Two favored pastimes dominate the lives of Singapore’s residents and visitors alike: shopping and eating. Ranking #4 in our ranking for Shopping, Singapore’s retail landscape is a testament to the city’s consumer-driven dynamism. From the glitzy malls of Orchard Road, teeming with haute couture and international brands, to the iconic 24-hour Mustafa Centre, selling everything from electronics to spices, retail is both a daily habit and an art form.
Singapore’s dining scene is equally dynamic. The city’s culinary diversity ranges from humble hawker centers—renowned for Michelin-starred street food—to upscale dining establishments serving dishes like spicy white pepper crab.
One of the most anticipated openings in recent years is AIR CCCC (Awareness, Impact and Responsibility Circular Campus and Cooking Club). This innovative dining experience, led by celebrated chefs Matthew Orlando and Will Goldfarb, alongside hospitality visionary Ronald Akili, has transformed a 1970s civil servant clubhouse into a glass-clad modernist venue. AIR CCCC’s playful yet thought-provoking approach not only satisfies taste buds but ignites discussions on sourcing, waste and community. A forthcoming Cooking Club and R&D lab aims to empower locals, tourists and chefs with techniques to maximize ingredient potential—a delicious education in sustainability.
Equally satisfying is feasting on the spoils of human ingenuity in which a megalopolis rose from a string of villages in well under a century. (More on that in a bit.) Start by capturing a photo from the rooftop infinity pool of Marina Bay Sands—a quintessential Singapore experience and one that is poised to grow further with plans for this premier global destination to add an additional 1,000-room hotel tower and live entertainment arena. On the opposite shore, Merlion Park offers its own iconic view, with the metallic surfboard-like head of the Merlion gazing out over the waters.
Yet, despite its towering skyscrapers and thriving financial districts, an impressive 40% of the city’s land is dedicated to green spaces. This commitment to greenery is part of Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technology with sustainable urban planning. Singapore’s commitment to waterfront development is evident in ambitious projects like the Great Southern Waterfront, which is set to transform the southern coastline. The project plans to add around 9,000 housing units and develop vibrant community spaces, bolstering Singapore’s already impressive livability. Meanwhile, the forthcoming NS Square will replace the Marina Bay floating platform in 2027, bringing a multi-purpose outdoor venue to downtown.
Singapore is also exploring new modes of sustainable living, with plans for more green areas, smart urban districts and developments that promote work, education and leisure with initiatives like the pedestrian Park Connector Network enabling access to business clusters and green spaces from anywhere on the island.
Singapore reigns across our economic indicators in 2025, placing atop our overall Prosperity index and taking the top spot in our GDP per Capita subcategory.
Long lauded as one of the planet’s safest cities, Singapore exemplifies a place where billionaires can stroll in flip-flops, blending casual informality with unimaginable prosperity. Dreaming big here comes naturally. Singapore’s strategic location at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, flanked by the Pacific and Indian oceans, along with its natural harbor and status as a free port, fueled its rise as a global trade hub. During World War II, the city was occupied by Japan before reverting to British control. Gaining self-governance, Singapore joined Malaysia in 1963 but was expelled due to racial tensions and political differences. Locals like to point out that the city launched in 1965, when Singapore became an independent republic. Since then, under the leadership of the People’s Action Party, it has transformed into one of the world’s most dynamic and prosperous cities.
The city-state’s economic ascent is nothing short of astonishing. In 1965, its GDP was a modest US$974 million; by 2023, it had surged to $501 billion, a staggering 51,337% increase in less than six decades. This meteoric rise is underpinned by its business-friendly policies, including taxes capped at 24% and no capital gains tax, making it a magnet for investors and entrepreneurs.
Home to 64 of Asia’s top 100 companies and over 200 international banks managing US$2 trillion in assets, Singapore stands as the world’s fourth-largest financial center. The city’s multicultural fabric, where 74.3% of residents are Chinese, 13.5% Malay, 9% Indian and 3.2% are other ethnicities, thrives with four official languages—English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil—creating a rich, harmonious society that balances modernity with heritage.
The city is a key technology hub in Southeast Asia, with notable investment from global giants. Google’s expansion of its cloud infrastructure and data centers in Singapore marks a US$5-billion investment, providing services for everything from Google Search to Maps. The facility, which employs more than 500 people, underscores Singapore’s growing role in Asia’s digital economy. Microsoft’s and Apple’s parallel expansion into Southeast Asia signifies the city-state’s strategic positioning as a nexus of global tech infrastructure and innovation. The expansion of Changi Aviation Park and the development of Changi East Industrial Zone promise to bolster the aviation and trade sectors. The ambitious Tuas Mega Port, slated for completion by 2040, is set to become the world’s largest fully automated terminal, reinforcing Singapore’s position as a global trade and logistics hub.