raya Haji is a holy day of prayer for Muslims who have performed the pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah), which is one of the tenets of Islam. Animals are ritually sacrificed, and the meat is distributed to the needy at mosques and public stadiums.

Deepavali (Festival of Lights) is important to Hindus and Sikhs and celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. Thousands of lights decorate shops and homes from mid-October to mid-November, and the festival is celebrated by all people in Singapore as a time of goodwill.

Although the International New Year is observed, the Chinese New Year is a much more impressive celebration. Traditional activities engaged in at this time include making offerings to household gods, cleaning the house, settling personal debts, wearing new clothes, and enjoying special meals. The colour red, bright lights, and noise (including firecrackers), all thought to frighten away evil spirits, have become the hallmarks of this celebration.

The Festival of the Nine Imperial Gods, in the first nine days of the ninth lunar month, derives from an ancient Chinese cleansing ritual. Elaborate symbolic rites are observed at this time; for example, to enter a temple, one must cross a specially built bridge, and it is believed that the evils of the year are shed as one crosses the bridge.