Republik Singapura (Malay) 新加坡共和国 (Simplified Chinese) சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு (Tamil) Republic of Singapore
Flag Coat of arms Motto: "Majulah Singapura"  (Malay) "Onward, Singapore" Anthem: Majulah Singapura	Location of Singapore
Capital Singapore City (Downtown Core)1 1°17′N 103°51′E / 1.283, 103.85 Official languages English  Malay  Mandarin  Tamil Demonym Singaporean Government Parliamentary republic  -  President Sellapan Ramanathan  -  Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong  -  Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi Independence  -  City status July 24, 1951   -  Self-government under the United Kingdom 3 June 1959[1]   -  Declaration of independence 31 August 1963   -  Merger with Malaysia 16 September 1963   -  Separation from Malaysia 9 August 1965	Area  -  Total 707.1 km² (190th) 270 sq mi   -  Water (%) 1.444 Population  -  2007 estimate 4,588,600[2] (117th)  -  2000 census 4,117,700   -  Density 6,489/km² (3rd) 16,392/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2007 estimate  -  Total US$228.116 billion (44th)  -  Per capita US$49,714 (6th) GDP (nominal) 2007 estimate  -  Total US$171.95 billion[3]   -  Per capita US$39,952.44  HDI (2007) ▬ 0.922 (high) (25th) Currency Singapore dollar (SGD) Time zone SST (UTC+8)  -  Summer (DST) not observed (UTC+8) Internet TLD .sg Calling code +65² 1 Singapore is a city-state. 2 02 from Malaysia.

Singapore (Mandarin: 新加坡, Xīnjiāpō; in Malay: Singapura; in Tamil: சிங்கப்பூர், Cingkappūr), officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It lies 137 kilometres (85 mi) north of the equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of Indonesia's Riau Islands. At 707.1 km² (272 sq mi). Singapore is one of three remaining true city-states in the world. It is the smallest nation in Southeast Asia.

Prior to European settlement, the island now known as Singapore was the site of a Malay fishing village at the mouth of the Singapore River. Several hundred indigenous Orang Laut people also lived along the nearby coast, rivers and on smaller islands. In 1819 the British East India Company established a trading post on the island, which was used thereafter as a strategic trading post along the spice route.[4] Singapore would become one of the most important commercial and military centres of the British Empire, and the hub of British power in Southeast Asia. The city was occupied by the Japanese during World War II, which Winston Churchill called "Britain's greatest defeat". Singapore reverted to British rule immediately postwar, in 1945. Eighteen years later the city, having achieved independence from Britain, merged with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia. However, less than two years later it seceded from the federation and became an independent republic on 9 August 1965. Singapore joined the United Nations on September 21 that same year.

Since independence, Singapore's standard of living has been on the rise. Foreign direct investment and a state-led drive to industrialization based on plans drawn up by the Dutch economist Albert Winsemius have created a modern economy focused on electronics manufacturing, petrochemicals, tourism and financial services alongside traditional entrepôt trade. Singapore is the 6th wealthiest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita.[6] The small nation has foreign exchange reserves of US$171.7353 billion.

The population of Singapore is approximately 4.59 million. Though Singapore is highly cosmopolitan and diverse, ethnic Chinese form the majority of the population. English is the administrative language of the country.

The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore established the nation's political system as a representative democracy, while the country is recognized as a parliamentary republic. The People's Action Party (PAP) dominates the political process and has won control of Parliament in every election since self-government in 1959.