Shape of the country and its location

   Singapore is strategically located  at the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsula between Malaysia & Indonesia, at the center of popular shipping lanes between the East, West and Europe. Singapore is among the 20 smallest countries in the world, with a total land area of only 699.47 sq. km. 
   Singapore consists of the main island of Singapore and some 63 islands within its territorial waters. The main island of Singapore is about 42 km from east to west and about 14 miles km from north to south.

   Singapore's strategic location on major sea lanes and industrious population have given the country an economic importance in South-east Asia disproportionate to its small size.

Ethnic composition

   The population of Singapore has the sixth-highest percentage of foreigners globally, with just over forty percent. In 2009, the population of Singapore was just under 4.99 million, with a population density of 7,022 people per square kilometre. 3.73 million were Singaporean citizens and permanent residents, with citizens making up 3.2 million citizens. Of its residents, 74.2% are of Chinese descent, 13.4% are of Malay descent , and 9.2% are of Indian descent.

   Prior to 2010, each person could register as a member of only one race, by default that of his or her father. Now people may register using "double-barrelled" classification, in which they may choose one primary race and one secondary race, but no more than two.