Singapore is an island city state off southern Malaysia. A global financial center with a tropical climate and multicultural population, Its circa-1820 Chinatown stands the red-and-gold Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, said to house one of Buddha’s teeth. Singapore gained self-governance from the British Empire in 1959 and became a fully sovereign state in 1965. After early years of turbulence and despite lacking natural resources and a hinterland, the nation rapidly developed to become one of the Four Asian Tigers based on external trade and its resilient workforce. The city-state is home to 5.6 million residents, 39% of whom are foreign nationals. There are four official languages of Singapore: English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. A 2014 study by Pew Research Center found that Singapore has the highest religious diversity of any country. Multiracialism has been enshrined in its constitution since independence and continues to shape national policies. Singapore is classified as an Alpha+ global city, indicating its influence on the global economy and the only country in Asia with an AAA sovereign rating from all major rating agencies. The city-state is home to famous landmarks such as the Esplanade, Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore Zoo and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Singapore Botanic Gardens