29th September 2023 – (Singapore) Singapore’s total population has achieved a significant milestone, reaching a record-breaking 5.92 million individuals, reflecting a 5% surge compared to the previous year. This rebound comes after experiencing declines during the COVID-19 pandemic and surpasses the population figure of 5.7 million recorded in 2019.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the total population of 5.92 million as of June 2023 is the highest ever recorded in Singapore’s history. These figures were disclosed in the annual Population in Brief report published by the National Population and Talent Division, Prime Minister’s Office, on Friday (Sep 29).
Out of the total population, 4.15 million were residents, while 1.77 million were non-residents, which includes the foreign workforce, dependents, and international students. Singapore citizens accounted for 3.61 million individuals, representing 61% of the total population. This reflects a 1.6% increase from the previous year. Additionally, the population of permanent residents (PRs) rose by 3.7% to reach 538,600 in June 2023.
The report highlighted that the easing of travel restrictions related to COVID-19 played a significant role in the population growth, as more citizens and PRs living overseas returned to Singapore. This factor contributed the most to the increases observed in the citizen and PR populations.
Furthermore, the non-resident population experienced a substantial surge of 13.1% to reach 1.77 million, with increases observed across all work pass categories. The largest growth came from work permit holders in the construction, marine shipyard, and process industries. The report also mentioned that the remaining increases in foreign employment were distributed across various sectors as companies filled positions vacated by non-residents during the pandemic.
Taking into account the population decline in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, the report highlighted that the total population growth rate over the past five years was comparable to the preceding five-year period. In 2021, with closed borders, the population dropped to 5.45 million, then rose to 5.65 million last year before reaching the current figure of 5.92 million in June.
The report also provided data showcasing a record high of 24,767 citizen marriages in 2022. However, there was a decrease in the number of citizen births, with 30,429 reported during the same period.