A Complete Guide for Business, Education and Travel Information

Population of Singapore

Despite lacking natural resources, the densely populated island state of Singapore rose to the status of “first-world” thanks to the sheer hard work, adaptability and resilience of its population. Originally inhabited by Malay fishermen, Singapore's shores brought immigrants from China, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and other parts of the world post-British arrival.

Malay is one of the four official languages of Singapore.The country's national anthem is sung in Malay. However, English is the language of business and administration and is widely spoken and understood. Most Singaporeans are bilingual and speak both their mother tongue as well as English fluently.

Singapore Population Statistics
Year	2011	2012
Total Population ('000)	5076.7	5,183.7
Singapore Residents ('000)	3771.7	3,789.3
Birth Rate (Per 1000 Population)	8.65	9.5
Death Rate (Per 1000 Population)	4.8	4.4
Infant Mortality Rate (Per 1000 Live Births)	2.32	2.0
Life Expectancy at Birth	82.06	81.8

(Source : www.singstat.gov.sg and http://www.indexmundi.com/singapore/birth_rate.html)


Singapore Population Age Pyramid (Source : www.singstat.gov.sg)	Singapore Resident Population (Source : www.singstat.gov.sg)

Before independence, two factors determined Singapore's population: integrative effect of migration and natural increase. But after 1965, the government of Singapore under Prime Minister Lee Yuan Kew imposed strict controls on immigration, granting only temporary residence permits to workers whose labor or skills were considered beneficial to the economy.

According to government statistics for the year 2011, the population of Singapore was around 5,183,700. The dominant ethnic groups are the Chinese (74.1%), Malays (13.4%) and Indians (9.2%). Others (Eurasians, Arabs, Jews) comprise 3.3% of the population. Literacy rate of Singapore stands at 95.9%.

Since independence, the Singapore government has implemented effective population control policies through publicity, exhortation, material incentives and disincentives. The Family Planning and Population Board set up in 1966 played a major role in population control as it provided clinical services and public education on family planning. Throughout the 1970s, Singapore experienced low-birth rates and this, in turn, resulted in increase of income, education, women's participation in paid employment and control of diseases. By the 80s, the government became concerned about the low rate of population growth and revamped its family planning programme by offering new package of incentives.

Singapore has an approximate population of 5,183,700. This makes it the 114th from a global perspective.
Approximately 76 percent of the people in Singapore are of Chinese origin and almost 7.9% are ethically Indian.
Singapore has a population growth rate of almost 1.993 percent. It is the 51st best in the world in this regard.
Almost 13.9 percent of the Singaporean population has its roots in Malaysia.
Singapore approximate birth rate is 7.72 per 1000 people, which places it in the 219th position in the world.
77% of Singapore’s population is in the 15 to 64 years age group followed by 13.8% in the 14 years and under group.
The median age in Singapore is 40.1 years with women having a median age of 40.6 years. The men in Singapore have a median age of 39.6 years.
It has a net migration rate of 15.62 people per 1000 people. It occupies the 6th position in the world in this regard.