Moving to Singapore

Singapore has risen through the ranks from a fishing-based nation colonized by the British to a world economic leader, all since gaining independence only half a century ago. It has become the fifth wealthiest country in the world.

Singapore is a tiny dot on the southern Malaysian Peninsula, with a land area of 637.5 square kilometers (247 square miles), covering a slightly smaller area than that of New York City. It is one of the few remaining city-states around the world.

It prides itself on excellent sea, air and telecommunication networks. The award-winning Changi International Airport serves over 70 million travelers annually and is one of the world's 20 busiest passenger airports, operating flights to over 180 cities in more than 50 countries.

Equally, Singapore's seaport, an International Maritime Centre, is ideally located on major trade and shipping routes, making it one of the busiest ports in the world, serving an average of 140,000 vessel calls annually. The port facilities and services remain unsurpassed in terms of quality, efficiency, competitiveness and reliability.

Despite being a small country, its diversity is immense. Singapore has long been a trading haven for Indian and Arab immigrants, whilst the original population can be traced back to third generation Chinese ancestors. The end result is an amazing mix of culture, arts and food.

Today, Singapore is a mixture of an ethnic Malay population with a Chinese majority along with Indian, Eurasian and Peranakan minorities, giving birth to a multi-cultural society. Buddhism comprises 51% of the religion; Christianity 15% with the remaining percentages following the Muslim and Baptist religions, among others.

Malay is the national language, but official languages also include: Chinese (Mandarin), Tamil, and English. Chinese dialects such as Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka, Hainanese, and Foochow are widely used as well. English is the language of choice in the corporate world.

The tropical climate makes Singapore warm and wet most of the year. December is the coolest month of the year whilst May is the warmest. The normal temperature ranges between 25.2°C and 32° C, or 77 °F to 89.6° F. Rainy seasons or the Monsoon Season occur from December to March, and from June to September.

Singapore has a laudable literacy rate (15 years old and above) of 93.2%, which is impressive for a small country with a population of only 4.4 million residents.

Tourism takes the spotlight as Singapore's leading industry and it continues to grow every year, drawing around 10 million visitors annually, despite the global economic gloom.

Aside from the usual travelers, Singapore attracts a number of expats, particularly as visa and relocation requirements have been made easier.