Safe, clean, efficient, and have lots of good food – these are some of top impressions anyone has of Singapore and also some of the many reasons behind why expats flock to this tiny city state.
As one of the top financial, science and economic hubs in the region, Singapore offers plenty of job opportunities for expats to choose from. Did we mention that Singapore is home to more than 37,000 international companies’ headquarters?
Bringing your family along? Singapore’s education system is one of the world’s most well recognized and sought after! And most importantly, healthcare is also world-class and accessible – so you always have a peace of mind.
Area: 728.0 km2 (281.1 sq miles)
Population: 5.7 million (2019 estimate)
Capital: Singapore
Oasia Hotel and CarltonCity building Sua Truong, Unsplash
National anthem: Majulah Singapura (Onward Singapore)
Government type: Unitary dominant-party parliamentary constitutional republic
Languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
Religion: A good mix of religions from Buddhism (33%), Christianity (18%), Islam (14%), Taoism (10%), Hinduism (6.5%) and others
Ethnic Groups:
Climate: Warm tropical weather (25– 32°C) all-year round with monsoon season during the end of year period.
Currency: Singapore dollar (SGD)
Expat Population: 1.6 million (almost 30% of population)
Taboos: With a variety of ethnic groups, what is taboo differs depending on the situation – for instance offering pork to Muslims or beef to Hindus. Some other general taboos to be avoided in Singapore society includes the following – spitting or littering in public, wearing shoes into homes or consuming chewing gum.
Gardens by the Bay Larry Teo on Unsplash
Cultural behaviour
Singapore, also commonly known as the Lion City, is a young nation state founded only in the mid-19th century. Once sleepy fishing village, Singapore transitioned with hard work and effort of its founders into to the modern metropolis and economic hub it is today.
Singapore has been a cultural melting pot of immigrants, with many Singaporeans as proud descendants of immigrants from all-over South-East Asia. With the growth of the economy, Singapore has long relied on a foreign workforce to supplement its national workforce and as since been a preferred expat destination in South East Asia!
Human Development Index (HDI): Ranked 11 in the world tied with Finland
Cost of Living: Ranked 5th most expensive in the world – inflated due high costs in housing (especially in the Central Business District) and cars. However public housing, transportation, food, education, and medical access remains incredibly affordable.