Singapore

Singapore is an island nation located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It lies 137 kilometers north of the Equator, south of Malaysian and north of Indonesia. It is one of the few remaining city-states in the world and the smallest country in Southeast Asia.

The British East India Company established a trading post on the island in 1819. The main settlement up to that point was a Malay fishing village at the mouth of the Singapore River. Singapore, together with the Federated Malay States, composed the former colony of Straits Settlements. It was occupied by the Japanese during World War II and reverted to British rule in 1945. On April 1, 1946, Singapore became a separate colony when the Straits Settlements colony was dissolved. In 1959 Singapore became a state with internal self-government. In 1963, it merged with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia. Less than two years later it split from the federation and became an independent republic on 9 August 1965.

Since independence, Singapore's standard of living has increased. Foreign direct investment and a state-led industrialization drive have created a modern economy based on electronics manufacturing, petrochemicals, tourism and financial services alongside the traditional entrepôt trade. Singapore is the 17th wealthiest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita.

The Chinese form the majority of the population. English is the administration language of the country.