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.

As of June 2024, there were approximately 320,490 residents between the ages of 30 to 34 years old in Singapore, making it the largest age group among its resident population. This reflects the increasingly aging population of Singapore, a significant demographical shift that will have long-lasting socio-economic repercussions. Living longer… The improvements in health care and quality of life has led to Singapore having one of the highest life expectancies in the world. Coupled with one of the lowest fertility rate globally, Singapore society faces a crisis of aging. The average age of its resident population is projected to increase to just under 51 years old by 2050. …and working longer The prospect of an aging population is worrying for a country whose most important resource is its people. The current retirement age of 62 would no longer be tenable when close to half the population is expected to be aged 65 years or older by 2050. There is already a trend of elderly workers re-entering the workforce, be it to keep themselves occupied or to support themselves financially. The share of the population who would be working well into old age looks set to increase in the future, as a majority of Singaporeans have indicated that they were not financially prepared for old age.Singapore is well-known for its emphasis on career and shunning welfare policies; however, there is an urgent need to rethink and overhaul its social security and medical care systems to weather the silver tsunami that is set to engulf the island state.

In 2024, the population of Singapore stood at approximately 6.04 million, an increase from the previous year. The total population included both the resident and non-resident population. The resident population of Singapore comprised of both citizens and permanent residents.

The number of internet users in Singapore was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 0.2 million users (+3.5 percent). After the fifteenth consecutive increasing year, the number of users is estimated to reach 5.88 million users and therefore a new peak in 2029. Depicted is the estimated number of individuals in the country or region at hand, that use the internet. As the datasource clarifies, connection quality and usage frequency are distinct aspects, not taken into account here.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find further information concerning the Philippines and Thailand.

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.

In 2023, the median age of the citizen population in Singapore was 43 years. The median age of the citizen population had increased over the years. The median citizen population age is higher than the resident population age.

As of June 2024, the population of Indian Singaporeans between the ages of 40 to 44 years stood at approximately 33,860. 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.

In 2023, the total population of Singapore is estimated to be approximately 5.92 million peopl. Population growth in the country is slow and numbers have still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, where the pandemic's economic impact on migration saw the population fall by a quarter of a million people between 2019 and 2021. The youth is fading Singapore’s population is getting older, with the age bracket of those aged 65 and older increasing with every year. The median age of Singaporeans is increasing rapidly, from 34.1 years in the year 2000 to an estimated 42.4 by 2020, and it is estimated to peak at around 55 years in the middle of the century. The old are here to stay The majority of Singaporeans are between 25 and 60 years old. In the years to come, improving healthcare and one of the highest life expectancies at birth will see this majority shift to the elderly. Additionally, Singapore’s fertility rate is among the lowest in the world and is well below the replacement rate, which means that Singapore’s population is not only getting older but its rate of natural increase (i.e. population growth not including migration) is now negative. This trend could have economic consequences, such as lower GDP growth and increasing old-age dependency.

As of the third quarter of 2023, 95.1 percent of the population in Singapore were owners of some sort of mobile phone. Laptops and desktop computers followed as the most widely owned digital devices. Compared with neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia, Singapore also has the highest rate of tablet users.

Mobile phone ownership and usage in Singapore

Singapore's mobile phone penetration rate makes it an attractive market for foreign vendors. In 2024, Apple held a market share of around 33 percent among mobile vendors in the country. With smartphones having been integrated into all daily activities, network coverage is particularly crucial. Favored by the size of its territory, Singapore was the first country in the world to benefit from nationwide 5G coverage. As a result, the user experience is one of the best in the region, with the best 5G gaming experience.

Smart devices in Singapore

Smart devices are being increasingly used in the city-state, particularly smartwatches and smart home devices. In fact, the country has one of the highest smartwatch usage penetration rates in the Asia Pacific, just behind New Zealand and South Korea. When it comes to smart homes, the leading devices owned in the country are smart TVs and home appliances.

According to a survey on racial and religious harmony in Singapore, 37.5 percent of Chinese respondents claimed that they somewhat agree with the statement that they liked meeting and getting to know people from other ethnic groups than their own. 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.

