Geography, Demography and History
Posted on 9 Nov 2009
Last modified on 30 May 2010
Geography
The Republic of Singapore lies just north of Ecuador between the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, a strategic location at the convergence of the main shipping routes between east and west. Located right on the southernmost point of the Malay Peninsula, the country consists of one main island and 64 smaller islands, mainly in the south of the central island. To the north of Peninsular Malaysia is separated by the Straits of Johor, a mile long. Two bridges link the two countries by rail and road. To the south, the island is separated from Indonesia by the Straits of Singapore.
Singapore has a total area of 697 square kilometers, of which 617 remain the copyright of the main island. With an area of 42 km. from east to west and 23 km. from north to south, the nation known as the Red Dot because is the only thing you can see of the country in any world map. During the past 30 years, Singapore has been gaining ground to the sea and continues. Its extension in 1960 was 581.5 square kilometers while that is expected to reach 733 in 2030. Along with other areas, Marine Parade and the large area of East Coast Parkway are established on land reclaimed from the sea.
The main island, composed of a core of granite is essentially flat. Its highest point is Bukit Timah only 166 m (540 ft) above sea level. The spread of urbanization has reduced the forest reserves of the center of the island where the water is dammed for the island. Singapore has only 10 square kilometers of water which is entirely in Malaysia. Over 50% of the area of the island is intended for residential and commercial, industry occupies much less area and agriculture only extends to 11 square kilometers. Throughout its 193 km of coastline there are not so many fine sandy beaches and the few existing ones have been created artificially. 90% of the population lives in public housing towers or in private apartments at high altitude. The concrete jungle was transformed into a garden city thanks to the successful implementation of tropical trees and plants throughout the island for three decades
Demography
The total population of Singapore 4.98 million people in June 2009. The fertility rate in that year was 1.28, always below 2.1 or replacement rate, keeping constant the number of inhabitants. In fact, demographic studies announce that with this birth rate, if not taken into account the influx of immigrants, the Singapore resident population would decrease significantly.
It is still a young population with an average 36.9 years and a life expectancy similar to European standards, 78.4 years for men and 83.2 for women. One of the most densely populated countries in the world with a density of 7022 inhabitants per square kilometer, although not appreciated because of its urban urbanism. Due to territorial limitations of the island and rising unemployment, immigration in Singapore is very selective, designed primarily to qualified professionals.
Population consists of various ethnic groups and subgroups, reaching a high level of tolerance in coexistence. Predominant ethnic population is Chinese (77%). The Malays account for 14% of the population, and Hindus are the other notable minority (7.7%).There are also Tamil from Sri Lanka and southern India, Sikhs, Gujaratis, sindus, kashmies and Bangladeshis. The rest is made up of expatriates from different nationalities. The community of foreign residents is 500,000, of which about 600 will correspond to the Spanish colony.
History
Singapore Early accounts date from the third century, with Chinese sailors calling the island “Puluozhong” transliteration of “Pulau Ujong” which in Malay means “island that is in the end” of the peninsula of Malacca. By 1300 the island was known as Temasek “sea town” and it was a strategic point for trade and hideout for pirates who attacked ships sailing through this busy shipping lane. Legend says that Sang Nila Utama, ruler of Palembang in the fourteenth century, seeking a refuge from the storm in the tranquil fishing village of Temasek. On landing, a lion took him to a city, since then, called “Lion City” (Singa Pura).
Modern Singapore began in 1819 with the arrival of British Sir Stamford Raffles who claimed Singapore as a regional base of the British Company of the West Indies. After some political maneuvering, which included reinstating a sultan in exile, Singapore, as part of the Straits Settlements, became a British colony. Realizing the economic potential of Singapore for its natural deep harbor and at being at the crossroads of maritime routes, Raffles declared a free port in the colony. Since that time, Singapore rose as traders, merchants and immigrants from Malaysia, Indonesia, China, India, Middle East and Europe benefited from its status as duty-free port. Just 50 years after the arrival of Sir Raffles, the colony grew from a few thousand inhabitants to be a seaport and bustling cosmopolitan home to 85,000 people. The Chinese, mostly immigrants from southern China, became the dominant ethnic group within an ethnically diverse population.
