Singapore celebrates its birthday on 9 August every year to commemorate our independence from Malaysia in 1965. On this holiday, the Singapore National Day Parade (NDP) — a national ceremony — is held at either The Float @ Marina Bay, the National Stadium at the Singapore Sports Hub, or the Padang. 

To celebrate Singapore’s National Day, here are 58 interesting facts about Singapore:

1. Singapore Flag

According to the National Heritage Board, the red on our flag represents the universal brotherhood and equality of man while the white on our flag signifies pervading and everlasting purity and virtue. The white crescent moon represents a young nation on the ascendant, and the 5 stars show Singapore's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.

2. Singapore Pledge

Did you know that the National Pledge was recited with one’s right hand raised above shoulders while one stands facing the National Flag? It was changed to reciting the Pledge with the right fist clenched at the heart in 1988 to create a more uniform mode for taking the Pledge.

3. World’s Strongest Passport

The Singapore passport has been ranked as the strongest passport in the world according to the latest rankings published by Henley Passport Index in mid-July 2023. This allows Singapore citizens to travel to 192 out of 227 destinations in the world without a visa.

4. The Merlion

The Merlion is a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. British ichthyologist Alex Fraser-Brunner designed it in 1964 for the Singapore Tourism Board. This makes the Merlion 1 year older than Singapore! The fish represents Singapore’s humble origins as a fishing village called Temasek while the lion’s head pays tribute to the city’s ancient name — Singapura, which means “lion city”. 

Did you know that we have six Merlions in Singapore? Go exploring Singapore and take photos with the Merlions to commemorate this National Day!

5. Singapore National Flower

According to NParks, the Vanda Miss Joaquim (Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim) was selected among 40 flowers as Singapore's National Flower on 15 April 1981. The flower is a hybrid between the Vanda hookeriana and Vanda teres, and it was chosen to represent the uniqueness of Singapore and our hybrid culture. It can be found in the National Orchid Garden which is located inside the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

6. Singapore National Anthem

According to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the entire lyrics of Majulah Singapura, Singapore's national anthem, can be found on the back of the $1,000 note in microprint. 

7. UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Singapore Botanic Gardens was founded in 1859 and it is the first and only tropical botanic garden to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2015. 

8. One-Stop Gardening Hub

HortPark is “a one-stop gardening resource hub” meant for everyone who wants to know anything and everything gardening-related — from recreational and educational to research and retail activities — in a park layout.

9. One of the Smallest Countries

Singapore is the twentieth smallest country in the world and the third smallest country in Asia with a total land area of 734.3 square kilometres. Its main island measures 50 kilometres from East to West and 27 kilometres from North to South with 193 kilometres of coastline.

10. City-State

Singapore is a city-state that is formed by 65 islands — one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is one of the remaining and most populated city-states in the world today.

11. Changed Time Zones

Since 1905, Singapore has changed its time zone six times! Our clocks were moved forward by 20 minutes for daylight savings, but subsequently changed to 30 minutes from 1933 to 1941. The final change happened in 1982, when Singapore synced our clocks with Malaysia to (GMT+8).

12. United Nations (UN)

After Singapore gained its independence on 9 August 1965, it joined the UN on 21 September 1965 thus becoming the 117th member.

13. World’s Best Airport

Singapore Changi International Airport is an award-winning international airport that has been awarded the "World's Best Airport" by Skytrax for the twelfth time. It holds the longest winning streak for eight consecutive years from 2013 – 2020 since the World Airport Awards first started in 2000.

Did you know that Changi Airport has the largest slide located in any airport? Head over to Terminal 3 Arrival Hall and present your Changi Rewards e-Card at Terminal 3 Customer Service Counter at Basement 2 to redeem 10 Slide Rides (membership is free!).

14. World’s Tallest Indoor Waterfall

The HSBC Rain Vortex — located inside Jewel Changi Airport near Terminal 1 — has been recorded in the Singapore Book of Records as the world’s tallest indoor waterfall which stands at a height of 40 metres tall.

