10 Fun Facts About Singapore You Probably Didn’t Know
Singapore is one of the most fascinating places I’ve ever explored. Known for its efficient and incredible food culture, the Lion City is full of surprises that many visitors overlook. Here are 10 fun facts about Singapore you probably didn’t know:
1. Singapore Is One of the World’s Greenest Cities
Singapore might be a small island nation filled with skyscrapers and non-stop activity, but it is also one of the greenest cities on the planet. Around half of its land area is covered in greenery, which is remarkable for such a dense urban space. The government has invested heavily in integrating nature into everyday life, and you can see the results everywhere. Vertical forests growing up the sides of high-rise buildings and carefully designed parks make the city feel like a giant garden. One of the most iconic examples is Gardens by the Bay, with its futuristic Supertree Grove that lights up every night. Walking around the Lion City, you quickly realize that this is a city built inside a garden.
2. The National Language Is Malay
A lot of visitors are surprised when they find out that the national language of Singapore is not English. While English is the working language that you will hear everywhere in schools and government institutions, the official national language is Malay. This is a reflection of Singapore’s history and cultural heritage, as Malay is the native language of the region. You can see this in the country’s national anthem, “Majulah Singapura”, which is written and sung in Malay.
Singapore is also a country of four official languages, namely English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. Each of these languages represents the main ethnic groups that call the island home.
3. Singapore Has the World’s Fastest Walkers
If you spend even a few minutes on the busy streets of Singapore, you will notice something right away. People walk fast. I mean really fast! In fact, a study once ranked Singaporeans as the fastest walkers in the world, covering about 18 meters in just over 10 seconds. That may not sound like much, but compared to the global average, it puts Singapore at the very top.
This pace actually is indicative of the country’s fast-paced lifestyle. Singapore is a place where efficiency and speed are part of the culture. You can see this from the way the trains run to how quickly meals are served at hawker centers. Walking quickly just seems to fit into the rhythm of daily life. For visitors, it can be a funny little detail to notice. Stand still too long on Orchard Road and you will feel like the whole city is flowing around you in a river of people on the move.
4. Singaporeans Are Organ Donors by Default
Singapore has one of the most unique organ donation systems in the world. By law, every citizen and permanent resident who is 21 years or older is automatically included as an organ donor under what is called the Human Organ Transplant Act. This covers the kidneys, liver, heart, and corneas. Of course, you are free to opt out if you do not want to be part of the system, but there is a catch.
If you remove yourself, you lose your priority in receiving an organ if you ever need one in the future. In other words, if you are not willing to give, you cannot expect to be at the front of the line to receive. I actually find this very fair because it encourages everyone to think of donation as a shared responsibility. For a small country with limited resources, it is a clever way to make sure people who are willing to give also get the same chance to receive when the time comes.
5. It’s Made Up of 64 Islands
When people think of Singapore, they usually imagine one small island city, but the truth is a lot more interesting. Singapore is actually made up of approximately 64 different islands. The main island, where most of the population lives, is the one everybody knows, but scattered around it are dozens of smaller islands. Most of them are uninhabited and used for things like nature reserves or military training. A few, however, have become famous in their own right.
Sentosa is the most famous of these islands thanks to its iconic beaches, luxury hotels, and endless attractions that draw millions of visitors every year. There are also islands like Pulau Ubin, which gives a glimpse of what Singapore looked like decades ago, with rustic kampong houses and untouched greenery. It is amazing to think that beyond the shiny skyscrapers, Singapore still has quiet little islands waiting to be explored.
6. You Can Be Fined for Not Flushing Public Toilets
Singapore is famous for being one of the cleanest cities in the world, and that reputation does not come by accident. The government takes cleanliness seriously, and there are strict rules in place to make sure public spaces stay spotless. One example that always surprises visitors is that you can actually be fined for failing to flush a public toilet after use.
Officers from Singapore’s National Environment Agency occasionally carry out spot checks to ensure toilets are kept in proper condition. While it may sound extreme, this is one of the many small but effective rules that help keep the city sparkling clean.
Honestly I have always wondered how this law is really enforced because it seems like such a private thing.
7. The Airport Has a Rainforest and the World’s Tallest Indoor Waterfall
For many travelers, Singapore’s Changi Airport feels more like a luxury mall or theme park than an airport, and for good reason. One of its most stunning attractions is Jewel Changi, which is a massive dome-shaped complex connected to the airport. At the heart of Jewel is the Rain Vortex, currently holding the record of being the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Believe it or not but it stands at an incredible 40 meters high.
The sight of water cascading down through the glass roof into the lush greenery below is breathtaking, especially when it lights up at night with colorful displays. Surrounding the waterfall is an indoor rainforest filled with walking trails and suspended bridges and even gardens that make you forget you are inside an airport. Most airports are places you want to leave as quickly as possible, but at Changi, you might actually wish your layover was longer.
8. Every Male Citizen Must Serve National Service
One of the things that really shapes life in Singapore is National Service, often just called NS. Every male who is a citizen or a permanent resident is required to serve two years in the military or police or civil defense once they turn 18. It is not a choice since it is part of the duty of being Singaporean. After the two years of full-time service, men are still called back for reservist training every year until their 40s.
9. Tap Water Is Safe to Drink
One of the little conveniences that I really appreciate about Singapore is that the tap water is completely safe to drink. This is something you cannot say about many other countries in Asia, where tourists are often warned to only stick to bottled water. In Singapore, however, the water supply meets World Health Organization standards and goes through a strict purification and monitoring process before it reaches your glass.
This might not sound like a big deal at first, but for travelers it makes life so much easier. You can fill your bottle straight from the tap without worrying about stomach issues, and you save money by not having to constantly buy bottled water. It is also better for the environment because it reduces plastic waste.
10. The Name “Singapore” Means “Lion City”
The word “Singapore” actually comes from two Malay words Singa (lion) and Pura (city). Legend has it that a prince saw a lion on the island, inspiring the name despite the fact that lions have never been native here.
What the prince likely saw was a tiger, since tigers once roamed the island before modern development. Still, the name stuck, and the lion has become one of Singapore’s most powerful national symbols. You can see it today in the famous Merlion statue at Marina Bay, which combines the head of a lion with the body of a fish to represent Singapore’s heritage as both “Lion City” and a seafaring nation.
