As of June 2024, there were around 3.09 million ethnic Chinese residents in Singapore. Singapore is a multi-ethnic society, with residents categorized into four main racial groups: Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Others. Each resident is assigned a racial category that follows the paternal side. This categorization would have an impact on both official as well as private matters. Modelling a peaceful, multi-ethnic society The racial categorization used in Singapore stemmed from its colonial past and continues to shape its social policies, from public housing quotas along the ethnic composition in the country to education policies pertaining second language, or ‘mother tongue’, instruction. Despite the emphasis on ethnicity and race, Singapore has managed to maintain a peaceful co-existence among its diverse population. Most Singaporeans across ethnic levels view the level of racial and religious harmony there to be moderately high. The level of acceptance and comfort with having people of other ethnicities in their social lives was also relatively high across the different ethnic groups. Are Singaporeans ready to move away from the CMIO model of ethnic classification? In recent times, however, there has been more open discussion on racism and the relevance of the CMIO (Chinese, Malay, Indian, Others) ethnic model for Singaporean society. The global discourse on racism has brought to attention the latent discrimination felt by the minority ethnic groups in Singapore, such as in the workplace. In 2010, Singapore introduced the option of having a ‘double-barreled’ race classification, reflecting the increasingly diverse and complicated ethnic background of its population. More than a decade later, there have been calls to do away from such racial classifications altogether. However, with social identity and policy deeply entrenched along these lines, it would be a challenge to move beyond race in Singapore.

According to a survey on racial and religious harmony, 40.6 percent of Malay respondents stated that they felt that Singaporean Malays would have to work harder than other ethnic groups to have a decent life in Singapore.

Singapore is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, with citizens categorized into four main ethnic groups, known as CMIO: Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Others. Those categorized under the "Others" include Eurasians, Caucasians, Arabs, and Filipinos, among others. Those from an ethnic Chinese background make up the majority of the population in Singapore.

Dataset from Singapore Department of Statistics. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_21e9d73d5132ec0fe9d8a07b567e5f40/view

Data for 1970 and from 1980 onwards refer to Singapore residents (citizens and permanent residents).

Data prior to 1980 (except 1970) refer to total population.

Data for 1970 and 1980 refer to all residents present in Singapore on Census day.

Data from 2000 onwards are based on the register-based approach.

Data from 2003 onwards exclude residents who are overseas for a continuous period of 12 months or longer as at the reference period.

Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: UMLA: Other Ethnic Groups data was reported at 35.000 Number in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 32.000 Number for Aug 2018. Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: UMLA: Other Ethnic Groups data is updated monthly, averaging 2.000 Number from Jan 1961 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 693 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 47.000 Number in Dec 2016 and a record low of 0.000 Number in Oct 2003. Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: UMLA: Other Ethnic Groups data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.G007: Vital Statistics: Marriages & Divorces.

Dataset from Singapore Department of Statistics. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_3f87480008efa1a330e571a28ea187e0/view

Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: UWC: Other Ethnic Groups data was reported at 69.000 Number in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 70.000 Number for Aug 2018. Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: UWC: Other Ethnic Groups data is updated monthly, averaging 18.000 Number from Jan 1961 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 693 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 175.000 Number in Dec 2012 and a record low of 1.000 Number in Jan 2004. Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: UWC: Other Ethnic Groups data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.G007: Vital Statistics: Marriages & Divorces.

Dataset from Singapore Department of Statistics. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_b4de9dea7770690a215481e932dda8b2/view

According to a survey on racial and religious harmony in Singapore, 48.8 percent of Chinese Singaporean respondents were of the opinion that there was a high level of racial and religious harmony in Singapore as of January 2019. Singapore is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, with citizens categorized into four main ethnic groups, known as CMIO: Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Others. Those categorized under the "Others" include Eurasians, Caucasians, Arabs, and Filipinos, among others.

According to a survey on racial and religious harmony in Singapore, 62.7 percent of respondents of ethnicities categorized under 'Other' stated that they had never felt discriminated against when shopping, eating or enjoying leisurely activities. This was comparable to that of Chinese respondents.

