When did Singapore exist?

Singapore existed 1965–present. On this map it is drawn 1967–2024.

How large was Singapore?

At its greatest extent drawn on this map, Singapore covered about 0,000 km². That is the largest area the border data gives it across the years it is drawn, not necessarily its greatest extent in history.

Southeast Asia · The modern states

Singapore

Republic · 1965–present

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Type: Republic
Existed: 1965–present
Shown on the map: 1967–2024
Peak area: 464 km² (dataset figure; actual area has since grown to ~744 km² through land reclamation)
Region: Southeast Asia

Origins & foundation

Modern Singapore was founded as a British trading post by Stamford Raffles in 1819 and became part of the Straits Settlements in 1867. Japan occupied it as "Syonan-to" from 1942 to 1945, killing between 5,000 and 25,000 Chinese in the Sook Ching massacre. Post-war Singapore became a crown colony (1946), gained self-government on 3 June 1959 under Lee Kuan Yew's People's Action Party, and joined Malaysia on 16 September 1963. After communal riots in 1964 and irreconcilable political conflict, the Malaysian parliament voted 126–0 to expel Singapore, which became independent on 9 August 1965.

Political history & notable leaders

Lee Kuan Yew governed as prime minister until 1990, building a tightly managed developmental state; Goh Chok Tong (1990–2004), Lee Hsien Loong (2004–2024) and Lawrence Wong (from 15 May 2024) succeeded him, with the PAP winning every election since 1959 (65.5% of the vote in 2025). Tharman Shanmugaratnam is president.

Economy, culture & society

The shock of the British military withdrawal (1968–71) was met with export-led industrialisation: the Housing and Development Board, the Economic Development Board and the Jurong industrial estate drew multinational investment, lifting GNP per capita from US$1,240 in 1959 to US$18,437 in 1990 while unemployment fell from 13.5% to 1.7%. Today Singapore, with about 6.1 million people (74.3% ethnic Chinese), has the world's highest GDP per capita at PPP and is a global finance, shipping and aviation hub.

Territorial extent & key events

The island state has enlarged its land area by over 25% through reclamation and was a founding member of ASEAN in 1967.

Conflicts & turning points

The Japanese occupation, the 1964 race riots, the 1965 separation and the 1997 and 2008 financial crises tested the state; stability and technocratic governance have otherwise prevailed.

Legacy & present-day status

Singapore is a de facto one-party-dominant republic combining free-market economics with extensive state direction, renowned for efficiency, low corruption and strict social controls.

Common questions

What was Singapore?: Modern Singapore was founded as a British trading post by Stamford Raffles in 1819 and became part of the Straits Settlements in 1867. Japan occupied it as "Syonan-to" from 1942 to 1945, killing between 5,000 and 25,000 Chinese in the Sook Ching massacre.
When did Singapore exist?: Singapore existed 1965–present. On this map it is drawn 1967–2024.
How large was Singapore?: At its greatest extent drawn on this map, Singapore covered about 0,000 km². That is the largest area the border data gives it across the years it is drawn, not necessarily its greatest extent in history.
Where was Singapore?: The island state has enlarged its land area by over 25% through reclamation and was a founding member of ASEAN in 1967.
Who ruled Singapore?: Lee Kuan Yew governed as prime minister until 1990, building a tightly managed developmental state; Goh Chok Tong (1990–2004), Lee Hsien Loong (2004–2024) and Lawrence Wong (from 15 May 2024) succeeded him, with the PAP winning every election since 1959 (65.5% of the vote in 2025). Tharman Shanmugaratnam is president.
What is the present status of Singapore?: Singapore is a de facto one-party-dominant republic combining free-market economics with extensive state direction, renowned for efficiency, low corruption and strict social controls.
What did the economy and culture of Singapore rest on?: The shock of the British military withdrawal (1968–71) was met with export-led industrialisation: the Housing and Development Board, the Economic Development Board and the Jurong industrial estate drew multinational investment, lifting GNP per capita from US$1,240 in 1959 to US$18,437 in 1990 while unemployment fell from 13.5% to 1.7%.

Sources

Every source below was consulted while writing this entry.

Wikipedia: Singapore en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore
mas.gov.sg — an-economic-history-of-singapore www.mas.gov.sg/news/speeches/2015/an-economic-history-of-singapore
Wikipedia: Lee Kuan Yew en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Kuan_Yew

This entry was written from the sources above and last updated 10 September 2026.

This entry was researched and drafted with AI from the sources above, and has not been reviewed by a historian. How entries are made

Text available under CC BY-SA 4.0: reuse it with a credit to The World Through Time and a link to this page. Passages drawing on the Wikipedia articles listed above are also licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 by their contributors.

Border geometry for the map itself comes from Cliopatria v0.12 (Seshat Global History Databank, CC-BY-4.0).

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