... 14th and 18th centuries. In 1819, an official of the British East India Company, Stamford Raffles, realised the island's strategic position on key trade routes and established Singapore as a trading settlement. Today, Singapore is still a significant entrepot in Asia. The Port of Singapore is the focal point for some 400 shipping lines with links to some 750 ports in 130 countries worldwide. The island has a population density of 6,055 per square kilometre, with 4.17 million people populating the island. 78% of these people are Chinese; the old English-speaking Straits Chinese and newer Mandarin-speakers are now well integrated, with the remaining population being made up of Malays, Indians and a significant foreign workforce. This population is an aging one; over 80% of the population are over fifteen years old. The population grew at an annual rate of 2.3% between 1975 and 2001, although this growth rate is expected ...

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