Overview
Singapore, officially known as the Republic of Singapore, is a self-governing city-state and sovereign nation. Situated at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula in Asia, it is an island state bordered by the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. Singapore is located approximately one degree north of the equator, spanning a distance of 137 kilometers (85 miles).
The population of Singapore is around 5.70 million, with about 3.31 million being citizens. The majority of the population consists of Chinese, Malay, and Indian ethnicities, while there is also a smaller number of other Asians and Europeans residing in the country.
The establishment of present-day Singapore dates back to 1819 when Stamford Raffles founded it as a trading post under the British Empire. During the Second World War, Singapore was occupied by Japan in 1942 but was later returned to British control after Japan's surrender in 1945.
Singapore began its self-governance in 1959 and joined Malaysia in 1963 as part of a new federation that included Malaya, North Borneo, and Sarawak. However, due to political and social differences, Singapore was separated from the federation two years later and emerged as an independent nation.