Singapore, the Lion City, is a small island nation known for its cleanliness, efficiency, and diversity. Known for its iconic skyline, delicious food, and vibrant cultural scene, it's no surprise that Singapore is a top tourist destination. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, our list of Singapore trivia questions is the perfect way to explore the city and learn more about its many wonders.
Our list of trivia questions covers a wide range of topics, including the country's history, landmarks, food, and entertainment. You'll find questions about the origin of Singapore's name, the tallest building in the city, famous temples and markets, traditional Singaporean dishes, and much more. With our trivia questions, you'll be able to explore the city like never before and gain a deeper understanding of what makes Singapore such a special place.
So, pack your bags and get ready to explore the city! Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or just someone looking for a fun way to learn more about Singapore, our trivia questions are sure to provide you with an enjoyable and informative experience. Don't hesitate - start exploring Singapore today and discover all the fascinating facts and trivia this country has to offer!
92 Singapore Trivia Questions Ranked From Easiest to Hardest (Updated for 2024)
- The answer is under your desk: vandalism and littering led Singapore to ban the import and sale of which chewy confectionary in 1992?
Answer: Gum
- NYU professor Rachel Chu discovers that her boyfriend, Nick Young, is the scion of a wealthy Singapore family in what 2013 satirical novel by Kevin Kwan?
Answer: Crazy Rich Asians
- Named after the inventor George who first constructed it at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, what carnival attraction could you visit this summer at the London Eye, the Singapore Flyer, or the Ain Dubai?
Answer: Ferris Wheel
- What is the name of Singapore's largest outdoor art gallery, which contains treasures of Asian history and culture and was once called the Tiger Balm Gardens?
Answer: Haw Par Villa
- What “T” word, used to describe a Chinese transnational organized crime syndicate with reach to Chinese populations in other countries, has examples in Singapore, such as the Ang Soon Tong and the Wah Kee?
Answer: Triad
- Before Singapore gained independence and adopted 'Majulah Singapura' as their official anthem, what royal anthem did they sing? We're looking for all four words here.
Answer: God Save the Queen
- Constance Wu plays Rachel Chu, a Chinese American woman who travels to Singapore to attend a wedding in her boyfriend's super-wealthy family, in what 2018 rom com?
Answer: Crazy Rich Asians
- To provide lower latency and improved bandwidth in the Asia-Pacific area, AWS launched a new Region on April 29, 2010, called ap-southeast-1 in what country that borders Malaysia to the north?
Answer: Singapore
- Hari Raya Puasa is the more common name in Singapore for what Islamic holiday with an original name meaning "Feast of Breaking the Fast"?
Answer: Eid al-Fitr
- Comcentre is the ginormous skyscraper headquarters of what largest mobile network-operating telecom in Singapore?
Answer: Singtel
- In 1991, a Singapore Airlines flight was hijacked by Pakistanis while traveling to Singapore from what capital city of Malaysia? To date, it is the only hijacking in the history of the airline.
Answer: Kuala Lumpur
- It's not officially known but because of his name most sources believe Singapura king Parameswara was a follower of what third-largest religion in the world?
Answer: Hinduism
- Singapore started booming as a trading post after the 1869 opening of what Mediterranean to Red Sea-connecting canal?
Answer: Suez Canal
- The five stars on Singapore's flag represent democracy, peace, progress, justice, and what lofty, admirable E-word?
Answer: Equality
- The People’s Action Party, a conservative party that is active in modern day Singapore, has what natural phenomenon at the center of its logo?
Answer: Lightning bolt
- What kind of disaster occurred in a squatter settlement in Bukit Ho Swee, Singapore in 1961? This tragedy that killed for people and injured 54 more caused massive reforms in public housing in the country.
Answer: Bukit Ho Swee fire
- In 2020, what city-state added e-scooters on public sidewalks to the list of things it bans, which already includes chewing gum and bringing durian fruit onto public transportation?
Answer: Singapore
- City Developments Limited (CDL) and Frasers Property are two of the top ten real estate firms in Asia, and both are located in what city-state?
