Singapore’s population hits 6.11 million as citizenship grants reach all-time high

Singapore’s total population reached a new high of 6.11 million as of June 2025, according to the Population in Brief 2025 report published on 29 September. This marks a 1.2 per cent increase from the previous year and reflects both immigration inflows and the return of foreign labour. In a notable milestone, 22,766 individuals were granted Singapore citizenship in 2024 — the highest number ever recorded. Additionally, 35,264 new permanent residencies (PRs) were issued, the highest annual total since 2010, when 59,460 PRs were granted before immigration policies were tightened.

Non-resident growth remains key driver of total population increase

The increase in total population was led by a 2.7 per cent rise in the non-resident population, which grew from 1.86 million in 2024 to 1.91 million in 2025. The non-resident group includes foreign workers across all pass types, dependants, migrant domestic workers, and international students. The main contributors to this growth were Work Permit Holders, particularly in the construction sector, followed by Migrant Domestic Workers. The expansion in foreign manpower supports major projects such as Changi Airport Terminal 5 and expanded housing development. Despite the high number of new PRs and citizens granted, Singapore’s resident population (citizens and PRs) grew only modestly — from 4.18 million in 2024 to 4.20 million in 2025. Under the de jure measurement used, individuals overseas for more than 12 months are excluded from the official figures.

Citizen population is ageing and shrinking in working-age proportion

The citizen population increased by 0.7 per cent over the year, reaching 3.66 million. However, the ageing trend continued, with 20.7 per cent of citizens aged 65 and above — up from 13.1 per cent a decade earlier. The median age of citizens also rose slightly from 43.4 to 43.7 years. At the same time, the proportion of citizens aged 20 to 64 — the working-age group — declined from 64.5 per cent in 2015 to 59.8 per cent in 2025. The number of citizens aged 80 and above has risen by about 60 per cent in the past decade, reaching 145,000.

Fertility rate remains below replacement level

Singapore’s resident total fertility rate (TFR) held steady at 0.97 in 2024, remaining well below the replacement rate of 2.1. There were 29,237 citizen births in 2024, up 1.2 per cent from the previous year. However, the five-year average from 2020 to 2024 (30,400 births per year) remained lower than the previous five-year average (32,900). The median age of citizen mothers at first birth rose to 31.6 years, up from 30.3 in 2014, reflecting ongoing trends of delayed parenthood.

Marriages decline, but aspirations for family remain strong

There were 22,955 citizen marriages in 2024 — a 5.7 per cent decrease from the 24,355 recorded in 2023. The median age at first marriage was 30.8 years for citizen grooms and 29.1 years for brides. A growing share of citizens are also remaining single into their 30s, contributing to fewer and later marriages. Still, according to the government’s surveys, 80 per cent of young Singaporeans express an intention to marry, and over one-third of married couples aspire to have three or more children. To support this, the government introduced the Large Families Scheme, offering up to S$16,000 in support per third or subsequent child, along with other family-friendly benefits.

Immigration remains a core strategy

The report affirms that immigration continues to play a key role in offsetting the effects of low fertility and ageing, and in keeping the population from long-term decline. The number of new citizens granted has steadily risen from an average of 20,500 annually (2015–2019) to 21,300 annually (2020–2024). For PRs, the five-year average rose from 31,700 (2015–2019) to 33,000 annually (2020–2024). However, the 2024 figure of 35,264 PRs surpasses any year since 2010, when 59,460 were granted before a significant policy tightening. All adult citizenship applicants are drawn from the pool of PRs, with most having lived, worked, or studied in Singapore, or having family ties to Singaporeans.