History and Geography of Singapore (Summary 2025)

Singapore is a small but strategically important country in Southeast Asia, notable for its developed economy and favorable business environment.

Known as a leading regional financial, commercial and transport hub, Singapore has a tumultuous history from colonial times to becoming an independent and prosperous nation.

This article will help you better understand the geography, history and development of Singapore from the 19th century to the present.

1. Geography

Singapore consists of one main island and about 60 large and small islands located at the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsula. The capital of this country, also called Singapore, occupies one-third of the main island's area. Among the small islands, the three islands of Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin and Sentosa have the largest areas.

Coordinates

- Latitude: from 1^o09' North to 1^o29' North

- Longitude: from 104^o36' East to 104^o24' East

At that latitude, Singapore is only about 137 km north of the Equator. The main island is 42 km wide from East to West and 23 km long from North to South. The total area of ​​Singapore is 712 km2, of which the land area is 682,7 km2 with a coastline of about 150,5 km.

Singapore's territory is separated from Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Johor. To the south is the Singapore Strait, which is bordered by the South China Sea to the east and the Bay of Malacca and the Indian Ocean to the west. Singapore's immediate neighbors are Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia.

The main island of Singapore is fairly flat, with some highlands in the central area. Singapore's highest elevation is 166 metres, at the Bukit Timah Hills. The island was once covered with dense jungle and swamps, but much of this has now been cleared through urban development programmes.

Land in parks and reserves accounts for about 4% of Singapore's total land area.

Nearly half of the land here is reserved for forest protection and no-build zones. Nearly half is set aside for residential, commercial, and industrial use. Less than 2 percent of the land here is devoted to agriculture.

2. History

2.1. Founding of modern Singapore (1819)

Thomas Stamford Raffles.

From the 16th to the 19th centuries, the Malay archipelago was gradually occupied by European colonial powers, beginning with the Portuguese arrival at Malacca in 1509.

During the 17th century, the Dutch challenged the initial Portuguese dominance, controlling most of the ports in the region. 

The Dutch established a monopoly on trade in the archipelago, especially spices—then the region's most important product. Other colonial powers, including the British, were limited to a relatively small presence.

In 1818, Stamford Raffles was appointed Lieutenant Governor of the British Colony at Bencoolen. He asserted that Britain should replace the Netherlands as the dominant power in the islands, since the trade route between China and British India passed through the islands.

The Dutch hindered British trade in the region by prohibiting British operations in Dutch-controlled ports or imposing high taxes. Stamford Raffles hoped to challenge the Dutch by establishing a new port along the Straits of Malacca, the main shipping corridor for the India-China trade route.

He convinced the Governor-General of India Francis Rawdon-Hastings and his superiors at the British East India Company to sponsor an expedition to find a new British base in the region.

Stamford Raffles arrived in Singapore on 28 January 1 and quickly found the island a natural choice for a new port. The island was located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, near the Straits of Malacca, and possessed a natural deep-water harbour, fresh water supplies, and timber for ship repairs. Stamford Raffles discovered a small Malay settlement, with a population of a few hundred, at the mouth of the Singapore River, headed by Temenggong Abdu'r Rahman.

The island was nominally ruled by the Sultan of Johor, but the monarchy was under Dutch and Bugis control. However, the kingdom was weakened by factional strife, and Temenggong Abdu'r Rahman and his officials were loyal to Tengkoo Rahman's brother, Tengku Hussein (or Tengku Long), who was living in exile in Riau. With the Temenggong's help, Stamford Raffles managed to secretly bring Hussein back to Singapore.

Stamford Raffles offered to recognise Tengku Hussein as the rightful Sultan of Johor and provide him with an annual tribute; in return, Hussein would grant Britain the right to establish a trading post in Singapore. A formal treaty was signed on 6 February 2 and modern Singapore was born.

2.2. Republic of Singapore (1965–present)

1965 to 1979

After independence, Singapore faced an uncertain future. The Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation was ongoing and the conservative faction of the United Malays National Organization strongly opposed separation; Singapore faced the danger of being attacked by the Indonesian military and forced by force to rejoin the Federation of Malaysia on unfavorable terms.

Much of the international media is skeptical about the prospects for Singapore's survival. Besides the sovereignty issue, pressing problems include unemployment, housing, education, and a lack of natural resources and land.

Singapore immediately sought international recognition of its sovereignty. The new state joined the United Nations on 21 September 9, becoming the organization's 1965th member; and joined the Commonwealth in October of the same year.

Foreign Minister Sinnathamby Rajaratnam headed a new foreign service, which helped assert Singapore's independence and establish diplomatic relations with other countries.

On 22 December 12, the Constitutional Amendment Act was passed, making the head of state the president and the island became the Republic of Singapore.

Singapore then co-founded the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on 8 August 8 and was admitted as a member of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1967.