Answer: Singapore
- In 1967, Singapore formed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and what archipelagic country?
Answer: Philippines
- The Merlion, the official mascot of Singapore, is a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of what animal??
Answer: Fish
- After the Japanese surrender to the Allies in 1945, British troops led by what “M” British military commander, who was in charge of Southeast Asia Command? In 1979, he was assassinated by bomb by the Provisional IRA.
Answer: Louis Mountbatten
- At the 2016 Rio Olympics, what swimmer, whose last name is a synonym for "education," won the men's 100m butterfly race and became Singapore's first-ever Olympic gold medalist?
Answer: Joseph Schooling
- After World War II, Singapore saw a rise in anti-colonial sentiment, epitomized with the slogan “Merdeka.” Merdeka translates to what “I” word in English, a word associated with an American document published in 1776?
Answer: Independence
- The sentencing of American Michael Fay to six strokes by caning in 1994 led to strained relations between the United States and what Asian republic?
Answer: Singapore
- In what city-state can you visit Supertree Grove, a colorful, lighted garden that resembles giant trees, and the famous Merlion statue?
Answer: Singapore
- Commonly included in a traditional Singapore Sling, what non-alcoholic red syrup derived from a French word meaning “pomegranate”?
Answer: Grenadine
- In 1992, her service to Singapore earned Sumatran orangutan Ah Meng a "Special Tourism Ambassador" award and a stack of what fruit?
Answer: Bananas
- Thought to be solid as a ginormous rock, Winston Churchill touted Singapore's Sembawang Naval Base as what G-word of the East?
Answer: Gibraltar
- More information about Singapore's separation from Malaysia came to light in the 2010s, with the release of documents code-named for what cumbersome sea bird?
Answer: Albatross
- Worth over $1.25 billion to build, Singapore’s Changi Airport is home to the Rain Vortex, which is the world’s tallest indoor what?
Answer: Waterfall
- The Heineken Company owns a number of global beer brands, including what Singapore-made beer with a big cat in its logo?
Answer: Tiger Beer
- A former Malaysian state was expelled in 1965 and is now often considered the only modern country to date to gain independence unwillingly. What is this sovereign city-state nation?
Answer: Singapore
- The real-life estate of Tyersall Park in Singapore is reimagined as the private residence of the fabulously wealthy matriarch Shang Su Yi in what 2013 Kevin Kwan novel and its sequels?
Answer: Crazy Rich Asians
- In July 2021, what southeast Asian city-state unveiled one of the world's largest floating solar power farms, with a panel area equivalent to about 45 football fields?
Answer: Singapore
- After two decades of planning, the first section of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system opened in which decade?
Answer: The 1980s (specifically 1987)
- What nine-letter P-word means a person from Singapore, Indonesia, or Malaysia of mixed local and foreign, usually Chinese, ancestry?
Answer: Peranakan
- In October 2007, the world's first commercial A380 flight touched down at Sydney Airport after a 7.5-hour flight from which Asian city?
Answer: Singapore
- One of the first writings about Singapore was when what “P” Ancient Egyptian astronomer and geographer identified a place on the Malay Peninsula that he called “Sabana?”
Answer: Ptolemy
- What “P” British Lieutenant General led British defenses in Singapore during World War II, and surrendered to the Japanese army in 1942? His last name is the same as a member of Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table.
Answer: Arthur Percival
- A Singaporean ban on long hair that existed from the 1960s to the 1990s prompted concert cancellations by Led Zeppelin and what "Night Fever" disco band?
Answer: Bee Gees
- In 1819, Stamford Raffles’ trip to explore what is now Singapore was on behalf of which British joint-stock company looking for trade opportunities?
Answer: East India Company
- Showing a healthy distrust of vowels, Singaporean database company Bluzelle sells native blockchain tokens with what guessable three-letter name?
Answer: BLZ
- Sharing its name with a nearby river, what now-defunct Singaporean airport was the country's first purpose-built civil international airport?
Answer: Kallang Airport
- The moving sculpture "Kinetic Rain" is one of many features in the awesome Changi Airport serving what Asian city-state?
Answer: Singapore
- Along with Monaco and the Vatican City, Singapore is one of three surviving independent sovereign cities known as what?
Answer: City-states
- On the highest hill of the Singapore Botanic Gardens is a garden specifically dedicated to what tropical flower, whose varieties include the Cattleya and the Venus Slipper?
Answer: Orchids
- Tiger Beer is a popular brand of beer owned and distributed by Heineken but founded in what Asian city-state? The brand is considered one of the ten most valuable brands in its homeland.
Answer: Singapore
- Singapore has four official languages: English, Malay, Chinese, and what fourth language, which is also one of the official languages of Sri Lanka?
Answer: Tamil
- What “S” resort island, off the southern coast of Singapore, is home to Tiger Sky Tower? It is also has Palawan and Tanjong beaches, and its name means “peace and tranquility” in Malay.
Answer: Sentosa
- From 1942 to 1945, Singapore was under the control of what country, which seized control during World War II?
Answer: Japan
- Eric Khoo's 1997 film "12 Storeys" was the first Singaporean film to be screened at which "Big Three" European film festival?
Answer: Cannes Film Festival
- In 2017, Singapore was the set for a first round of peace talks between the United States and what sabre-rattlin' nation?
Answer: North Korea
- Since about the early 1990s, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan have been lumped together in an informal economic group known as the Four Asian Tigers or the Four Asian what kind of mythical creatures?
Answer: Dragon
- The official national flags of Georgia, Bahrain, Monaco, Singapore and Turkey all share what two colors?
Answer: Red and white
- Rajendra the First of what “C” Tamil Indian empire invaded Singapore in the 11th century and ruled the country for a couple decades?
Answer: Chola Empire
- Often referred to by his initials LKY, what founding father of Singapore served as the nation's prime minister from 1959 to 1990?
Answer: Lee Kuan Yew
- What is the name of the fountain located in Suntec City, one of Singapore’s largest shopping malls, that was once recognized as the largest fountain in the world?
Answer: Fountain of Wealth
- In 1965, Singapore joined the United Nations and which other political association of states headquartered in London?
Answer: Commonwealth
- The coat of arms of Singapore features a tiger repping Malaysia and what other big cat standing up for Singapore?
Answer: Lion
- A 2016 Batman movie title name-dropped which of the five Singaporean ideals that's right in the middle of an alphabetical list of them in English?
Answer: Justice
- Which country was Singapore merged with from 1963 to when it gained independence in 1965?
Answer: Malaysia
- Which politician, the founder of the Labour Front, became the first Chief Minister of Singapore in 1955, only to resign a year later?
Answer: David Marshall
- The Laju incident was a 1974 act of terrorism that saw five people held hostage for a week by four armed men. It is named after a vehicle hijacked by the terrorists at the start of the incident. What sort of vehicle was the Laju?
Answer: Ferry
- While Singapore had long been a British colony, which country occupied it during WWII (from 1942 to 1945)?
Answer: Japan
- In 1994, American teenager Michael Fay pleaded guilty to theft and vandalism. What form of punishment was he sentenced to, which then resulted in a strain in the relationship between Singapore and the U.S.?
Answer: Caning
- In what odd-numbered year did former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew die aged 91?
Answer: 2015
- Singapore was founded in 1299 as the Kingdom of Singapura by Sang Nila Utama—at least, that’s what is claimed in which ancient literary work?
Answer: Malay Annals
- When it opened in 2019, the Rain Vortex at Jewel Changi Airport was awarded the world record for the tallest indoor waterfall. To the nearest 10 meters, how tall is it?
Answer: 40
- On September 2, 2023, Tharman Shanmugaratnam was elected as the first person not of Chinese descent to win a presidential election in what Southeast Asian nation?
Answer: Singapore
- How many packets of peanuts do you think you’d get on a 19-hour nonstop flight? Well, you can find out if you fly over 9,000 miles on Singapore Airlines to what east coast U.S. state?
Answer: New York
- British military presence in Singapore ended in what decade that gave us Electronic Battleship and Supertramp's "Goodbye Stranger"?