15. Cultural Diversity

Singapore is a multicultural country with a diverse population of Chinese, Malays, Indians, Eurasians and other various ethnicities. There are a total of four official languages in Singapore: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Another language that can be commonly heard in Singapore is Singlish — a unique hybrid between the official languages and dialect. There are 27 Singlish words that have made it to the Oxford English Dictionary such as “atas”, “blur”, “kiasu”, and “shiok”.

16. Food Diversity

The diversity of food in Singapore is magnificent. It is a literal food paradise where you can find all kinds of food here, including fusion food. We love our food so much that on average, two new restaurants pop up every day!

The hawker culture in Singapore has been inducted into UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Hawker centres are essential to the Singaporean way of life. With a wide variety of food from different cultures and relatively low costs, it’s no wonder that hawker food has remained popular through the decades. To top it off, we have a total of 53 hawker centre stalls that made it to the Michelin Bib Gourmand 2023 List. Time to go food hunting!

17. Shopping Paradise

Singaporeans are quite the shopaholics, be it online or in-store, we enjoy doing retail therapy! From fashion to cosmetics to gadgets, there are plenty of shopping options available in Singapore and on various platforms.

Do you know what the largest shopping mall in Singapore is? It is none other than VivoCity that is 900,000 square feet wide! 

18. A Clean and Green City

Singapore has a reputation of being one of the world’s cleanest and greenest cities. The government aims to be the world’s greenest city by pushing through green architecture and sustainable developments. It started the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and hopes to achieve the long-term net zero emissions aspiration by 2050.

19. Countryside Farms

Despite being a bustling city, you can get to experience the countryside farming life in Singapore. As of 2021, there were 260 licensed farms with places like Kranji Countryside offering farm stay experience, goat farm experience, fish farm experience and more! It makes for the perfect simple life getaway to rest and recharge.

20. Kampong Life in Singapore

Travel into the past or take a trip down memory lane by visiting the last surviving village, also known as a “kampong”, Kampong Lorong Buangkok. It is one of Singapore's hidden gems that is located in Buangkok in Hougang. A private tour can be booked if you would like a peek into the provincial life!

21. NEWater

Water, or rather NEWater, is highly treated reclaimed wastewater that supports Singapore's circular water management system.

Did you know that NEWater made its first debut on National Day in 2002? It is a success story that Singaporeans ought to be proud of as it exemplifies Singapore’s perseverance in taking on challenges and making it into opportunities.

22. Natural Hot Spring

A natural hot spring can be found in Sembawang Hot Spring Park. The waters are hot enough for you to soft-boil eggs there. Dip your toes into the hot spring for onsen vibes!

23. Scenic Parks

There are many parks and pockets of space where nature flourishes. Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve (which is an internationally recognised stopover for migratory waterbirds) is an amazing example! Take a relaxing stroll in these beautiful, smoke-free parks and soak in its beauty.

24. Largest Glass Greenhouse

Gardens by the Bay is a stunning attraction that is the go-to destination for many tourists. The Flower Dome located within Gardens by the Bay has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2015 for having the world’s largest glass greenhouse covering 1.28 hectares under glass.

25. World’s Largest Vertical Garden

Did you know that Singapore attained the Guinness World Record for having the largest vertical garden? The 24-storey vertical garden is located at Tree House condominium in Bukit Timah.

26. Tallest Building in Singapore

Can you guess what is the tallest building in Singapore? It’s Guoco Tower! Previously known as the Tanjong Pagar Centre, it has a height of 283.7 metres beating the records that UOB Plaza, One Raffles Place and Republic Plaza previously held.

27. Second Largest Ferris Wheel in the World

The Singapore Flyer currently holds the title of being the second largest ferris wheel in the world with a height of 165 metres — it is only 2.6 metres shy of being ranked the first largest ferris wheel!

28. World’s Largest Dome Structure

The Singapore Book of Records has recorded the National Stadium at Singapore Sports Hub as the World’s Largest Dome Structure with a diameter of 312 metres. The stadium seats 55,000 people and hosts a multitude of events such as sport activities and concerts. Its roof structure takes approximately 20 minutes to be opened or closed and it can also be used as a giant projector screen.

29. Largest Fountain in Singapore

The Fountain of Wealth is located at the heart of Suntec City and was listed under Guiness World Record as the World’s Largest Fountain in the world in 1998. At certain periods of the day, the fountain is turned off and visitors are invited to walk three times around a mini fountain at the centre of the fountain's base for good luck.

30. Third Safest City in the World

Crime rates in Singapore are extremely low — even ladies feel safe going for a midnight run. In 2021, Singapore was ranked the third safest city in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit and the 24th safest country out of 136 countries by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. 

31. Fifth Least Corrupt Country

According to the anti-corruption body Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Singapore has been ranked the fifth least corrupt country in the world in 2022. It is also the only Asian country in the top 10 list.

32. Second Highest Percentage Of Millionaires

Singapore is estimated to have the highest percentage of millionaires in Asia-Pacific by 2030. It currently has the second-highest percentage at 7.5% and this number is expected to increase to over 13% in about seven years’ time.

33. Longest Human Domino Chain

The Guinness World Record for the longest human domino chain was set in Singapore on 30th September 2000 where 9,234 students came together to form the 4.2km long chain.

34. A Fine City

Singapore is known to many as being “a fine city” for the strict fines it imposes should you flout the law. You could be fined for many things — from entering the train when it is full to not flushing public toilets to being seen naked (even in your house!), so be careful and comply with the laws in Singapore. 

35. Bicycle-Friendly City

Singapore is a bicycle-friendly city. Cycle along the Park Connector Network (PCN) trails which link major parks and nature reserves. These bike trails stretch up to a whopping 300km!

36. Public Transportation

It is super convenient to “take a little trip around Singapore town”! More than 140 stations across six MRT lines connect the island from end to end. Public buses and trains are increasingly getting more accessible for wheelchairs and prams.

37. Dog-Friendly Country

Singapore is also dog-friendly, with numerous activities for you to participate in with your four-legged best friend. The newest local trend is Dog Yoga, where you can bring your pooch to your yoga class and keep fit together!

38. Community Cats

The streets of Singapore are home to approximately fifty thousand stray cats! There are dedicated cat lovers who will care for the community cats by feeding them and monitoring their health conditions.

39. Otters in Singapore

Once thought to be extinct, otters returned to our shores after the government enhanced the cleanliness of our waterways via The Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme. At least nineteen distinct otter families are reported all across Singapore. While they are very adorable, do remember to respect their personal space.

40. Sunda Pangolins in Singapore

Sunda pangolins, or the scaly anteaters, are native to Singapore. Did you know that they play a critical role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem and keeping our forests healthy? An adult anteater consumes an estimated amount of 70 million insects a year.

41. World's First Night Zoo

The Singapore Night Safari is the world’s first-ever nocturnal wildlife park where it is home to over 900 animals and is a twelfth time winner of the Best Attraction in Singapore.

42. Music Scene

We have a burgeoning music scene. One of the most famous local singer-songwriters is Dick Lee, with his famous song: Fried Rice Paradise. He even produced a musical with the same name in 1991. Due to factors like Singapore’s state-of-the-art event facilities and branding as an entertainment hub, prominent artists like Coldplay and Taylor Swift have chosen Singapore as a tour stop. Heavenly King Jacky Cheung recently held his concert tour in Singapore and many more artists will be holding their concerts in Singapore in 2024!

43. Cannes Film Festival

The first Singapore film to be featured at the Cannes Film Festival was "12 Storeys" by director Eric Khoo back in 1997.

The first Singapore film that was featured and won the Caméra d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival was "Ilo Ilo" by director Anthony Chen. According to its Wikipedia, the film has also received 14 other awards.

44. Crazy Rich Asians

The highest-grossing film of the 2010s is Crazy Rich Asians — an American romantic comedy-drama film that was released in 2018 and grossed over $238 million on a budget of $30 million. As the film was shot on location in Singapore and featured many iconic landmarks, it piqued an interest amongst many foreigners and attracted them to visit Singapore. 

45. Youngest Person to Pass GCE ‘O’ Level

Did you know that the youngest person to pass the GCE ‘O’ Level Chemistry paper in the world is a Singaporean? At a young age of 7 years 1 month, Ainan Celeste Cawley took his GCE ‘O’ Level Chemistry paper and passed, thus making him the youngest in the world to do so.

46. Singapore Olympic Medals Won

Over the years, Singapore has won a total of five olympic medals with the first medal won at the 1960 Summer Olympics, followed by the 2008 Summer Olympics, third and fourth at the 2012 Summer Olympics, and the fifth but first gold medal was won at the 2016 Summer Olympics by Joseph Schooling in the men's 100 metre butterfly race.

47. Fastest Walkers in the World

Pedestrians in Singapore are known to be the world's fastest walkers moving at an average speed of 6.15 kilometres in an hour — this may be an indicator of good mental health and slower biological ageing.

48. Flavoured Yakult

Did you know that Singapore is the only country where you can find flavoured Yakult? The flavour is standardised in all the countries except for Singapore where you can purchase it in grape, apple and orange flavours.

49. Sustainable Waste Management

Nothing goes to waste in Singapore. Did you know that trash from general waste bins are sent to the Waste to Energy (WTE) incineration plants where the heat from the burning waste is used to generate electricity which provides for up to 3 percent of the island’s electricity needs.

50. Asia’s Leading Financial and FinTech Hub

Singapore is Asia’s leading financial and FinTech hub! Our pro-business and cost-competitive environment, excellent infrastructure, and a highly skilled and cosmopolitan labour force are just some reasons why many of the world’s largest financial institutions base their APAC headquarters here.

51. World's Busiest Container Transhipment Port

Singapore has one of the world's busiest container ports when it comes to shipping tonnage. It is also one of the most strategically important maritime hubs having 200 shipping lines with links to more than 600 ports worldwide.

52. Flexible Work Arrangements

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is pushing for greater work-life harmony, hence the public sector is leading the way in championing flexible work arrangements. By 2024, employers must consider employee requests for flexible work arrangements fairly and properly. 

53. Digitalisation

MOM is also seeking to transform Singapore via digitalisation. Launched in 2014, the Smart Nation initiative has three central pillars: a digital economy, digital government and digital society.

54. Rise of Cashless Payment Modes

The use of cashless payment and transition to a cashless society sped up during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, the growth of cashless payments has grown exponentially with Singapore’s adoption rate rising to the highest in Southeast Asia at 97%.

55. Paid Paternity Leave

Paid paternity leave has been doubled from 2 weeks to 4 weeks, encouraging fathers to play a more active role in raising their children.

56. High Literacy Rate

With a highly educated workforce, Singapore has a literacy rate of 97.6% for people aged 15 and older. In 2022, Singapore took the top spot in the Formal Education index. In terms of basic reading, maths and science skills, Singaporean children came in second, behind China which took the top spot.

57. Low Corporate Tax Rate

The corporate income tax rate in Singapore is capped at 17% of its chargeable income. As the top-rated country that is most open to trade, it interests many foreign companies in setting up their business operations in Singapore.

58. Fourth Most Competitive Economy

According to the latest International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Ranking, Singapore ranked the fourth most competitive economy in the world. Having a stable institutional framework and access to markets and trading partners allows Singapore to be one of the top most competitive economies.

Let’s come together as One People, One Nation and One Singapore to celebrate our nation’s milestones as we work towards building a better future. 

Happy National Day to one and all Singaporeans and to everyone who calls Singapore their home!

 

 

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