Background:
Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest in terms of tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.
Singapore Introduction 2011
https://theodora.com/wfb2011/singapore/singapore_introduction.html
SOURCE: 2011 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK AND OTHER SOURCES
