SINGAPORE1 island, 62 islets1 degree N of EquatorS. tip of Malaysian Peninsula—the small blue dot inside the rectangular box

276 square miles (for comparison: Los Angeles is about 500 square miles)So Singapore is sometimes called a ‘city state’

23% larger now than 30 years ago: LAND RECLAMATION by using sea sand

HISTORY1819 British Colony/Trading Post

1963 Independence from UK (Great Britain)

LANGUAGEEnglish is 1st language, Malay and Mardarin ChineseAlmost all residents of Singapore are bilingual

CLIMATETropical Rainforests (ave. low temperatures never falls below 72 degrees)

POPULATION 5,700,000 7,910 pop density per sq. K which makes it densely populated (Population density of N. Korea: 200 per sq. K in 2008)

GOVERNMENTRepublic-Rep. Democracy w/Prime Minister and UNICAMERAL legislature Unicameral means one legislative body—we have 2, the House and Senate—we have a bicameral leg.

ECONOMYCapitalism/free enterprise/free market economy

#3 worldwide in oil refining, trading#2 worldwide container shippingBanking/financial centerleader in commerce#1 worldwide TECH-READY #1 worldwide for hosting international conferences

Most expensive city in world in which to live, but most people who live there are wealthy…1in 6 households worth at least $1,000,000 U.S. dollars

RELIGION10% Christian, 13% Muslim, 5% Hindu

You have just examined some basic information about a Southeast Asia country named Singapore. Here are some other facts to digest.

1. Singapore is a ‘tiny’ country and very crowded with almost 8000 people per square kilometer2. Singapore has virtually no mineral resources or fossil fuels.3. It is located in the tropics and has a warm, moist climate.

Most other countries on earth that exist with these or similar conditions are dominated by poverty! Obviously, Singapore is anything but poor.

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

The world’s largest indoor waterfall, ‘The Rain Vortex’, in the terminal, Singapore International Airport

Marina Bay, Downtown Singapore

QUESTIONS1. Think about and then list some characteristics of ‘rich’ countries. What factors are at play that typically makes it possible for one country to be rich while others suffer economically? 2. Singapore, a tiny island country in the tropics, is devoid of mineral wealth. It is very densely populated. How can Singapore’s economic success be explained? What sets Singapore apart?

3. Many native citizens of Singapore are of Chinese descent. Most westerners would agree that Singapore would be a far more appealing place to live than in China. Explain why.

Joseph Schooling, Singapore, Gold Medalist and record holder, 2016 Olympic Games