Interesting Facts About Singapore

You may already know Singapore for its beauty and tech prowess but there is a lot more you could learn about Singapore. We'll go through the eye-catching facts then provide general facts at the end. Let's get going!

1. Singaporeans are the fastest pedestrians in the world. They walk at an average speed of about 6.15km per hour (18 meters in 10.55 seconds). Usain Bolt may just have found his competition!

2. Chewing gum is banned in Singapore. Without medical prescription, being in possession of chewing gum will get you in trouble with the police.

3. Has the thought of urinating in an elevator ever crossed your mind? Have you ever thought of enacting such a thought? Measures have been put in place in Singapore to prevent urination in elevators. Their elevators are equipped with Urine Detection Devices (UDDs). They detect the scent of urine, then set off an alarm and closes the doors until the police arrive to arrest the offender. A specific law has been passed in Singapore prohibiting urinating in elevators.

4. Military conscription, referred to as national service in Singapore is compulsory for all 18-year-old male Singapore citizens and permanent residents. It has a duration of one to two years.

5. Caning is a legal form of punishment in Singapore. Judicial caning is applicable to more than 30 offences in Singapore, and is compulsory for a dozen crimes, including attempted murder, armed robbery, rape, vandalism and drug trafficking. Women are however exempted from judicial caning. Males aged 7 to 50 who are medically fit are eligible for this form of punishment.

6. Singapore has a national Tree Planting Day. It is commemorated on the first Sunday of November, officially starting in 1971. Everyone in Singapore - from the prime minister to ordinary citizens - participates in tree planting on this day. Every year, a minimum of 10,000 saplings (young trees) are planted in Singapore.

7. According to the ease of doing business index - created by Simeon Djankov at the World Bank Group - Singapore ranks second in 2019, making it the country with the second most favorable conditions for business. New Zealand ranks first.

8. Singapore has the second highest home ownership rate in the world. As of 2017, Singapore's home ownership rate stands at 90.8%, only second to Romania with 96.4%. More than 80% of Singapore's population live in flats built by the Housing and Development Board (government-built apartments).

9. A car is an extravagant commodity in Singapore. The Singapore government has been trying to curb car ownership and usage since the 1960s. In a bid to regulate the number of cars in circulation, the state issues a limited number of permits, known as Certificates of Entitlement (COE).

10. Not flushing a public toilet after use is punishable by the law in Singapore. There's a law in the country that prohibits the use of public toilets without flushing. If you are caught failing to flush a public toilet after using it, you'll be expected to pay a fine of around $150.

General Facts About Singapore

Area: 725.1 km²

Population: 5,638,700 (2018 estimate)

Official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil

National language: Malay

Currency: Singapore dollar (S$) (SGD)

Form of government: Unitary dominant-party parliamentary constitutional republic

President: Halimah Yacob

Prime minister: Lee Hsien Loong

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