Welcome to Singapore, the Lion City. 

We wish all of you a fruitful, enjoyable, and memorable stay in our nation. 

​

“A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation:

I the LORD will hasten it in his time."

Isaiah 60:22

​

Singapore is one of the smallest nations in the world but it punches far above its weight globally. With a land mass of only 719 sq. km, the city-state is the second-richest country in the world with a GDP per capita of US$72,794 (2021). 

It is also the busiest port in the world as well as the top financial center in the Asia Pacific, and the third biggest globally after New York and London. It has been voted by international agencies as the first in the world in political and operational stability; the third most competitive economy in the world; and the second least risky country for investment. 

​

The nation has a multi-racial and multi-religious population of 5.45 million people, of which about 4 million are citizens or permanent residents and the remaining 1.45 million are foreigners.

 

The local population is made up of: 

By race: Chinese 74.3%, Malay 13.5%, Indian 9%, other 3.2%. 
By religion: Buddhists 33.9%, Catholics 7.1%, Protestants 11.0%, Taoists 11.3%, Hinduists 5.2%, Muslims 14.3%

​

Despite being described as one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world by Pew Research Center, the nation has enjoyed religious and racial harmony through the years. 

​

The founding of modern Singapore began with the establishment of a British trading post in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles. It became a British colony in 1824 and since then, the island was governed by the British till 1963 except for the period of the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945 during the Second World War. 

​

In 1963, it achieved independence from the British through a merger with Malaysia. However, the merger was short-lived due to political differences between the Singapore and Malaysian governments. In 1965, Singapore was 'forced' out of Malaysia and became an independent nation on its own. 

​

The name, Singapore, is derived from 'Singa Pura' which means "Lion City" in the Malay language. It is no coincidence that the city-state is called the Lion City. Jesus is the Lion of Judah. 

​

In 1978, Billy Graham made a prophetic declaration on Singapore as the Antioch of Asia. Singapore's political, social, and economic developments since attaining independence in 1965 have been inextricably tied to its destiny as the Antioch of Asia.