Singapore is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, with citizens categorized into four main ethnic groups, known as CMIO: Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Others. Those categorized under the "Others" include Eurasians, Caucasians, Arabs, and Filipinos, among others. Those from an ethnic Chinese background make up the majority of the population in Singapore.

Dataset from Singapore Department of Statistics. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_aeba187e544ec7201f411efd5aac56ab/view

As of June 2024, the population of Chinese Singaporeans between 30 to 34 years was approximately 236,040. Singapore is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society. Residents are categorized under four different ethnic groups under the CMIO rubric: Chinese, Malay, Indian and Other ethnicities.

Dataset from Singapore Department of Statistics. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_c4854288d88abfb55faf5e7d5bd415b9/view

Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: Total data was reported at 2,033.000 Number in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,712.000 Number for Apr 2018. Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: Total data is updated monthly, averaging 1,811.000 Number from Jan 1961 (Median) to May 2018, with 689 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,152.000 Number in Jan 1974 and a record low of 252.000 Number in Jul 1961. Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.G007: Vital Statistics: Marriages & Divorces.

Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: UMLA: Inter-ethnic Group data was reported at 108.000 Number in May 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 187.000 Number for Apr 2018. Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: UMLA: Inter-ethnic Group data is updated monthly, averaging 58.000 Number from Jan 1961 (Median) to May 2018, with 689 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 326.000 Number in Dec 2017 and a record low of 3.000 Number in Sep 1976. Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: UMLA: Inter-ethnic Group data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.G007: Vital Statistics: Marriages & Divorces.

According to a survey on racial and religious harmony in Singapore, 92.7 percent of respondents aged between 18 to 25 years old in Singapore stated that they had close friends who were also Singaporean Chinese. Singapore is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, with citizens categorized into four main ethnic groups, known as CMIO: Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Others. Those categorized under the "Others" include Eurasians, Caucasians, Arabs, and Filipinos, among others. Those from an ethnic Chinese background make up the majority of the population in Singapore.

Dataset from Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_bca761dca17d3155db130b84a8c01a23/view

Dataset from Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_72d68941145e7092a0bd87afb2379242/view

This research note studies the political representation of racial minorities in Singapore. Specifically, it analyzes whether racial minority MPs are more likely than Chinese MPs to represent the interests of racial minorities in the Parliament. I answer this question through conducting content analyses of the parliamentary questions raised during the plenary meetings of the 10th to 12th Parliament of Singapore (2002-2015). In total, 6,678 questions were asked. Our results show that racial minority MPs were significantly more likely (21.79 times) than Chinese MPs to ask questions related to racial minorities. While this study shows that racial minority MPs were significantly more likely than Chinese MPs to ask questions related to racial minorities, it also highlights the inadequacy of representation of racial minority interests in the Parliament of Singapore. During our period of study, only 1.2% of the total number of parliamentary questions focused on racial minorities. Besides MPs’ race, this study finds that partisan affiliation crucially influenced the likelihood of MPs to represent racial minority interests. Political parties played an important role in shaping MPs’ representational behavior. Compared to PAP MPs, opposition MPs were significantly more likely to raise racial minority related questions. One possible explanation could be that opposition MPs used parliamentary questions as an important tool to challenge and criticize the governing party’s policies on racial minorities. Another explanation could be that PAP racial minority MPs’ first loyalty has to be to the party and government rather than their co-ethnics, given that they are beholden to party elites for their seats.

According to a survey on racial and religious harmony in Singapore, 54.4 percent of respondents stated that they had never felt discriminated against when applying for a job. By comparison, more respondents felt that they had never been discriminated against at work.

Singapore is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, with citizens categorized into four main ethnic groups, known as CMIO: Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Others. Those categorized under the "Others" include Eurasians, Caucasians, Arabs, and Filipinos, among others. Those from an ethnic Chinese background make up the majority of the population in Singapore.