/ Republic of Singapore
Overview
Singapore is an island city-state and sovereign country located in Southeast Asia, at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It is separated from Peninsular Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to the north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the Singapore Strait to the south. Singapore covers a total land area of approximately 734 square kilometers and has an estimated population of 6.13 million as of February 2026. The country is a unitary parliamentary republic, and for administrative and urban planning purposes, it is divided into five regions: Central, East, North, North-East, and West.
In 2025, the GDP reached approximately US$580 billion, and per capita GDP was US$98,878, among the highest in the world. Singapore's economy is heavily dominated by the service sector, which accounts for c.70% of its GDP, including finance, insurance, and wholesale trade. External demand and high-value manufacturing are the primary drivers of economic growth. The country’s economy is a global hub for trade and finance, deeply integrated into international supply chains. Its largest trading partners are China, the United States, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Singapore produces and exports a significant volume of integrated circuits, refined petroleum, and specialized machinery, with its biomedical manufacturing cluster also serving as a major contributor. The digital economy and green finance are expected to be major future growth drivers. Additionally, the tourism sector has seen a record-breaking performance, with tourism receipts reaching c.S$30 billion and 16.9 million international arrivals in 2025. The country's industrial sector (primarily manufacturing) represents approximately 25% of its GDP and employs about 15.5% of the total labor force of 4.2 million. Imports of electronic components, crude petroleum, and consumer goods are among the highest in the country, with its top import partners being China, Malaysia, and the United States.
Singapore has a long history as a strategic maritime port, notably as a British trading post founded by Stamford Raffles in 1819. After a brief merger with Malaysia, Singapore gained full independence on August 9, 1965. Since then, the nation has achieved rapid industrialization and developed into a global center for finance, logistics, and technology, maintaining one of the most business-friendly environments in the world.
