Singapore, including its 50-odd offshore islands and islets has a land area of 617.8km. Its population of 2.4 million comprises 77 per cent Chinese, 15 per cent Malays, 6 per cent Indians, and 2 per cent of persons of other ethnic groups.

The pace of development has been rapid, especially in the last decade, and the people live in well-designed modern homes with ample educational, recreational and social amenities.