Answer: 1970s
- Founded in 1883, which Singaporean company celebrated its 100th year of business in 1983 with the launch of the isotonic sports drink 100plus?
Answer: Fraser and Neave (F&N)
- In 2016 swimmer Joseph Schooling made history by winning Singapore's first Olmypic Gold medal. For what specific event did he win it? (Hint: Distance and swimming stroke required.)
Answer: 100m Butterfly
- What was the surname of the first Viceroy of India after whom a small but historically significant hill in the Central Area of Singapore, also known as Government Hill or Bukit Larangan, is named?
Answer: Canning
- Which “sharp” American-Singaporean tech company makes PCs, laptops, monitors, accessories, and lifestyle must-haves like chairs and streaming set-ups for serious gamers?
Answer: Razer
- Under Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, Singapore was renamed Syonan-To, meaning what thing "of the South Island"?
Answer: Light
- Which internation multi-sport event was first held in Singapore in 2010, and has subsequently been held in Nanjing, China in 2014 and Beunos Aires, Argentina in 2018?
Answer: Summer Youth Olympic Games
- Michael Fay is an American convicted of vandalism whose 1994 sentence of "six strokes of the cane" became the flashpoint for international controversy, eventually requiring the intervention of U.S. President Bill Clinton. In what country was Fay convicted and sentenced?
Answer: Singapore
- Named the world's largest fashion retailer in 2022, what Singapore-based online store was fined $1.9 million for neglecting to alert 39 million of its users of a security data breach in 2018?
Answer: Shein
- What “J” sultanate was in control of Singapore in 1819 when the British negotiated for their crown colony there? The name comes from a Persian word meaning “jewel.”
Answer: Johor
- What is the name of Singapore's impressive international airport, which serves as the backdrop for Nick and Rachel's arrival from NYC in the film "Crazy Rich Asians?"
Answer: Changi
- Kevin Kwan released "Crazy Rich Asians" the same year Costa Rica ratified a free trade agreement with what Asian maritime city-state?
Answer: Singapore
- What is the busiest seaport outside of East Asia? This port was the busiest in the world between 1962 and 2004 when Singapore (and later, other East Asian ports) surpassed it.
Answer: Rotterdam
- Originally called Edinburgh Bridge when it was opened in 1867, what bridge over the Singapore river is the oldest bridge in Singapore to exist in its original form, as well as the only suspension bridge in the country?
Answer: Cavenagh Bridge
- What is the "T" name that was the more common name for what is now known as Singapore back in the 14th century? The land was a trading port that was influenced by both the Majapahit Empire and Siamese kingdoms at the time.
Answer: Temasek
- Singapore's four-pillared Civilian War Memorial is nicknamed after what kind of eating utensil?
Answer: Chopsticks
- Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of Facebook, renounced his U.S. citizenship before the Facebook IPO in order to avoid paying taxes to Uncle Sam. To what island country did Mr. Saverin move?
Answer: Singapore
- Singapore didn’t feel the effects of WWI—except for one event in 1915 by members of the 5th Light Infantry who were garrisoned in the country. What did almost half of the infantrymen do to rebel against weak leadership and difficult living conditions?
Answer: Mutiny
- According to historical texts, which name did Parameswara, the last king of Singapura, also go by?
Answer: Sultan Iskandar Shah
- After 31 years as Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew stepped down from the position on November 28 of which year? On the exact same day Margaret Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister of the UK after 11 years
Answer: 1990
- In 1984 Singapore's national men's football team made its only appearance to date at the AFC Asian Cup. They only won a single match at the tournament, but it was quite an achievement given it was against which country who had a population over 280 times Singapore's at the time?
Answer: India
- Known in the Malay Annals as Iskandar Shah, who was the last king of Singapura, reigning in the 14th century and fleeing a Majapahit invasion in 1398? He later formed the Malacca Sultanate in 1402.
Answer: Parameswara
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About the Author
Eli Robinson is the Chief Trivia Officer at Water Cooler Trivia. He was once in a Bruce Springsteen cover band called F Street Band.
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