Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819.

It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent.

Singapore subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest in terms of tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.

Capital: Singapore

Currency: Singapore dollar (SGD)

Singapore is an island nation located in Southeast Asia, at the tip of the peninsula south of mainland Malaysia and north of Indonesia.

The country is comprised of 10 square kilometers of water and 682.7 square kilometers of land, for a total area of 692.7 square kilometers -- slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington D.C.

The climate of Singapore is tropical -- hot, humid, and rainy. There are two distinct monsoon seasons, Northeastern monsoon (December to March) and Southwestern monsoon (June to September). The inter-monsoon season has frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms.

Singapore's natural resources are primarily fish and deepwater ports.

Singaporeans are primarily of Chinese ethnicity (76.8%), with 13.9% Malay and 7.9% Indian.

Reflecting the region, Singapore religions include Buddhist 35%, Muslim 14.9%,  Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%, Catholic 4.8%, and other Christian 9.8%.

According to the 2000 census, the following languages are spoken in Singapore:

• Mandarin 35%
• English 23%
• Malay 14.1%
• Hokkien 11.4%
• Cantonese 5.7%
• Teochew 4.9%
• Tamil 3.2%
• Other Chinese dialects 1.8%
• Other 0.9%

The flag of Singapore has two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white.

Near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle.