Genre: Information/Explanation

Singapore is a unitary multiparty parliamentary republic, with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government. It is not considered an electoral democracy [ 9 ] but a benevolent dictatorship [ 10 ] ruled by Lee Kuan Yew and his family's People's Action Party since self-government began in 1959. Just over five million people live in Singapore, of which approximately two million are foreign-born. While Singapore is diverse, ethnic Asians predominate: 75 percent of the population is Chinese , with significant minorities of Malays , Indians , and Eurasians . There are four official languages, English, Malay, Chinese, and Tamil, and the country promotes multiculturalism through a range of official policies. Etymology The English name of Singapore is derived from the Malay word Singapura ( Sanskrit : सिंहपुर , literally Lion City), hence the customary reference to the nation as the Lion City. However, it is most likely that lions never lived on the island, and the beast seen by Sang Nila Utama , who founded and named Singapore, was a tiger . [ 13 ] History Victorious Japanese troops marching through Singapore City after British capitulation at the Battle of Singapore Temasek ('sea town'), a second century outpost of the Sumatran Srivijaya empire, is the earliest known settlement on Singapore. The island was part of the Sri Vijaya Empire until it was invaded by the south Indian Emperor Rajendra Chola I , of the Chola Empire , in the 11th century. [ 14 ] [ 15 ] In 1613, Portuguese raiders burned down the settlement and the island sank into obscurity for the next two centuries. [ 16 ] Nominally, it belonged to the Johor Sultanate during this period. In 1819, Thomas Stamford Raffles arrived and signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah of Johor , on behalf of the British East India Company, to develop the southern part of Singapore as a British trading post. In 1824, the entire island became a British possession under a further treaty with the Sultan, as well as the Temenggong . [ 17 ] In 1826, Singapore became part of the Straits Settlements, under the jurisdiction of British India, becoming the regional capital in 1836. [ 18 ] Prior to Raffles' arrival, there were approximately 1,000 people living on the island, mostly indigenous Malays along with a handful of Chinese . [ 19 ] By 1860, the population exceeded 80,000 and more than half were Chinese. Many immigrants came to work at rubber plantations and, after the 1870s, the island became a global centre for rubber exports. [ 17 ] Singapore's first general election in 1955 was won by David Marshall , the pro-independence leader of the Labour Front . He led a delegation to London to demand complete self-rule but was turned down by the British. He subsequently resigned and was replaced by Lim Yew Hock , whose policies convinced Britain to grant Singapore full internal self-government for all matters except defence and foreign affairs. [ 23 ] On 31 August 1963, Singapore declared independence from the United Kingdom, and joined with the Federation of Malaya , the Crown Colony of Sarawak and British North Borneo to form the new Federation of Malaysia as the result of the 1962 Merger Referendum . Singaporean leaders chose to join Malaysia primarily due to concerns regarding their limited land size and scarcity of land, water, markets and natural resources. They also were hoping to enlist the help of the Malaysian government to combat the internal Communist threat. However, the two years that Singapore spent as part of Malaysia were filled with strife and bitter disagreements. The Malaysians insisted on a pro- Bumiputera (Malay for indigenous) society, where indigenous Malays and tribes were given special rights. The Malaysians were also suspicious of Singapore's ethnic Chinese population, and worried that Singapore's economic clout would shift the centre of power from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. There were also linguistic and religious issues. The Singaporeans, on the other hand, wanted an equal and meritocratic society, a Malaysian Malaysia where all citizens were given equal rights without regard to indigenous or tribal affiliation or ancestry. Executive power rests with the Cabinet of Singapore , led by the Prime Minister and, to a much lesser extent, the President. [ 25 ] The President is elected through a popular vote, and has veto powers over a specific set of executive decisions, such as the use of the national reserves and the appointment of judges, but otherwise occupies a largely ceremonial post. [ 35 ] The Parliament serves as the legislative branch of the government. [ 25 ] Members of Parliament (MPs) consist of elected, non-constituency and nominated members. Elected MPs are voted into the Parliament on a " first-past-the-post " (plurality) basis and represent either single-member or group-representation constituencies. [ 36 ] The People's Action Party has won control of Parliament with large majorities in every election since self-governance was secured in 1959. [ 32 ] However, in the most recent Parliamentary elections in 2011, the opposition, led by the Workers' Party , increased its representation to six elected MPs. [ 37 ] The legal system of Singapore is based on English common law , but with substantial local differences. Trial by jury was abolished in 1970 so that judicial decisions would rest entirely in the hands of appointed judges. [ 38 ] Singapore has penalties that include judicial corporal punishment in the form of caning , which may be imposed for such offenses as rape, rioting, vandalism, and certain immigration offenses. [ 39 ] [ 40 ] There is a mandatory death penalty for murder, as well as certain aggravated drug-trafficking and firearms offenses. [ 41 ] Amnesty International has said that some legal provisions of the Singapore system conflict with the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and that Singapore has "... possibly the highest execution rate in the world relative to its population". [ 42 ] The government has disputed Amnesty's claims. [ 43 ] In a 2008 survey of international business executives, Singapore and Hong Kong received the top ranking with regard to judicial system quality in Asia. [ 44 ] In 2011, the World Justice Project 's Rule of Law Index ranked Singapore among the top countries surveyed with regard to "Order and Security", "Absence of Corruption", and "Effective Criminal Justice". However, the country received a much lower ranking for "Freedom of Speech" and "Freedom of Assembly". [ 45 ] All public gatherings of five or more people require police permits, and protests may legally be held only at the Speakers' Corner . [ 46 ] On-going land reclamation projects have increased Singapore's land area from 581.5 km 2 (224.5 sq mi) in the 1960s to 716.1 km 2 (276.5 sq mi) presently. [ 4 ] The country is projected to grow by another 100 km 2 (40 sq mi) by 2030. [ 49 ] Some projects involve merging smaller islands through land reclamation to form larger, more functional islands, as has been done with Jurong Island. [ 50 ] Close to 10 percent of Singapore's land has been set aside for parks and nature reserves, and the network of nature reserves, parks, park connectors, nature ways, tree-lined roads and other natural areas have also enhanced the sense of green space in the city. [ 51 ] This is a result of five decades of greening efforts, which began in 1963, when Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew launched Singapore’s first tree-planting campaign by planting a mempat tree (Cratoxylum formosum). The aim was to soften the harshness of urbanisation and improve the quality of life in the city. [ 52 ] This initiative was carried through into the 1970s and 1980s under the Parks and Recreation Department (PRD), which was renamed the National Parks Board ( Abbreviation : NParks ) in July 1996. Climate Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate ( Köppen : Af ) with no distinctive seasons, uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. Temperatures usually range from 22 to 35 °C (72 to 95 °F). Relative humidity averages around 79% in the morning and 73% in the afternoon. [ 53 ] April and May are the hottest months, with the wetter monsoon season from November to January. [ 54 ] From July to October, there is often haze caused by bush fires in neighbouring Indonesia. [ 55 ] Although Singapore does not observe daylight saving time, it follows the GMT+8 time zone, one hour ahead of the typical zone for its geographical location. [ 56 ] Economy Pre-independence economy Before independence in 1965, Singapore was the capital of the British Straits Settlements, a Crown Colony . It was also the main British naval base in East Asia. [ 59 ] Because it was the main British naval base in the region and held the Singapore Naval Base , the largest dry dock of its time, Singapore was commonly described in the press as the ' Gibraltar of the East'. [ 60 ] The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 caused a major increase in trade between Europe and Asia, helping Singapore become a major world trade center, and turning the Port of Singapore into one of the largest and busiest ports in the world. [ 61 ] Prior to 1965, Singapore had a GDP per capita of $511, then the third-highest in East Asia. [ 62 ] After independence, the combination of foreign direct investment and a state-led drive for industrialisation, based on plans by Goh Keng Swee and Albert Winsemius , started the expansion of the country's economy. [ 63 ] Modern-day economy Today, Singapore has a highly developed market economy , based historically on extended entrepôt trade. Along with Hong Kong, South Korea , and Taiwan , Singapore is one of the original Four Asian Tigers. The Singaporean economy is known as one of the freest, [ 65 ] most innovative, [ 66 ] most competitive, [ 67 ] and most business-friendly. [ 68 ] The 2013 Index of Economic Freedom ranks Singapore as the second freest economy in the world, behind Hong Kong. According to the Corruption Perceptions Index , Singapore is consistently ranked as one of the least corrupt countries in the world, along with New Zealand and the Scandinavian countries. Singapore is the 14th largest exporter and the 15th largest importer in the world. The country has the highest trade-to-GDP ratio in the world at 407.9 percent, signifying the importance of trade to its economy. The country is currently the only Asian country to receive AAA credit ratings from all three major credit rating agencies : Standard & Poor's , Moody's , and Fitch . [ 69 ] [ 70 ] Singapore attracts a large amount of foreign investment as a result of its location, corruption-free environment, skilled workforce, low tax rates and advanced infrastructure . There are more than 7,000 multinational corporations from the United States, Japan, and Europe in Singapore. There are also approximately 1,500 companies from China and a similar number from India. Foreign firms are found in almost all sectors of the country's economy. [ 6 ] Singapore is also the second-largest foreign investor in India. [ 71 ] Roughly 44 percent of the Singaporean workforce is made up of non-Singaporeans. [ 72 ] Over ten free-trade agreements have been signed with other countries and regions. [ 73 ] In recent years, the country has been identified as an increasingly popular tax haven for the wealthy due to the low tax rate on personal income and tax exemptions on foreign-based income and capital gains. Australian millionaire retailer Brett Blundy, with an estimated personal wealth worth AU$835 million, and multi-billionaire Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin are two examples of wealthy individuals who have settled in Singapore (Blundy in 2013 and Saverin in 2012). [ 79 ] Singapore ranked fifth on the Tax Justice Network 's 2013 Financial Secrecy Index of the world's top tax havens, scoring narrowly ahead of the United States. [ 80 ] Sectors Singapore skyline Singapore's economy depends heavily on exports and refining imported goods, especially in manufacturing, [ 81 ] which constituted 27.2% of the country's GDP in 2010, [ 6 ] and includes significant electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, mechanical engineering and biomedical sciences sectors. In 2006, Singapore produced about 10% of the world's foundry wafer output. [ 82 ] Singapore has a diversified economy, a strategy that the government considers vital for its growth and stability despite its size. [ 83 ] Tourism also forms a large part of the economy, and 10.2 million tourists visited the country in 2007. [ 84 ] To attract more tourists, the government legalised gambling in 2005 and allowed two casino resorts (called Integrated Resorts ) to be developed. [ 85 ] Singapore also promotes itself as a medical tourism hub: about 200,000 foreigners seek medical care there each year. Singapore medical services aim to serve at least one million foreign patients annually and generate USD 3 billion in revenue. [ 86 ] Singapore is an education hub, and many foreign students study in Singapore. More than 80,000 international students studied in Singapore in 2006. [ 87 ] Every morning, more than 5,000 Malaysian students cross the Johor–Singapore Causeway thinking that they will receive better education in Singapore. [ 88 ] In 2009, 20% of all students in Singaporean universities were international students. The students were mainly from ASEAN, China and India. [ 89 ] Singapore is a world leader in several economic areas: The country is the world's fourth leading financial centre , [ 90 ] the world's second largest casino gambling market, [ 91 ] one of the world's top three oil-refining centres, the world's largest oil-rig producer, and a major hub for ship repair services. [ 92 ] [ 93 ] [ 94 ] The port is one of the five busiest ports in the world . [ 91 ] The World Bank has named Singapore as the easiest place in the world to do business, [ 91 ] and ranks Singapore the world's top logistics hub. [ 95 ] It is also the world's fourth largest foreign-exchange trading centre after London, New York and Tokyo. [ 96 ] As a result of the recession in the early 2000s and a slump in the technology sector, Singapore's GDP contracted by 2.2% in 2001. The Economic Review Committee was set up in December 2001 and recommended several policy changes to revitalise the economy. Singapore has since recovered, due largely to improvements in the world economy; the economy grew by 8.3% in 2004, 6.4% in 2005, [ 97 ] and 7.9% in 2006. [ 98 ] After a contraction of 0.8% in 2009, the economy recovered in 2010, with GDP growth of 14.5%. [ 6 ] Most work in Singapore is in the service sector , which employed 2,151,400 people out of 3,102,500 jobs in December 2010. The percentage of unemployed economically active people above age 15 is about 2%. [ 99 ] Employment and poverty A City View of Singapore Singapore has the world's highest percentage of millionaires, with one out of every six households having at least one million US dollars in disposable wealth (excluding property, businesses, and luxury goods, which if included would increase the number of millionaires, as property in Singapore is among the world's most expensive). [ 100 ] Singapore does not have a minimum wage , believing that it would lower its competitiveness. It also has one of the highest income inequality levels among developed countries , coming in just behind Hong Kong and in front of the United States. [ 101 ] [ 102 ] Acute poverty is rare in Singapore; the government has rejected the idea of a generous welfare system, stating that each generation must earn and save enough for its entire life cycle. There are, however, numerous means-tested assistance programs provided by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports in Singapore, including some that pay out from SGD 400 to SGD 1000 per month to each needy household, free medical care at government hospitals, money for children's school fees, rental of studio apartments, training grants for courses, etc. [ 103 ] [ 104 ] [ 105 ] Foreign relations Singapore's foreign policy is directed at maintaining a secure environment in Southeast Asia as well as the surrounding territories. An underlying principle is political and economic stability in the region. [ 73 ] It has diplomatic relations with more than 180 other sovereign states. [ 106 ] As one of the five founding members of ASEAN, [ 107 ] the country is a strong supporter of the ASEAN Free Trade Area and the ASEAN Investment Area, because Singapore's economic growth is closely linked with the economic progress of the region as a whole. Former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong proposed the formation of an ASEAN Economic Community , a step beyond the current AFTA, bringing it closer to a common market . This idea was agreed to in 2007 for implementation by 2015. Other regional organisations are also important to Singapore, and it is the host of the APEC Secretariat. Singapore also maintains membership in other regional organisations, such as Asia–Europe Meeting , the Forum for East Asia-Latin American Cooperation, the Asian Network of Major Cities 21 , and the East Asia Summit . [ 73 ] It is also a member of the Non-Aligned Movement [ 108 ] and the Commonwealth. [ 109 ] In general, bilateral relations with other ASEAN members are strong; however, disagreements have arisen, [ 73 ] and relations with neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia have historically sometimes been very strained and difficult. [ 110 ] Malaysia and Singapore have clashed over the delivery of fresh water to Singapore, [ 111 ] and access of the Singapore Armed Forces to Malaysian airspace. [ 110 ] Border issues exist with both Malaysia and Indonesia, and both have banned the sale of marine sand to Singapore over disputes about Singapore's land reclamation. [ 112 ] Some previous disputes have been resolved by the International Court of Justice . Piracy in the Strait of Malacca has been a cause of concern for all three countries. [ 111 ] Close economic ties exist with Brunei , and the two share a pegged currency value. [ 113 ] The first diplomatic contact with China was made in the 1970s, with full diplomatic relations being established in the 1990s. Since then the two countries have enjoyed a strong relationship, being major players in strengthening the ASEAN–China relationship. [ 114 ] Singapore and the United States share a long-standing and strong relationship, in particular in defence, the economy, health, and education. The United States was Singapore's third largest trading partner in 2010, behind China (2nd) and Malaysia (1st). [ 115 ] The two countries have a free-trade agreement, and Singapore views its relationship with the United States as an important counterbalance to China's influence. [ 116 ] A Strategic Framework Agreement between the two signed in 2005 formalises security and defence cooperation. [ 117 ] Singapore has pushed regional counter-terrorism initiatives, with a strong resolve to deal with terrorists inside its borders. To this end it has given support to the US-led coalition to fight terrorism, with bilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism and counter-proliferation initiatives, and joint military exercises. [ 73 ] Military The Singaporean military is arguably the most technologically advanced in Southeast Asia. [ 118 ] It comprises the Singapore Army , Republic of Singapore Navy , and Republic of Singapore Air Force . [ 6 ] It is seen as the guarantor of the country's independence. [ 119 ] The nation's philosophy of defence is one of diplomacy and deterrence. [ 120 ] This principle translates into the culture, involving all citizens in the country's defence. [ 121 ] The government spends 4.9% of the country's GDP on the military, [ 6 ] and one out of every four dollars of government spending is spent on defence. [ 122 ] After its independence, Singapore had two infantry regiments commanded by British officers. This force was considered too small to provide effective security for the new country, so the development of the military became a priority. [ 123 ] Britain pulled its military out of Singapore in October 1971, leaving behind only a small British, Australian and New Zealand force as a token military presence. The last British soldier left Singapore in March 1976. New Zealand troops were the last to leave, in 1989. [ 124 ] A great deal of initial support came from Israel , [ 123 ] a country that is not recognised by neighbouring Muslim-majority nations of Malaysia, Indonesia or Brunei. [ 125 ] [ 126 ] [ 127 ] The main fear after independence was an invasion by Malaysia. Israeli Defense Force (IDF) commanders were tasked with creating the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) from scratch, and Israeli instructors were brought in to train Singaporean soldiers. Military courses were conducted according to the IDF's format, and Singapore adopted a system of conscription and reserve service based on the Israeli model. [ 123 ] Singapore still maintains strong security ties with Israel and is one of the biggest buyers of Israeli arms and weapons systems. [ 128 ] The MATADOR is one example of recent Singapore-Israeli collaboration. [ 129 ] The SAF is being developed to respond to a wide range of issues, in both conventional and unconventional warfare. The Defence Science and Technology Agency is responsible for procuring resources for the military. [ 120 ] The geographic restrictions of Singapore mean that the SAF must plan to fully repulse an attack, as they can not fall back and re-group. The small size of the population has also affected the way the SAF has been designed, with a small active force but a large number of reserves. [ 121 ] Singapore has conscription for all able-bodied males at age 18, except those with a criminal record or who can prove that their loss would bring hardship to their families. Males who have yet to complete pre-university education or are awarded the Public Service Commission scholarship can opt to defer their draft. Though not required to perform military service, the number of women in the SAF has been increasing: since 1989 they have been allowed to fill military vocations formerly reserved for men. Before induction into a specific branch of the armed forces, recruits undergo at least 9 weeks of basic military training. [ 130 ] Because of the scarcity of open land on the main island, training involving activities such as live firing and amphibious landings is often carried out on smaller islands, typically barred to civilian access. This also avoids risk to the main island and the city. However, large-scale drills are considered too dangerous to be performed in the area, and since 1975 have been performed in Taiwan. [ 130 ] Training is also held in about a dozen other countries. In general, military exercises are held with foreign forces once or twice per week. [ 121 ] Demographics As of 2012 [update] , the population of Singapore was 5.3 million people, of whom 3.3 million (62%) are citizens , while the rest (38%) are permanent residents or foreign workers/students. Twenty-three percent of Singaporean citizens are foreign born . There are half a million permanent residents in Singapore in 2012. The resident population does not take into account the 11 million annual visitors to Singapore. [ 4 ] [ 140 ] [ 141 ] In 2010, three quarters of Singaporean residents live in properties that are equal to or larger than a four-room HDB flat or in private housing. The rate of home ownership is 87.2%. [ 144 ] [ 145 ] Mobile phone penetration rate is extremely high at 1,400 mobile phone subscribers per 1000 people. Around 1 in 10 residents own a car. [ 141 ] The total fertility rate is estimated to be .79 children per woman in 2013, the lowest in the world and well below the 2.1 needed to replace the population. [ 146 ] To overcome this problem, the Singapore government has been encouraging foreigners to immigrate to Singapore for the past few decades. The large number of immigrants has kept Singapore's population from declining. [ 147 ] Singapore traditionally has one of the lowest unemployment rates among developed countries . The Singaporean unemployment rate has not exceeded 4% in the past decade, hitting a high of 3% during the 2009 global financial crisis and falling to 1.9% in 2011. [ 148 ] [ 149 ] As of 2009 [update] , about 40% of Singapore's residents were foreigners, one of the highest percentage in the world . [ 150 ] The government is considering capping these workers, although it has been recognised that they are crucial to the country's economy, [ 151 ] as foreign workers make up 80% of the construction industry and up to 50% of the service industry. [ 152 ] [ 153 ] In 2009, the government census reports that 74.2% of residents were of Chinese, 13.4% of Malay, and 9.2% of Indian descent, [ 154 ] while Eurasians and other groups made up 3.2%. Prior to 2010, each person could register as a member of only one race, by default that of his or her father, therefore, mixed-race persons were solely grouped under their father's race in government censuses. From 2010 onward, people may register using a multi-racial classification, in which they may choose one primary race and one secondary race, but no more than two. [ 155 ] Religion Buddhism is the most widely practised religion in Singapore, with 33% of the resident population declaring themselves adherents at the most recent census. The next-most practised religion is Christianity , followed by Islam , Taoism , and Hinduism . 17% of the population did not have a religious affiliation. The proportion of Christians, Taoists, and non-religious people increased between 2000 and 2010 by about 3% each, whilst the proportion of Buddhists decreased. Other faiths remained largely stable in their share of the population. [ 156 ] An analysis by the Pew Research Center found Singapore to be the world's most religiously diverse nation. [ 158 ] There are monasteries and Dharma centres from all three major traditions of Buddhism in Singapore: Theravada , Mahayana , and Vajrayana . Most Buddhists in Singapore are Chinese and are of the Mahayana tradition, [ 159 ] with missionaries having come into the country from Taiwan and China for several decades. However, Thailand 's Theravada Buddhism has seen growing popularity among the populace (not only the Chinese) during the past decade. Soka Gakkai International , a Japanese Buddhist organisation, is practised by many people in Singapore, but mostly by those of Chinese descent. Tibetan Buddhism has also made slow inroads into the country in recent years. [ 160 ] Languages Singapore has four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. [ 162 ] English is the common language, and is the language of business, government, and the medium of instruction in schools. [ 163 ] [ 164 ] Public bodies in Singapore, i.e. the Singapore Public Service (which includes the Singapore Civil Service and other agencies), conduct their businesses in English, and official documents written in a non-English official language such as Chinese, Malay or Tamil typically have to be translated into English to be accepted for submission. The Constitution of Singapore and all laws are written in English, [ 165 ] and translators are required if one wishes to address the Singaporean Courts in a language other than English. [ 166 ] [ 167 ] However, English is the native tongue for only one-third of all Singaporeans, with roughly a third of all Singaporean Chinese, a quarter of all Singaporean Malays and half of all Singaporean Indians speaking it as their native tongue. Twenty percent of Singaporeans cannot read or write in English. [ 156 ] [ 168 ] Many, but not all, Singaporeans are bilingual in English and another official language, with vastly varying degrees of fluency. The official languages ranked in terms of literacy amongst Singaporeans are English (80% literacy), Mandarin Chinese (65% literacy), Malay (17% literacy), and Tamil (4% literacy). [ 156 ] [ 169 ] Singapore English is based on British English , [ 170 ] and forms of English spoken in Singapore range from Standard Singapore English to a pidgin known as " Singlish ". Singlish is heavily discouraged by the government. [ 171 ] Chinese is the language that is spoken as the native tongue by the greatest number of Singaporeans, half of them. [ 161 ] Singaporean Mandarin is the most common version of Chinese in the country, [ 172 ] with 1.2 million using it as their home language. Nearly half a million speak other Chinese dialects, mainly Hokkien , Teochew , and Cantonese , as their home language, although the use of these is declining in favour of Mandarin and English. [ 173 ] Malay was chosen as a national language by the Singaporean government after independence from Britain in the 1960s to avoid friction with Singapore's neighbours — Malaysia and Indonesia — which are Malay-speaking. [ 174 ] It has a symbolic, rather than functional purpose. [ 162 ] [ 175 ] [ 176 ] It is used in the national anthem "Majulah Singapura", [ 177 ] in citations of Singaporean orders and decorations , and in military commands. Today, in general, Malay is spoken within the Singaporean Malay community, with only 16.8% of all Singaporeans literate in Malay [ 178 ] and only 12% using it as their native language. [ 161 ] Around 100,000, or 3%, of Singaporeans speak Tamil as their native language. [ 161 ] Tamil has official status in Singapore and there have been no attempts to discourage the use of other Indian languages. [ 179 ] Education Education for primary, secondary, and tertiary levels is mostly supported by the state. All institutions, private and public, must be registered with the Ministry of Education . [ 181 ] English is the language of instruction in all public schools, [ 182 ] and all subjects are taught and examined in English except for the " mother tongue " language paper. [ 183 ] While the term "mother tongue" in general refers to the first language internationally, in Singapore's education system, it is used to refer to the second language, as English is the first language. [ 184 ] [ 185 ] Students who have been abroad for a while, or who struggle with their "Mother Tongue" language, are allowed to take a simpler syllabus or drop the subject. [ 186 ] [ 187 ] Education takes place in three stages: primary, secondary, and pre-university education. Only the primary level is compulsory. Students begin with six years of primary school, which is made up of a four-year foundation course and a two-year orientation stage. The curriculum is focused on the development of English, the mother tongue, math, and science. [ 188 ] [ 189 ] Secondary school lasts from four to five years, and is divided between Special, Express, Normal (Academic), and Normal (Technical) streams in each school, depending on a student's ability level. [ 190 ] The basic coursework breakdown is the same as in the primary level, although classes are much more specialised. [ 191 ] Pre-university education takes place over two to three years at senior schools, mostly called Junior Colleges. [ 192 ] Some schools have a degree of freedom in their curriculum and are known as autonomous schools. These exist from the secondary education level and up. [ 190 ] National examinations are standardised across all schools, with a test taken after each stage. After the first six years of education, students take the Primary School Leaving Examination , [ 188 ] which determines their placement at secondary school. At the end of the secondary stage, GCE "O"-Level exams are taken; at the end of the following pre-university stage, the GCE "A"-Level exams are taken. Of all non-student Singaporeans aged 15 and above, 18% have no education qualifications at all while 45% have the Primary School Leaving Examination as their highest qualification; 15% have the GCE 'O' Level as their highest qualification and 14% have a degree. [ 193 ] Singaporean students consistently rank in the top five in the world in the two major international assessments of mathematics and science knowledge: Health Singapore has a generally efficient healthcare system, even though their health expenditures are relatively low for developed countries. [ 198 ] The World Health Organisation ranks Singapore's healthcare system as 6th overall in the world in its World Health Report . [ 199 ] In general, Singapore has had the lowest infant mortality rate in the world for the past two decades. [ 141 ] Life expectancy in Singapore is 80 for males and 85 for females, placing the country 4th in the world for life expectancy . Almost the whole population has access to improved water and sanitation facilities. There are fewer than 10 annual deaths from HIV per 100,000 people. There is a high level of immunisation. Adult obesity is below 10%. [ 200 ] The government's healthcare system is based upon the "3M" framework. This has three components: Medifund, which provides a safety net for those not able to otherwise afford healthcare, Medisave , a compulsory health savings scheme covering about 85% of the population, and Medishield, a government-funded health insurance program. [ 198 ] Public hospitals in Singapore have autonomy in their management decisions, and compete for patients. A subsidy scheme exists for those on low income. [ 201 ] In 2008, 31.9% of healthcare was funded by the government. It accounts for approximately 3.5% of Singapore's GDP. [ 202 ] Languages, religions, and cultures Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated by Singapore's Tamil community Singapore is a very diverse and young country. It has many languages, religions, and cultures for a country its size. [ 205 ] Due to the many languages and cultures in the country, there is no single set of culturally acceptable behaviours. [ citation needed ] When Singapore became independent from the United Kingdom in 1963, most of the newly minted Singaporean citizens were uneducated labourers from Malaysia, China and India . Many of them were transient labourers who were seeking to make some money in Singapore and they had no intention of staying for good. A sizeable minority of middle-class, local-born people, known as the Peranakans , also existed. With the exception of the Peranakans (descendants of late 15th and 16th-century Chinese immigrants) who pledged their loyalties to Singapore, most of the labourers' loyalties lay with their respective homelands of Malaysia, China and India. [ 206 ] [ 207 ] After independence, the process of crafting a Singaporean identity and culture began. Former Prime Ministers of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong, have stated that Singapore does not fit the traditional description of a nation , calling it a society-in-transition, pointing out the fact that Singaporeans do not all speak the same language, share the same religion, or have the same customs. [ 205 ] [ 208 ] Even though English is the first language of the nation, according to the government's 2010 census 20% of Singaporeans, or one in five, are illiterate in English. This is a marked improvement from 1990 where 40% of Singaporeans were illiterate in English. [ 209 ] [ 210 ] Unlike many other countries, languages, religions and cultures among Singaporeans are not delineated according to skin colour or ancestry . Among Chinese Singaporeans, one in five is Christian , another one in five is atheist , and the rest are mostly Buddhists or Taoists . One-third speak English as their home language, while half speak Mandarin Chinese. The rest speak other mutually unintelligible Chinese languages at home. [ 209 ] Singaporean Indians are much more religious. Only 1% of them are atheists. Six in ten are Hindu, two in ten Muslim, and the rest mostly Christian. Four in ten speak English as their home language, three in ten Tamil, one in ten Malay, and the rest other Indian languages as their home language. [ 209 ] Each Singaporean's behaviours and attitudes would therefore be influenced by, among many other things, his or her home language and his religion . Singaporeans who speak English as their native language tend to lean toward Western culture , while those who speak Chinese languages as their native language tend to lean toward Chinese culture and Confucianism . Malay-speaking Singaporeans tend to lean toward the Malay culture , which itself is closely linked to the Islamic culture . Those who speak Indian languages as their native language probably lean toward Indian culture . [ citation needed ] Attitudes and beliefs Singapore, as a country, in general is conservative socially, but some liberalisation has occurred. [ 211 ] At the national level, meritocracy , where one is judged based on one's ability, is heavily emphasised. [ 212 ] Singaporean employees work an average of around 45 hours weekly, relatively long compared to many other nations. Three in four Singaporean employees surveyed stated that they take pride in doing their work well, and that doing so helps their self-confidence. [ 217 ] Cuisine Dining, along with shopping, is said to be the country's national pastime. [ 218 ] The focus on food has led countries like Australia to attract Singaporean tourists with food-based itineraries. [ 219 ] The diversity of food is touted as a reason to visit the country, [ 220 ] and the variety of food representing different ethnicities is seen by the government as a symbol of its multiculturalism. [ 221 ] The "national fruit" of Singapore is the durian . [ 222 ] In popular culture, food items belong to a particular ethnicity, with Chinese, Malay, and Indian food clearly defined. However, the diversity of cuisine has been increased further by the "hybridisation" of different styles (e.g., the Peranakan style, a mix of Chinese and Malay cuisine). [ 220 ] Arts The durian -shaped Esplanade, performing arts centre, stands out in front of the Marina Square area. Sport and recreation Popular sports include football, basketball, cricket, swimming, sailing, table tennis and badminton. Most Singaporeans live in public residential areas (known as "HDB flats", as mentioned above ) near amenities such as public swimming pools, outdoor basketball courts and indoor sport complexes. Water sports are popular, including sailing, kayaking and water skiing . Scuba diving is another popular recreational sport. The Southern island of Pulau Hantu , particularly, is known for its rich coral reefs . [ 227 ] The Media Development Authority regulates Singaporean media, claiming to balance the demand for choice and protection against offensive and harmful material. [ 242 ] Private ownership of TV satellite dishes is banned. [ 240 ] Television is censored, and shows like Sex and the City and Queer as Folk (UK TV series) are banned. There are 3.4 million users of the internet in Singapore, [ 240 ] one of the highest internet penetration rates in the world. The Singapore government does not engage in widespread censoring of the internet, [ 243 ] but it maintains a list of one hundred websites (mostly pornographic) that it blocks as a 'symbolic statement of the Singaporean community's stand on harmful and undesirable content on the Internet'. [ 244 ] As the block covers only home internet access, users may still visit the blocked websites from their office computers. [ 245 ] Transport Since Singapore is a small island with a high population density, the number of private cars on the road is restricted so as to curb pollution and congestion. Car buyers must pay for duties one-and-a-half times the vehicle's market value, and bid for a Singaporean Certificate of Entitlement (COE), which allows the car to run on the road for a decade. The cost of the Singaporean certificate of entitlement alone would buy a Porsche Boxster in the United States. Car prices are generally significantly higher in Singapore than in other English-speaking countries and thus only one in 10 residents owns a car. [ 141 ] [ 246 ] As with most Commonwealth countries, vehicles on the road and people walking on the streets keep to the left. [ 247 ] Most Singaporean residents travel by foot, bicycles, bus , taxis and train ( MRT or LRT ). Two companies run the public bus and train transport system – SBS Transit and SMRT Corporation . There are almost a dozen taxi companies , who together put out 25,000 taxis on the road. Taxis are a popular form of public transport as the fares are relatively cheap compared to many other developed countries. [ 248 ] [ 249 ]