Official Name: Republic of Singapore

 

Meaning: Singapore comes from the word Singapura in Malay, which derived from Sanskrit (Singa is lion and Pura is city)

 

Nickname: Lion City, The Garden City, and Red Dot

 

Location: Southeast Asia with 63 islands

 

 Climate: Tropical rainforest climate with temperatures range from 22 to 35 degrees normally

 

Official Language: English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil

 

Currency: Singapore dollar (SGD or S$)

 

Population: 5.39 million (as of 2014)

 

Ethnic Groups: 74.1% Chinese, 13.4% Malay, 9.2% Indian, and 3.3% others

 

Land Area: 716.1km^2 with 300 parks, 63 islands, and 4 natural reserve

 

History: It was Independent in 1965. During the 14th century, this small but strategically-located island earned a new name. According to legend, Sang Nila Utama, a Prince from Palembang (the capital of Srivijaya), was out on a hunting trip when he caught sight of an animal he had never seen before. Taking it to be a good sign, he founded a city where the animal had been spotted, naming it “The Lion City” or Singapura, from the Sanskrit words “simha” (lion) and “pura” (city). The city was then ruled by the five kings of ancient Singapura. Located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, the natural meeting point of sea routes, the city flourished as a trading post for vessels such as Chinese junks, Arab dhows, Portuguese battleships, and Buginese schooners. It is the global commercial, financial, and transportation hub center.

 

 Nominal GDP:  $308 billion, and $56,319 per capita

 

Industries: financial services, manufacturing, oil-refining, tourism

 

Number of Visitors: 15.1 Million, with 3.6 Million international visitors arrivals (by 2015)