Growing Pains in Livable Singapore

Singapore, one of the world's most livable cities, is facing a population boom that some say will give the city a crowded and unpleasant future. Recent weather-related destruction highlight some of its growing pains.

1 minute read

September 1, 2010, 6:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


Officials are expecting to see population increase roughly 30% over the next 20 years, from 5 million to 6.5 million.

"The target was first cited in 2007 as an optimal population size for long-term economic competitiveness, but strains are already beginning to show as more immigrants and guest workers jostle for space with the locals.

Not to mention an invasion of tourists, with arrivals surpassing the one million mark in a single month for the first time in July, thanks to two new massive casino resorts that opened a few months ago.

Singapore, one of the world's richest cities, has a land area of just 710 square kilometres (274 square miles) but until recent years, it had avoided the congested feeling of places like Hong Kong and Tokyo."

Monday, August 30, 2010 in Yahoo

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