In 2020, there were about 2.52 million immigrants, here classified as people living in a country in which they were not born in, in Singapore out of a total population of about 5.7 million. Immigrants made up a significant share of the population and play a crucial role in Singapore, where the birth rate was among the lowest in the world.

Singapore’s immigrant population The immigrant population of Singapore made up slightly more than 40 percent of the total population of the country in 2018. Throughout its history as a port city, Singapore had been a melting pot of cultures and nationalities. Currently, as one of Asia’s most important economies, it attracts people from all over the world and of different socioeconomic backgrounds to seek better opportunities. The immigrant population is largely of Asian origin, with neighboring Malaysians making up the majority.

Of expats and migrant workers Lacking in natural resources, Singapore’s government has long stressed that its most important resource is its people. However, with declining birth rates and low population growth, the country increasingly relies on immigrants to help shoulder the economic burden. In 2020, Singapore’s foreign workforce stood at just under 1.23 million, out of which about 351 thousand were classified as skilled labor. Most of the foreign workforce were employed in sectors that were deemed unappealing to Singaporeans, such as in construction and the service industry, or as domestic help.

Between June 2023 to June 2024, the foreign workforce in Singapore grew by ******. The foreign workforce in Singapore saw significant growth in the last three years.

As of June 2024, the number of foreigners with work permits for the construction and marine shipyard and process sectors in Singapore was *******. These sectors are especially reliant on low-skilled foreign labor as domestic uptake for jobs in this sector tends to be low.

United States Immigrants Admitted: Singapore data was reported at 818.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 812.000 Person for 2016. United States Immigrants Admitted: Singapore data is updated yearly, averaging 743.000 Person from Sep 1986 (Median) to 2017, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,204.000 Person in 2005 and a record low of 355.000 Person in 1999. United States Immigrants Admitted: Singapore data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Department of Homeland Security. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.G087: Immigration.

Singapore Number of Private Residential Ownership: AP: PR & Foreigner data was reported at 63,178.000 Unit in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 62,968.000 Unit for Jun 2018. Singapore Number of Private Residential Ownership: AP: PR & Foreigner data is updated quarterly, averaging 26,293.000 Unit from Jun 1996 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 88 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 63,178.000 Unit in Sep 2018 and a record low of 13,239.000 Unit in Sep 1996. Singapore Number of Private Residential Ownership: AP: PR & Foreigner data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Urban Redevelopment Authority. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.EB019: Private Residential Ownership Statistics.

As of December 2023, a total of ********* foreigners were employed in Singapore, indicating an increase from the previous year. This was the highest value since 2016.

As of December 2023, there were ***** thousand skilled foreign workers in Singapore. These constituted the foreign labor force holding the Employment Pass (EP) and the S-Pass. To qualify for an EP, the applicant must have a fixed monthly salary of at least ***** Singapore dollars. The S-Pass holder must have a fixed monthly salary of at least ***** Singapore dollars.

Key information about Singapore Foreign Direct Investment: % of GDP

• Singapore Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) registered a growth equal to 32.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Dec 2024, compared with a growth equal to 24.5 % in the previous quarter.
• Singapore Foreign Direct Investment: % of Nominal GDP data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1995 to Dec 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 43.3 % in Mar 1999 and a record low -11.1 % in Jun 2003.

CEIC calculates Foreign Direct Investment as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Foreign Direct Investment and quarterly Nominal GDP. The Singapore Department of Statistics provides Foreign Direct Investment in local currency and Nominal GDP in local currency.


Related information about Singapore Foreign Direct Investment: % of GDP

• In the latest reports of Singapore, Current Account recorded a surplus of 25.9 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 45.6 USD bn in Dec 2024.
• Singapore Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 12.8 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 7.7 USD bn in Dec 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 120.6 USD bn in Mar 2023.

Singapore (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: By Country: Asia data was reported at 327,642.700 SGD mn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 291,056.400 SGD mn for 2016. Singapore (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: By Country: Asia data is updated yearly, averaging 112,767.200 SGD mn from Dec 1998 (Median) to 2017, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 327,642.700 SGD mn in 2017 and a record low of 43,759.000 SGD mn in 1998. Singapore (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: By Country: Asia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.O006: Foreign Direct Investment: By Region and Country. Stock as at Year-End.

Dataset from Singapore Department of Statistics. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_00e0f7177df8a822c8f6a2c0581d6158/view

Foreign Direct Investment in Singapore increased by 55118.10 SGD Million in the second quarter of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Singapore Foreign Direct Investment - Net Inflows - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

A dataset that explores Green Card sponsorship trends, salary data, and employer insights for singapore in the U.S.

Dataset from Singapore Department of Statistics. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_50e653cb3a37e89d9bc227470d217d0e/view

Graph and download economic data for Percentage of Foreign Bank Assets Among Total Bank Assets for Singapore (DDOI14SGA156NWDB) from 2006 to 2010 about Singapore, foreign, percent, assets, banks, and depository institutions.

Foreign Reserves, Months Import Cover, Goods in Singapore was reported at 1.0857 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Singapore - Foreign Reserves, Months Import Cover, Goods - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Net foreign assets (current LCU) in Singapore was reported at 407826985350 LCU in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Singapore - Net foreign assets (current LCU) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Singapore: Foreign Direct Investment, percent of GDP: The latest value from 2024 is 27.76 percent, an increase from 26.21 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 4.56 percent, based on data from 105 countries. Historically, the average for Singapore from 1970 to 2024 is 14.67 percent. The minimum value, 3.65 percent, was reached in 1976 while the maximum of 33.3 percent was recorded in 2021.

Dataset from Ministry of Manpower. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_5105c8c24199312306d1dd38bbc560a8/view

Singapore (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: By Country: Cayman Islands data was reported at 141,054.200 SGD mn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 107,661.300 SGD mn for 2016. Singapore (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: By Country: Cayman Islands data is updated yearly, averaging 26,530.700 SGD mn from Dec 1998 (Median) to 2017, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 141,054.200 SGD mn in 2017 and a record low of 5,160.900 SGD mn in 1998. Singapore (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: By Country: Cayman Islands data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.O006: Foreign Direct Investment: By Region and Country.

Dataset from Singapore Department of Statistics. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_94fd56bdb981f0f966cb487d8247bf1a/view