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Published April 30, 2025
Society
Why Singapore Is One of the Safest Countries in the World—And How It Got There
Singapore today is one of the safest countries in the world—consistently landing in the top 10 on global safety rankings. Many assume it’s because the country is incredibly rich. And that’s not wrong. Singapore is currently the second richest country in the world by GDP per capita, and its citizens don’t even pay capital gains tax. If you invested $100 and turned it into a million dollars, you’d owe nothing in taxes.
Just 56 years ago, half the population couldn’t read or write. Singapore had no natural resources, and it’s so tiny it could fit inside New York City—the city, not the state.
So, how did this once-struggling island transform into a global financial powerhouse and one of the safest places on Earth? Let’s break it down
Crime Has No Reason to Live Here
Singapore’s economic success plays a huge role in its safety. The country is home to 1,361 people with a net worth of $50 million or more. Its government carries no foreign debt, and it doesn’t even have an unemployment program in the traditional sense.
Instead of just handing out money, the government focuses on helping people find jobs. When that’s not possible, there’s a last-resort welfare system:
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$450 monthly cash assistance
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Free public healthcare
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Access to housing for as little as $25 per month
It’s not a perfect system—some people still fall through the cracks—but for the most part, it covers basic human needs. And when those are met, there’s just less incentive to commit crime.
Break the Law? The Law Will Break You Back
Singapore is often called a “penalty country,” and that’s not an exaggeration. The punishments for crime are tough.
Take the case of Michael Fay in 1993.
Michael Fay, an American teenager, made headlines in 1994 when he was sentenced to six strokes of the cane in Singapore for vandalism. The case drew international attention, with the U.S. government appealing for clemency. Despite global outcry, the punishment was carried out, highlighting Singapore's strict laws and zero-tolerance approach to crime.
He vandalized cars and was sentenced to four months in jail, a fine, and six strokes of the cane (later reduced to four after U.S. President Bill Clinton intervened). Yes, caning is still a legal punishment in Singapore—for crimes like vandalism, robbery, sexual assault, and sometimes even murder (if the person isn’t sentenced to death).
There’s also the Internal Security Act, which allows authorities to detain people without trial if they’re believed to pose a threat to national security. It’s called “preventive detention”—not something many countries practice.
Geography and Surveillance: The Criminal’s Worst Nightmare
Singapore’s small size makes it incredibly easy to monitor. The country is densely populated and blanketed in CCTV cameras. There were security cameras every 12 feet. That’s not just a figure of speech.
If you’re planning to commit a crime and run? Good luck.
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Where would you hide a body? There’s nowhere.
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Where would you escape to? With strict borders, tight security, and a lack of private cars (due to their cost), your options are limited. Skateboard to freedom? Swim to Malaysia and hope no sharks are around? Unlikely.
And if you’re Googling suspicious things like “how to hide a body”? Don’t worry—they can legally access your private data. Internet companies are required to comply with such requests. No questions asked.
No Guns. No Drugs. No Slums.
There are no guns in Singapore. Not even replicas. Owning one without permission—real or fake—comes with serious penalties.
As for drugs? Zero tolerance. Get caught selling or possessing drugs, and you could face the death penalty.
Even the environment isn’t conducive to crime:
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No slums or abandoned buildings
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No visible homelessness
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No run-down red-light districts
Home ownership is high, and the urban planning leaves no room for shady dealings.
Safe, Scenic, and Seriously Delicious
The bottom line: Singapore is so safe that when the author once asked a hotel receptionist if it was okay to walk outside at 3:00 a.m., the receptionist was confused by the question.
That’s the level of safety Singapore offers.
And beyond safety?
It’s stunning.
It’s efficient.
And the food is worth writing home about.
So if you ever get the chance to visit, walk around. Explore. Eat like a king. Just know that wherever you go—you’re being watched. But in a good way.
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