Singapore
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 Singapore facts

• It lies one degree (137 km) north of the equator, south of the southernmost tip of continental Asia and peninsular Malaysia, with Indonesia's Riau Islands to the south
• Singapore's territory consists of a diamond-shaped main island along with 62 other islets
• Since independence, extensive land reclamation has increased its total size by 23% (130 km2), and its greening policy has covered the densely populated island with tropical flora, parks and gardens
• In 1819, Sir Stamford Raffles founded colonial Singapore as a trading post of the East India Company; after the establishment of the British Raj, the islands were ceded to Britain and became part of its Straits Settlements in 1826
• During World War II, Singapore was occupied by Japan
• It gained independence from Britain in 1963, by federating with other former British territories to form Malaysia, but was expelled two years later over racial discrimination and ideological differences
• After early years of turbulence, and despite lacking natural resources and a hinterland, the new independent nation developed rapidly as an Asian Tiger economy, based on external trade and its human capital
• Singapore is a global commerce, finance and transport hub
• Its standings include: the most "technology-ready" nation (WEF), top International-meetings city (UIA), city with "best investment potential" (BERI), 2nd-most competitive country (WEF), 3rd-largest foreign exchange centre, 3rd-largest financial centre, 3rd-largest oil refining and trading centre and one of the top two busiest container ports since the 1990s
• Singapore's best known global brands include Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Changi Airport, both amongst the most-awarded in their industry