8 Fun Facts About Singapore

When I was planning to study abroad for university, I had two options: Singapore or South Korea. Singapore stood out for its cutting-edge sustainability and “interesting” laws, while South Korea drew me in with its incredible food.

In the end, I chose to go to South Korea, but nearly a decade later, Singapore remains at the top of my travel list for countries in Asia I want to visit.

Here are some key facts about Singapore:

Let’s jump into the fun facts about Singapore that convinced me I would have loved Singapore just as much as I love South Korea.

1.) There have never been any lions in Singapore despite being known as Lion City

Singapore is known as the “Lion City”, but no lions have ever lived in Singapore. The name Lion City comes from a legend about a 14th-century Sumatran prince, Sang Nila Utama. When he went hunting on an island near Singapore, he spotted a strange creature.

Animal picture books were apparently still a few centuries off, leading the prince to mistake the creature for a lion. Inspired, Sang Nila Utama renamed the island “Singapura,” derived from the Sanskrit “Simha,” meaning lion, and “Pura,” meaning city.

2.) Singapore founded the World Toilet Organization

The World Toilet Organization (WTO) was founded in Singapore on November 19, 2001, to improve global sanitation and raise awareness about the sanitation crisis.

According to the WHO and UNICEF, approximately 3.6 billion people still lack access to safely managed sanitation (as of 2023), and poor sanitation contributes significantly to child mortality worldwide. The WTO created World Toilet Day on November 19th to highlight these issues and hosts the World Toilet Summit to address global sanitation challenges.

3.) Trees cover almost half of Singapore

Singapore is one of the world’s greenest cities, with over 40% of its land covered in nature reserves, parks, and skyrise greenery. Known as the Garden City, Singapore is working toward becoming a “city in a garden.” Some top green spaces include:

• Gardens by the Bay: Home to Supertrees, themed gardens, and conservatories.
• Supertree Grove: Vertical gardens with solar panels and light shows.
• Cloud Forest: A misty conservatory with tropical mountain plants.
• Singapore Botanic Gardens: A UNESCO site featuring the National Orchid Garden.
• HSBC Rain Vortex: The world’s tallest indoor waterfall at Changi Airport.
• Bukit Timah Hill: Singapore’s highest natural point at 537 feet.
• Pulau Ubin: A nearby island with cycling trails and traditional villages.

4.) Singapore hosted the first Formula 1 night race in the Marina Bay Street Circuit

In 2008, Singapore hosted the first-ever Formula 1 night race, using floodlights to simulate daylight for better global viewing. The 3.146-mile track is one of F1’s most physically demanding street circuits.

After the race, visitors can explore the Night Safari, the world’s first nocturnal zoo, home to rare nighttime animals.

5.) Singapore is both a country and a city

Singapore is a rare city-state, like Monaco and Vatican City, meaning it is both a country and a city with its own government. As a city-state, Singapore is small—it’s the smallest country in Southeast Asia.

Here are the five smallest countries in Southeast Asia:

5 Smallest Countries by Surface Area in Southeast Asia

6.) The national language of Singapore is Malay

Singapore’s national language is Malay, reflecting its historical ties to Malaysia. The national motto, Majulah Singapura, means “Onward Singapore.”

The country has four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. English is the most spoken, with 48.3% of the population using it at home, according to the 2020 census.

7.) Singapore isn’t just one island: it’s 64 different islands

People often think of Singapore as just a single island, but it is in fact made up of 64 different islands. While the main island is where the majority of the population lives, there are many inhabited and uninhabited islands scattered around Singapore.

The most famous islands are:

• Sentosa Island
• Pulau Ujon
• Hantu Island
• Lazarus Island
• Pulau Ubin
• Serangoon Island

Cyclists on a forest path in Serangoon Island, Singapore.

8.) Singapore is also known as the “fine city” due to its many strict laws

Singapore is often called the “fine city” due to its strict laws and cleanliness. First-time offenders can face fines from $500 to $2,000 USD.

Some unique laws include:

• Chewing gum ban: Since 1992, only medicinal gum is allowed with a prescription.
• Public shaming for littering: Offenders may wear vests while cleaning public areas.
• Flushing public toilets: Failing to flush can result in fines.
• Nudity at home: Being visible while naked indoors is illegal.
• Feeding pigeons: Prohibited due to health concerns.
• Expensive car ownership: Singapore is the world’s most expensive place to own a car, with costs exceeding $92,000 USD in 2023.