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.

In 2024, around 1.86 million people living in Singapore were non-residents. This was an increase from the previous year, and the highest value in the last ten years. By comparison, there were around 3.64 million citizens in Singapore in that year.

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.

Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Queenstown data was reported at 82,800.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 81,600.000 Person for 2016. Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Queenstown data is updated yearly, averaging 84,400.000 Person from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2017, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 102,947.000 Person in 1997 and a record low of 79,400.000 Person in 2005. Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Queenstown data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Housing & Development Board. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.EB026: Public Housing Statistics. Data as at 31 March of the calendar year

Dataset from Singapore Department of Statistics. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_e4c42075f284bf7589e066cf404b0b33/view

In 2023, residents aged 65 years and above made up 17.3 percent of the total resident population in Singapore. Singapore is currently one of the most rapidly aging societies in Asia, along with Japan. The elderly in Singapore Improvements in healthcare and the standard of living over the years have contributed to an increase in life expectancy in Singapore. This was reflected in the decreasing death rate of elderly residents over the decades. The increase in the share of the elderly population was further compounded by a decreasing total fertility rate, which was well below the 2.1 needed for a balanced population. By 2050, the elderly population in Singapore was forecasted to be a third of its total population. Economic burden of an aging society Singapore thus faces significant economic challenges due to an increasingly elderly population. The number of elderly dependents to the working age population had been steadily increasing. As Singaporeans face the prospect of living longer, more and more elderly had chosen to return to work after retirement. Singapore society still places the responsibility of caring for the elderly on younger family members. However, the burden of care is expected to increase with the years, and whether this model is sustainable remains to be seen.

Dataset from Singapore Department of Statistics. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_ec3b9f67889aaca1e710a63901bb92d8/view

Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Bt Panjang data was reported at 121,100.000 Person in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 121,700.000 Person for 2017. Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Bt Panjang data is updated yearly, averaging 109,850.000 Person from Mar 1997 (Median) to 2018, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 121,700.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 64,823.000 Person in 1997. Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Bt Panjang data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Housing & Development Board. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.EB026: Public Housing Statistics. Data as at 31 March of the calendar year

From 1995, the General Household Survey (GHS) is conducted in between 2 Population Censuses as a mid-decade mini-Census.

The General Household Survey (GHS) 2015 is the third in the series of mid-decade national survey. It covers a wide range of topics and provides comprehensive data on Singapore’s population and households in between the population censuses that are conducted once in ten years.

Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Jurong East data was reported at 78,000.000 Person in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 79,600.000 Person for 2017. Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Jurong East data is updated yearly, averaging 79,900.000 Person from Mar 1997 (Median) to 2018, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 82,000.000 Person in 2013 and a record low of 73,571.000 Person in 1997. Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Jurong East data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Housing & Development Board. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.EB026: Public Housing Statistics. Data as at 31 March of the calendar year

Dataset from Singapore Department of Statistics. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_d9e003a541ee13386088ff7a7f82af19/view

Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Punggol data was reported at 126,300.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 118,100.000 Person for 2016. Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Punggol data is updated yearly, averaging 52,700.000 Person from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2017, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 126,300.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 0.000 Person in 2000. Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Punggol data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Housing & Development Board. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.EB026: Public Housing Statistics. Data as at 31 March of the calendar year

Dataset from Singapore Department of Statistics. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_ae8f6f7e9184361a187dd335fa04b684/view

Dataset from Singapore Department of Statistics. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_2276c3554f188c542b565cb45be3f1b9/view

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.

Dataset from Singapore Department of Statistics. For more information, visit https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_ad4a8ccbdab03d16c486a9ee6988289d/view

Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Bedok data was reported at 196,400.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 200,700.000 Person for 2016. Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Bedok data is updated yearly, averaging 201,300.000 Person from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2017, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 210,784.000 Person in 1997 and a record low of 187,300.000 Person in 2005. Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Bedok data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Housing & Development Board. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.EB026: Public Housing Statistics. Data as at 31 March of the calendar year

Data is derived from the Sample Household Survey (SHS) which is conducted once every 5 years.

HDB resident population refers to Singapore citizens and Singapore permanent residents (SPRs) residing in HDB flats, excluding subtenants.

Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Hougang data was reported at 179,500.000 Person in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 180,500.000 Person for 2017. Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Hougang data is updated yearly, averaging 172,200.000 Person from Mar 1997 (Median) to 2018, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 180,500.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 156,799.000 Person in 1997. Singapore Resident Population: HDB Flats: Hougang data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Housing & Development Board. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.EB026: Public Housing Statistics. Data as at 31 March of the calendar year

As of June 2024, 23 percent of the non-resident population in Singapore were employed in the construction, marine shipyard, and process sectors in Singapore. On the other end of the employment spectrum, 11 percent of the non-resident population in Singapore were Employment Pass holders. These are foreigners working as professionals, managers, and executives, with a minimum monthly salary of SGD 5,600.

As of June 2024, the non-resident population in Singapore was at 1.86 million.