Singapore is a small yet densely populated island nation in Southeast Asia. With a remarkable economic transformation over the decades, it has become a global financial hub and a diverse, multicultural society. Singapore's population is known for its demographic composition, featuring a mix of various ethnic groups, languages, and religions
What you need to know about the population of Singapore?
In June 2021, Singapore's population was reported to be 5.45 million. Out of this total, 4 million were residents, comprising 3.5 million citizens and 500,000 permanent residents (PRs). The remaining 1.45 million individuals residing in Singapore were classified as non-residents, primarily including foreign students and those holding work passes.
Singapore population: 2023
As of June 2023, Singapore's population has reached 5.92 million, reflecting a 5.0 percent growth compared to the figures recorded in June 2022.
Singapore population: 2022
As of the end of June 2022, Singapore's total population was recorded at 5.64 million. This marked a growth of 3.4 percent compared to the previous year, primarily driven by an increase in the non-resident population.
Singapore population: density
Singapore has a population density of 8,592 people per square kilometer, which is equivalent to 22,254 people per square mile.
Singapore population by religion
In the adult population of Singapore, 26% of individuals adhere to Buddhism, 18% follow Islam, 17% practice Christianity, 8% embrace Hinduism, 6% adhere to Chinese traditional religions such as Taoism or Confucianism, and 4% adhere to various other religions, including Indigenous faiths. An additional 22% of the population do not affiliate with any specific religion.
Singapore Muslim population
Islam ranks as the third-largest religion in Singapore, with Muslims making up approximately 18% of the population, according to the 2020 census. Most Singaporean Muslims adhere to either the Shafi‘i or Hanafi schools of thought and are predominantly Sunni Muslims.The majority of the Muslim community, approximately 80%, consists of ethnic Malays, while 13% are of Indian heritage. The remaining portion includes local Chinese, Eurasian, and Arab communities, as well as foreign migrants.
Singapore Christian population
Christians make up 17% of Singapore's resident population. Christianity holds the position of being the second-largest religion in the nation, following Buddhism and preceding Islam. In 2020, approximately 37.1% of Singapore's Christian population identified as Catholic, while the remaining 62.9% were categorized as 'Other Christians.' Among these 'Other Christians,' most identify as Protestant, although some also affiliate with Orthodox or other minority Christian denominations.
Singapore population by race
‘As of 2020, Singapore's population, categorized by self-identification, is as follows:
Chinese: 74.3%
Malay: 13.5%
Indian: 9%
Other: 3.2%
Indian population in Singapore
Singapore is home to around 650,000 individuals of Indian descent, constituting nearly 9 percent of the nation's total population of six million. This substantial presence establishes them as the third-largest ethnic group in Singapore by ancestry. In contrast, back in 1990, the Indian diaspora accounted for only 7 percent of the population.
Chinese population in Singapore
Chinese Singaporeans, known as 新加坡华人/华裔新加坡人 (Xīnjiāpō Huárén / Huáyì Xīnjiāpōrén) in simplified and traditional Chinese, are individuals in Singapore with Han Chinese heritage. According to the official census, Chinese Singaporeans make up the largest ethnic group in the country, constituting 74,3% of the Singaporean citizen population.
Malay population in Singapore
Malay Singaporeans, referred to as "orang Melayu Singapura" in the local Malay language, encompass indigenous ethnic groups originating from Maritime Southeast Asia who follow the Islamic faith and have established themselves in Singapore. They make up around 13.5% of the nation's citizen population, ranking as the second largest ethnic group in Singapore. According to the Constitution of Singapore, the government officially recognizes them as the country's indigenous people, with Malay as their ethnosocial language.
Singapore population by age
In 1950, there were 409 individuals in the age group of 0-14, 575 in the age group of 15-64, and 36 in the age group of 60+.
By 1990, the population numbers had increased to 652 for ages 0-14, 2,201 for ages 15-64, and 253 for ages 60+.
In 2020, the counts stood at 718 for ages 0-14, 4,414 for ages 15-64, and 1,228 for ages 60+.
As of 2023, there were 703 individuals in the 0-14 age group, 4,341 in the 15-64 age group, and 1,444 in the 60+ age group.
Projections for 2030 show 700 in the 0-14 age group, 4,128 in the 15-64 age group, and 1,886 in the 60+ age group.
Looking further ahead to 2050, it is estimated that there will be 603 individuals in the 0-14 age group, 3,564 in the 15-64 age group, and 2,632 in the 60+ age group.
Singapore aging population
As per the government's 2023 population report, citizens aged 65 and above now constitute nearly one-fifth of the population, marking an 11.7% increase from the figures recorded a decade ago.‘
Singapore population: decline
In 2021, due to the closure of borders, Singapore's population declined to 5.45 million.
Is Singapore population growing?
From 2013 to 2018, the compound annual growth rate of Singapore's population was 0.9 percent, and it has risen to 1 percent from 2018 to 2023.
Singapore population growth rate
The annual population growth rate in Singapore is -4.2 percent.
Singapore city population
The population of the Singapore city metropolitan area in 2023 stands at 6,081,000 people.