During World War II, the British who ruled the colony, suffered a humiliating defeat and surrendered to the Japanese in Singapore. The invaders would stay on the island between 1942 and 1945. After that global conflict, the island reverted to British rule. In 1959, Singapore achieved self-government and Lee Kuan Yew became the first Prime Minister of the story after the election victory of his People’s Action Party (PAP). With a population of 1 million and a half, a surface area of 581.5 square kilometers and with no natural resources, Mr. Lee was convinced that the future of the nation was going to belong to the Federation of Malaya, established in 1963. However, soon differences emerged that seemed irreconcilable. On 9 August 1965, Singapore declared its independence, becoming the Republic of Singapore for a system of parliamentary democracy and a legal system based in the UK.
Independence became a turning point for the nation. The UK, wrapped in its own internal problems, was no longer interested in Singapore. Communism was booming in the region, there was no cohesion between the different races and cultures, the unemployment rate was high, the population was in large part on adequate education and the number of dwellings was clearly insufficient. The abrupt departure of British troops left the island nation without an army and 50,000 fewer jobs.
The Prime Minister, Mr Lee, counsel for the University of Cambridge, with only 35 years, with a group of leaders were put to work to solve problems existing. The main theme was to unify races and minorities under one common Singaporean identity. The government did not want a repetition of race riots that occurred in the sixties. They set four official languages (Malay, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil and English). In addition, the first elected president, Yusof bin Ishak, was Malay. Mr. Lee Kim Sam Lim instructed the mission to solve the problem of lack of housing for its citizens. It created the Housing Development Board (HDB) to start the construction of official protection skyscrapers. Currently 80% of the population live in public housing.
Goh Keng Swee, the architect of the Singapore economy and current Minister of Finance in 1959 gave the impetus to industrialize Singapore. He created several industrial regions. The largest of these, Jurong Island, had a port and marine facilities to facilitate efficient trade. Mr. Lee along with several ministers began a world tour to promote Singapore as a business center in Asia. In addition, legislation passed served to dispel tensions between labor and management that, until now, had been involved in bitter disputes. In 1972, a quarter of manufacturing firms were foreign owned or joint ventures. In 1967, the army was fixed and males perform two years of compulsory military service. Currently the Army has become a model of technological development.
After five decades of independence, the Singaporean market economy has progress dramatically and repeatedly cited as a model for emerging countries. The political and economic stability, confidence in the legal system, the sophistication of its banking and financial services, the complete education of its citizens and its technologically advanced infrastructure make Singapore the perfect destination for multinationals headquartered placed and its manufacturing plants in Asia. This prosperity has become a vibrant cultural and artistic scene, as evidenced by the construction of the Esplanade Theaters as well as the emergence of an entire film industry. In response to the growing influence of China and India in XXI century, Singapore has begun to invest in life sciences, biotechnology and high value-added services in a global economy where knowledge is essential.
In 1990, after 31 years as Prime Minister, Lee Kwan Yew gave the baton to Goh Chok Tong. After decades of progress, people lived in public housing, their education had improved and morale was high. The latter fear was that the second generation of leaders was not to rise to the occasion. Two fundamental challenges such as the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the SARS epidemic of 2003, allowed the government to prove its maturity. In 2004, the baton was passed to Lee Hsien Loong, the eldest son of Lee Kwan Yew.
Since 2000, the economy has experienced a couple of recessions, higher unemployment rates and the emergence of China and India as regional leaders, big challenges for the third generation of politicians directed by Mr. Lee Hsien Loong.
Flag
Singapore acquired its current flag in 1959 when he acheived the independence. The flag is divided into two horizontal stripes, red top and white bottom. While red symbolizes equality and fraternity, the white represents virtue and purity. In the upper left corner are a white colored crescent moon with five stars in a circle. The moon represent a young emerging nation and each star symbolizes a value: democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality. The flag is subject of respect and there are penalties for those who outrage it. During the National Day (August 9), much of the population hangs the flag from their balconies with pride.