Singapore
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : Republic of Singapore
Country name - conventional short form : Singapore
Country name - local long form : Republic of Singapore
Country name - local short form : Singapore
Government type : parliamentary republic
Capital - name : Singapore
Capital - time difference : UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : National Day, 9 August (1965)
Population : 4,608,167 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Singaporean(s)
Nationality - adjective : Singapore
Languages : Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8%, other 0.9% (2000 census)
Currency (code) : Singapore dollar (SGD)
Currency code : SGD
Singapore is located Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia. The climate is tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - Northeastern monsoon (December to March) and Southwestern monsoon (June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms. The terrain is lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest in terms of tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.
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