The Economic Development Board was established in 1961 to formulate and implement national economic strategies, focusing on promoting Singapore's manufacturing sector. Industrial estates were established, especially in Jurong, and foreign investment was attracted to the island through tax incentives.

Industrialization transformed the manufacturing sector to produce higher value goods and earn greater profits. The service sector also developed at the same time, fueled by the demand for services for ships calling at ports and the increasing trade.

This progress helped alleviate the unemployment crisis. Singapore also attracted major oil companies such as Shell and Esso to set up refineries in Singapore, and by the mid-1970s the island nation had become the third largest oil refining center in the world.

The government invested heavily in the education system, made English the language of instruction, and emphasized practical training to develop a qualified workforce suitable for industry.

Lack of good public housing, poor sanitation, and high unemployment led to social problems ranging from crime to health. The growth of squatter settlements led to safety hazards and led to the Bukit Ho Swee fire in 1961 which killed four people and left 16.000 homeless.

The Housing Development Authority, established before independence, continued to achieve great success and large-scale housing projects were undertaken to provide affordable public housing and resettle people in squatter areas.

Within a decade, the majority of the population lived in these flats. The Public Fund Housing Scheme (CPF) was introduced in 1968, allowing residents to use their compulsory savings to buy Housing and Development Board flats and gradually increasing home ownership in Singapore.

British troops remained in Singapore after independence, but in 1968 London announced its decision to withdraw its forces by 1971. Singapore established an armed force, and a national service program was initiated in 1967.

1980 and 1990

View of Bukit Batok West, a large-scale public housing development that helped create a high rate of home ownership among Singapore's population.

Further economic success continued in the 1980s, as unemployment fell to 3% and real GDP growth averaged about 8% until 1999.

In the 1980s, Singapore began upgrading its high-tech industries, such as semiconductor manufacturing, to compete with its neighbors, which had cheaper labor. Singapore Changi International Airport opened in 1981 and Singapore Airlines developed into a major airline.

The Port of Singapore became one of the busiest ports in the world and the service and tourism industries also developed very strongly during this period. Singapore emerged as an important transport hub and a major tourist destination.

The Housing Development Board continued to promote public housing through new townships, such as Ang Mo Kio. The new residential areas featured larger, higher quality apartments and better amenities. In 1987, the first Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line opened, connecting most of these housing estates to the central area.

The People's Action Party continued to dominate politics in Singapore, winning all parliamentary seats in elections from 1966 to 1981. Some activists and opposition politicians called the People's Action Party's rule authoritarian, arguing that the government's strict regulation of political and media activities was an infringement of political rights.

The Singapore government has undergone some significant changes. The system of non-elected members of parliament was introduced in 1984 to allow three losing candidates from opposition parties to be appointed as MPs.

Grouped Constituencies (GRCs) were introduced in 1988 to create multi-seat constituencies, with the aim of ensuring minority representation in parliament. Nominated members of parliament were introduced in 1990 to allow non-elected non-party figures to become MPs. 

Singapore's constitution was amended in 1991 to provide for an elected president, who has veto power over the use of national reserves and the appointment of public officials. Opposition parties complain that the constituency system makes it difficult for them to gain a foothold in parliamentary elections, and that the plurality system tends to exclude small parties.

In 1990, Lee Kuan Yew handed over the reins of prime ministership to Goh Chok Tong, who became Singapore's second prime minister. Goh Chok Tong demonstrated a more open and receptive leadership style as the country continued to modernize. In 1997, Singapore was hit by the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and tough measures were taken.

2000 – present

In the early 2000s, Singapore experienced a number of crises, including the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the threat of terrorism.

In December 12, a plot to bomb embassies and other infrastructure in Singapore was uncovered and up to 2001 members of the Jemaah Islamiyah group were arrested under the Internal Security Act.

Counter-terrorism measures are primarily aimed at detecting and preventing potential terrorist acts and minimizing the damage they cause. The island nation places increased emphasis on promoting social integration and trust between different communities.

In 2004, Lee Kuan Yew's eldest son, Lee Hsien Loong, became Singapore's third prime minister. He enacted a number of policy changes, including reducing national service from two and a half years to two years, and legalizing casino gambling.

Lawrence Wong was sworn in as Singapore's prime minister on May 15, completing a carefully calculated transfer of power to ensure continuity in the Southeast Asian country. 

Mr. Wong Chun-tai is the fourth prime minister of Singapore since the country's independence in 4. He belongs to a new generation of politicians chosen by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) to take over the country's leadership.

Frequently asked questions about Singapore geography and history

Highlights

• Singapore has a strategic geographical location and is an important commercial center of Southeast Asia.
• The country has a tumultuous history from colonial times until independence in 1965.
• After independence, Singapore focused on economic development with policies of industrialization and open trade.
• GLA can help you Open a company in Singapore, helping businesses take advantage of the favorable business environment here.