Singapore is a sovereign island city-state located in maritime Southeast Asia, off the southern tip of Malaysia. Despite its small size, it has a population of 5.9 million people (2022), and has the third highest population density in the world. Singapore is a vastly multicultural/multiracial nation with a number of cultural and ethnic groups. National policies in education, housing and politics are heavily influenced by multiracialism, and the region works hard to remain sensitive to the needs of all ethnicities and races.
Singapore is home to four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. It is a melting pot of cultures, with citizens practicing a mixture of religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism and Hinduism.
Singapore is a highly developed, free-market economy with an open and transparent business environment. Monetary and fiscal policies are extremely prudent, while trade freedom is strong. The region has 27 preferential trade agreements in place, a sophisticated financial sector, and a growing number of foreign banks. With a score of 84.4, its economy was ranked freest in the world in the 2022 Index. It has a robust GDP equal to that of leading western nations, while its finance sector continues to grow and expand.