Singapore is a parliamentary republic and city-state that has developed into one of the world's most prosperous nations and a global financial center. Despite its small size, the country boasts the world's 11th-highest GDP per capita and serves as a crucial trade and financial hub connecting East and West. Key economic sectors include financial services, international trade and logistics, manufacturing (electronics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals), aviation, maritime services, and tourism. As a leading financial and business center, Singapore rivals Hong Kong as Asia's premier hub for banking, wealth management, and corporate headquarters, while major companies include DBS Bank, Singapore Airlines, Keppel Corporation, and numerous multinational regional offices. The economy excels through strategic location, excellent infrastructure, business-friendly policies, and a highly educated workforce, though it faces substantial challenges including limited land and natural resources, dependence on international trade and foreign investment, rapid population aging, high cost of living, income inequality, and the need to maintain competitiveness against emerging regional financial centers like [[Hong Kong]], [[United Arab Emirates (UAE)]], and increasingly sophisticated markets in [[Malaysia]] and [[Thailand]].