Lacking natural resources, Singapore's strength is its hardworking, adaptable, and resilient population. The city-state's population of three million is made up of 77.3% Chinese, 14.1% Malays, 7.3% Indians, and 1.3% Eurasians or people of other descent.
The original inhabitants were Malay fishermen, but after the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles and the establishment of a British trading post, Singapore became a magnet that continues to draw hundreds of thousands of migrants and merchants. Seeking a better life for themselves and their families, they came from the southern provinces of China, from Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Ceylon, and the Middle East. Though inter-marriages have taken place over the years, each racial group has retained its own cultural identity while developing as an integral part of the larger community.
