SINGAPORE Singapore’s population exceeds 6 million (excluding newborns)

Official data for the first half of 2024 have been published, confirming that the threshold has been exceeded, suggesting even greater growth by 2030. This is fuelled by the immigrants required by the local labour market, which increased by 5% compared to the previous year. The trend is the subject of debate in society, not only in terms of resource and infrastructure planning.

Singapore () – Demographic data for the first half of the year released today show that Singapore has surpassed 6 million inhabitants, confirming the possibility of further growth to reach almost 7 million by 2030. This figure goes against the trend in Asia and also in the context of a country that has a very low fertility rate (0.97 last year, below 1% for the first time), but relies on a large contribution of immigrants to balance it out.

The situation forces the authorities to make greater efforts in resource and infrastructure planning, but it also fuels a debate in society. Indeed, for some time now, the cohesion and multi-ethnicity that, as was also highlighted during Pope Francis’ recent visit, are among the founding characteristics of Singaporean society, have been the subject of criticism from public opinion and from local politicians themselves, although the authorities are trying to contain the conflicts and limit the reasons for them.

The annual population summary report – compiled by the Population and Labour Division of the Prime Minister’s Office in collaboration with various government agencies – shows that the population reached 6.04 million by the end of June, up 2% from a year earlier. Of these, 1.86 million are non-residents, a group that includes migrant workers, domestic workers, family members of migrants and foreign students, who together increased by 5% year-on-year.

The relationship between demographic growth and immigration is therefore clear, as immigration currently accounts for 31.4% of the working population, especially in the less qualified segments. But while a strong foreign presence (mainly Chinese, Indonesian, Malaysian and Indian) fuels productive and economic activities and allows Singaporean families to have help with childcare and domestic activities, the demographic pressure on resources and land is one of the biggest headaches for the government and local administrations, along with a tired demographic that is unable to wake up despite all the incentive policies implemented so far.

As the government headed by Lawrence Wong tries to ensure that future management of the land and resources does not complicate or diminish the level of well-being of citizens, the possibility raised by official planning, which anticipates between 6.5 and 6.9 million inhabitants in 2030, has become a matter of concern and debate.

It is no coincidence that the competent authorities have stressed that the unemployment rate of citizens of working age remains limited to 2.8%, while the contribution of foreign residents to the working population is lower than in most OECD countries, of which Singapore is a member.