republic · Maritime Southeast Asia

Singapore

1965 CE – present · capital Singapore

Island city-state that became independent in 1965 and turned itself into one of the world's richest trading and financial hubs.

Origins

After two years in Malaysia, disputes between Lee Kuan Yew's People's Action Party and the federal government over racial politics led to Singapore's separation. On 9 August 1965 it became an independent republic, small, without natural resources and dependent on its port.

Rule and society

The People's Action Party has governed without interruption, combining elections with tight control of the press and opposition. The state attracted foreign manufacturers, built public housing for most citizens through the Housing and Development Board, and fostered a multiracial identity with English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil as official languages. Its port and airport became among the busiest in the world.

To the present

Under Goh Chok Tong from 1990 and Lee Hsien Loong from 2004 Singapore became a centre of finance and technology. Lawrence Wong became prime minister in 2024, the fourth since independence.

Lineage

Colony of Singapore 1946 CE – 1963 CEMalaysia 1963 CE – presentSingapore

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Singapore. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/singapore
MLA
“Singapore.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/singapore. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Singapore.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/singapore.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Singapore’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/singapore (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