Singapore population at 5.6m in June

SINGAPORE - Singapore's total population by the end of June this year stood at 5.61 million. This is made up of 3.41 million citizens, 0.52 million permanent residents (PRs), and 1.67 million non-residents.

Total population growth - at 1.3 per cent this year - has remained "relatively stable at about 1.2 per cent to 1.3 per cent since 2014", the Department of Statistics (SingStat) said in its Population Trends 2016 report released today (Sept 27).

The annual growth rate of citizens was at 1.0 per cent; while the number of PRs in Singapore actually shrunk, with the growth rate at minus 0.6 per cent. Growth rate of non-residents was 2.5 per cent, compared to 2.1 per cent and 2.9 per cent in 2015 and 2014 respectively.

The National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) said in its Population in Brief 2016 report that non-resident population growth (2.5 per cent) was higher as "there was stronger growth in the number of Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) and dependants of Singaporeans who are on Long-Term Visit Passes".

"The increase in FDW population growth reflects Singaporeans' rising desire to augment their own care for their children and elderly," the report added.

Median age up

Median age of the resident population (citizens and PRs) edged up ever so slightly to 40.0, from 39.6 a year ago, according to SingStat. Median age of citizens is also up to 41.0 from 40.7, NPTD said.

Gender ratio steady

The gender ratio of residents held steady from last year to remain at 49.1 per cent male and 50.9 per cent female. There are 963 males per 1,000 females, according to SingStat.

Citizen marriages highest in over 10 years

NPTD said in its report that "citizen marriages in the last two years was the highest in more than a decade", with 23,805 citizen marriages in 2015. The median age at first marriage remained stable at 30.1 for men and 27.9 for women.

A third of citizen marriages last year involved transnational couples, it added.

Citizen births increased

Number of citizen births increased in 2015, for the second year, to 33,725. Total fertility rate for residents was "relatively stable" at 1.24 in 2015, the NPTD report said. It was down ever so slightly from 1.25 in 2014. Median age of citizen mothers at first birth remained at 30.3.

sinsh@sph.com.sg