Fun Facts About Singapore

Graphics & Words by Caitlin Chuah

Singapore is known as one of the safest, cleanest and classiest countries on the planet. Unsurprisingly, Singapore is also a popular study destination due to its top-ranking universities, world-class teaching and high-tech facilities. Below are 25 fun facts about Singapore that’ll tickle your brain.

1. Singapore is one of the smallest countries in the world; its main island is just 683 square kilometres (for comparison, Malaysia is 329,847 km²).

2. A common misconception is that Singapore is one single island. However, Singapore consists of 63 islands in total.

3. On average, Singaporeans are the fastest pedestrians in the world, walking at a speed of about 6.15 kilometres per hour!

4. Every day, two new restaurants open up in Singapore; food-hunting all day every day!

5. Yes, chewing gum is actually banned in Singapore; unless you have a medical prescription to chew gum, it is illegal.

6. Not flushing a public toilet after using it is also illegal in Singapore; you will be fined SGD 150 if you get caught.

7. Littering too is a big offence in Singapore. If caught littering, you will have to pay a fine of SGD 300 or even be issued a Corrective Work Order, where you will have to wear a bright green vest and clean up a specified area.

8. Singapore is the least corrupt country in Asia and the fifth least corrupt in the world.

9. Singapore’s name was a “mistake”; Sang Nila Utama, a Palembang prince, thought he saw a lion on the island and decided to name it “Singapura”, which translates to “lion city” in Sanskrit. However, there were no lions in Singapore at the time.

10. The Merlion, the symbol of Singapore, is half lion and half fish. The lion comes from the sighting (see fact 3) and the fish represents the traditional fishing occupation of the city.

11. The Changi Airport was voted as the World’s Best Airport for the fourth time in a row in the year 2016.

12. The Changi Airport has free movie screenings…that’s not even the best part yet…free movie screenings 24/7! Check out Terminals 2 and 3 for 2D movies and Terminal 4 for 4D cinema.

13. The highest homeownership rate in the world is in Singapore at 92%!

14. The popular Singapore Sling cocktail was first served at the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel in 1915.

15. 27 Singlish words have actually made it into the Oxford English Dictionary! The list includes blur, lepak, shiok, sabo king, wah and many others.

16. The Singapore government strongly discourages using private vehicles; car owners in Singapore have to pay 1.5 times the car price to get their vehicles certified. (Public transport is the way to go in Singapore!)

17. Military service for 2 years is mandatory for all men in Singapore after finishing high school.

18. The National Anthem of Singapore can be found on the back of the SGD 1000 note, written in micro text.

19. Singapore has changed its time zone 6 times since 1905. Currently they are following Malaysian time, but it is technically incorrect.

20. The tallest indoor waterfall in the world (40 metres) is housed in Singapore. You can see it in action in Changi Airport.

21. 1 in 6 Singaporean households has assets worth USD 1 million or more.

22. The Singapore Flyer is the second tallest Ferris wheel in the world, losing to the first (the High Roller, Las Vegas) by only 2 metres!

23. Additionally, when the Singapore Flyer first opened in 2008, it rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. Later that year, it was reversed, based on the advice of Feng Shui masters.

24. The youngest person in the world to pass the GCE ‘O’ Level Chemistry paper, at the age of 7, is from Singapore.

25. The Singapore Grand Prix Racing Circuit is the first F1 circuit in Asia; it also held the first ever night race in 2008.

If you are interested in furthering your studies, feel free to contact us. Our services include: education and career counselling, assistance in college/university applications, student visa application, arranging accommodation and more!