Singapore’s population rises to historic high of 6.04 mln

As of June 2024, Singapore’s population reached 6.04 million, a 2% increase from last year, marking the first time the country’s population has exceeded six million.

According to the latest report of Singapore National Population and Talent Division (NPTD), the increase was mainly because the non-resident population rose by about 5% from last year from 1.77 million in June 2023 to 1.86 million in June 2024.

The report also said foreign workers in Singapore account for approximately two-thirds of the non-resident population, while the remaining one-third mostly consists of migrant domestic workers, dependents, and students. In 2023, Singapore’s birth and marriage rates declined, while the proportion of elderly citizens continued to rise.

Christopher Gee, deputy director and senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), predicts Singapore’s population will reach 6.37 million by June 2030.

This figure is lower than the government’s 2013 White Paper projection, which estimated Singapore's population will be between 6.5 million and 6.9 million by 2030. The 2013 plan aimed to ensure sufficient housing, public transportation, infrastructure, and amenities for that population size.

Gee noted that as a "modern, diverse, and open" economy, Singapore will need to continue attracting skilled labour.