As of October 2023, approximately 31.37 thousand Japanese residents lived in Singapore, the lowest number of the past decade. Within the observed period, numbers peaked in 2017 at around 37.5 thousand Japanese expats, but remained otherwise on a relatively similar level around 36 thousand.The statistic, which is based on the information gathered by Japanese diplomatic missions abroad, does not include descendants of Japanese emigrants (nikkeijin) who do not hold Japanese citizenship. People with multiple citizenship are counted.

The smartphone penetration share reached about 97 percent in Singapore, indicating that it is a leading country for the use and engagement of smartphones. What are Singaporeans using their smartphones for? A recent study revealed Singaporeans spent most of their time on social and communication apps. This frequency and intensity with which Singaporeans use their smartphone opens-up infinite opportunities for companies to reach their customer. Not surprisingly, digital advertising spending made up over 40 percent of the country's total ad spend. What can be expected from Singapore in terms of digitalization? Many Asian countries are drifting towards a mobile and well-connected landscape. Governments around the world are trying to support this transformation in order to increase their economic growth. Singapore has the advantage of being a city-state with a well performing infrastructure. The primary focus will be on conceptualizing and reinventing technology-driven development to continuously expand their smart city. For instance, Singapore was the first country in the world to achieve country-wide 5G coverage.

In 2020, Malaysians made up the largest share of Asian immigrants in Singapore, with around 1.13 million people. In that year, close to 43 percent of the Singapore population were immigrants. This includes both the non-resident population as well as permanent residents, students, and work pass holders.

In 2022, 11.8 percent of the population of Singapore were children between 0 and 14 years old. Singapore faces an increasingly aging population, along with a decreasing birth rate.

The median age of the population of Singapore has been increasing since 1965, and is projected to reach 56 years by 2100. The median age is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups, such that half the people are younger than this age and half are older. An aging population As Singapore’s median age increases, its fertility rate has decreased. In 2017, Singapore’s fertility rate was 1.16 children per woman of childbearing age, which is below the amount needed to replace the population. Additionally, Singapore is one of the leading countries and territories with the highest life expectancy at birth; an expectancy of 87.63 years. As such, Singapore is faced with adapting to aging population and a growing ratio of old-age dependency. A trend of population aging Many countries are facing this demographic dilemma: the global median age is projected to grow from 29.6 in 2015 to around 41.6 years through the end of the century. Population aging could be one of the most substantial societal transformations of the twenty-first century, affecting most sectors of society, including healthcare, housing, and pensions.

According to a survey on racial and religious harmony in Singapore, 35.3 percent of respondents claimed that they somewhat agree with the statement that they liked meeting and getting to know people from other ethnic groups than their own. 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.

In 2024, around 3.64 million people living in Singapore were citizens, compared to under 1.86 million who were non-residents. In that year, the total population in Singapore was approximately 6.03 million.

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.

In 2024, there were around 754,000 residents aged 65 years and above in Singapore. Singapore is currently one of the most rapidly aging societies in Asia, along with Japan.

The millionaire population in Singapore stood at around 526.4 thousand in 2021 and is projected to increase to about 592 thousand in 2026. This estimated growth in the millionaire population reflects the trend of increasing household wealth in Singapore, which grew by more than 146 percent since 2000.

Millionaire’s playground
In 2022, the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Singapore as the world’s most expensive city alongside Hong Kong and Paris. The high cost of living in Singapore is in large part due to the extremely high cost of owning a car, as well as high property and food prices. With the tenth highest average wealth per adult in the world, and relatively low financial inequality, it seems that the residents of Singapore are able to afford life in the city with the third most expensive beer prices in the world.

Declining wealth in old age
The reality, however, is far less glamorous. While the median wealth per adult increased in 2019 from 2018, it was still the second-lowest value in the past five years. Many Singaporeans are feeling the pinch, especially the most vulnerable members of society, such as the elderly, who make up the majority of the workforce in jobs such as cleaning. Worryingly, many Singaporeans are also not financially prepared for retirement. This could lead to increasing inequality in the future, with many people unable to afford the lifestyle that they are accustomed to.