Singapore's Population Growth Slows, Aging Population a Concern
As of June 2025, Singapore's total population reached 6.11 million, marking a 1.2% increase compared to the previous year. However, this growth rate is lower than the 2% increase recorded in the same period last year, according to the 2025 Population Brief released by the National Population and Talent Division.
Key Drivers of Population Growth
The increase in Singapore's total population is primarily attributed to a rise in the non-resident population, particularly those holding work permits in the construction sector and foreign domestic workers. This influx is largely due to infrastructural projects such as new public housing and the Changi Airport Terminal 5.
The resident population saw a 0.7% increase in citizens, reaching 3.66 million. The number of permanent residents remained stable at 540,000.
Singapore's Citizenship and Permanent Residency Trends
Singapore continues to grant citizenship at a steady and controlled pace. In the past year, 22,766 people were granted citizenship, and 35,264 were granted permanent residency. Over the last five years, an average of 21,300 people have been granted citizenship and 33,000 granted permanent residency annually, slightly higher than the previous five years (2015-2019), which saw an average of 20,500 new citizens and 31,700 new permanent residents.
Accelerating Aging Population
The 2025 Population Brief also highlights the accelerating pace of population aging. The proportion of citizens aged 65 and above has increased from 13.1% in 2015 to 20.7% in 2025, growing faster than the previous decade. It is projected that by 2030, approximately one-quarter of citizens will be 65 years or older.
The number of citizens aged 80 and above has also increased significantly, from 91,000 in 2015 to 145,000 in 2025, representing a roughly 60% increase over the decade.
Marriages and Birth Rates
The number of citizen marriages decreased to 22,955 in the past year, a 5.7% decrease from the 24,355 marriages in 2023. However, this number is still higher than the 22,165 marriages recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019.
The number of citizen births saw a slight increase, with 29,237 births recorded in the past year, a 1.2% increase from the 28,877 births in 2023. However, the overall resident fertility rate remains low at 0.97, the same as in 2023.
Family Trends and Government Support
The proportion of married citizen women aged 40-49 with no children increased from 6.7% in 2004 to 14.4% in 2024, while the proportion with only one child increased from 15.9% to 22.8%. The proportion of women with at least three children declined significantly from 34.5% to 20.6% over the same period.
The Singaporean government recognizes the personal nature of marriage and family decisions. It is committed to strengthening support for citizens who choose to marry and have children, including initiatives like the recently introduced multi-child family plan. The government aims to address factors such as childcare costs, work-life balance, and societal expectations of parenthood.