The Culture of Singapore
Singapore is a country located in Southeast Asia. It is a island city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, 137 kilometers (85 mi) north of the equator. The country is made up of 63 islands, including the main island, Pulau Ujong. The capital city is Singapore and the official languages are English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. The population of Singapore is 5.607 million (estimate for July 2015).
The culture of Singapore is a combination of Asian and Western cultures. Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian cultures have blended together to form a unique Singaporean culture. The four major religions are Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam. Confucianism and Taoism are also practiced by many Singaporeans.
The social institutions of Singapore include the family, education, religion, and the legal system. The family structure in Singapore has changed over the years due to economic development and modernization. In the past, extended families were common and men were the head of the household. Women were expected to be submissive to their husbands and take care of the children and household chores. However, nowadays, nuclear families are more common and women have greater equality in society. Both men and women work outside of the home and share in domestic responsibilities.
The birth rate in Singapore has been declining in recent years. In 2009, it was 9.4 per 1,000 people, down from 9.6 per 1,000 people in 2008. The total fertility rate (TFR) was 1.74 in 2012, down from 2.06 in 2000. This is due to social factors such as late marriage, women’s educational attainment, and employment patterns.
There has been an increase in divorce and annulments cases in Singapore in recent years. In 2009, there were 7,386 divorce and annulment cases, up from 7,216 cases in 2008. This is likely due to couples getting married at older ages and having higher expectations for their marriage partnerships.
English is the main language spoken in Singapore. It is used in schools, colleges, universities, businesses, and the government. Other languages spoken include Mandarin Chinese, Malay, Tamil, Hindi, Arabic, Japanese
The legal system of Singapore is based on English common law with some local modifications. Commercial laws are enforced and contracts are protected by the law. Bribery and corruption are punishable by law. There are also laws against piracy and other unethical practices such as insider trading.
Singapore is one of the world’s most prosperous countries with strong international trading links. It has a stable political system and a well-developed legal system. The social institutions of Singapore such as the family, education, religion, and the legal system are important aspects of the country’s culture.