Our data explained
Singapore adopts the De Jure population concept where the count of the population is based on a person’s place of usual residence. Singapore residents (citizens and permanent residents) with valid local addresses and who were not away from Singapore for a continuous period of 12 months or longer are included in the total population count. Non-residents comprising foreigners who were working, studying or living in Singapore but not granted permanent residence are also included in the total population. The transient population, such as tourists and short-term visitors, are excluded.
For more information, check out the Understanding Singapore's Population Estimates infographic.
A household refers to (i) a group of two or more people living together in the same house and sharing common food or other essential arrangements for living; or (ii) a person living alone or a person living with others but having his/her own food or other essential arrangements for living. Although persons may be living in the same house, they may not be members of the same household. For example, a family renting out a room to a tenant – if the tenant does not share or have meals with the family, the tenant belongs to a separate household.
Conducted once in ten years, the (COP) is the single largest household survey undertaken in Singapore. It collects information on key characteristics of the population and households. The most recent COP was conducted in 2020. For more information, you may access the Detailed Census 2020 releases.
Watch this video to understand the evolution of census-taking in Singapore over the years.
Glossary
Age Dependency Ratio
Old-age dependency ratio is the number of persons aged 65 years and over per hundred persons aged 15 - 64 years; or the number of persons aged 65 years and over per hundred persons aged 20 - 64 years. The child dependency ratio is defined as the number of persons aged below 15 years per hundred persons aged 15-64 years; or the number of persons aged below 20 years per hundred persons aged 20-64 years.
Citizenship by Descent
Citizenship by Descent refers to citizenships granted to children born overseas to at least one Singaporean parent.
Ethnic Group
Ethnic group is obtained from administrative sources and as declared by the person. The population is classified into the following four categories, namely Chinese, Malays, Indians and Other Ethnic Groups. Chinese refers to persons of Chinese origin such as Hokkiens, Teochews, Cantonese, Hakkas, Hainanese, Foochows, Henghuas, Shanghainese, Hockchias, etc. Malays include persons of Malay or Indonesian origin, such as Javanese, Boyanese, etc. Indians include persons of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Sri Lankan origin such as Tamils, Malayalees, Hindis, Sikhs, etc. Other Ethnic Groups comprise all persons other than Chinese, Malays and Indians. They include Eurasians, Caucasians, Fillipinos, Burmese, Arabs, Thais etc.
Natural Increase
Natural increase refers to the number of live-births in excess of the number of deaths.
Non-Resident Population
Non-resident population comprises foreigners who were working, studying or living in Singapore but not granted permanent residence. It excludes tourists and short-term visitors.
Old-Age Support Ratio
Old-age support ratio is the number of persons aged 15 - 64 years per person aged 65 years and over; or the number of persons aged 20 - 64 years per person aged 65 years and over.
Overseas Citizens
Overseas Singaporeans are defined as Singapore citizens with a registered foreign address or who are away for a cumulative period of at least 6 months in the past 12 months prior to the reference date (i.e. end-June each year). This would include frequent travellers who have their usual residence in Singapore but travel overseas for the greater part of the reference period.
Nature Increase
Natural increase refers to the number of live-births in excess of the number of deaths
Rate of Natural Increase
Rate of natural increase is natural increase divided by the mid-year population of the reference year, expressed as per thousand population.
Resident Population
Resident population comprises Singapore citizens and permanent residents. The latter group refers to non-citizens who have been granted permanent residence in Singapore.
Residential Status
Singapore citizens and permanent residents are classified as Singapore residents or the resident population. Permanent residents refer to non-citizens who have been granted permanent residence in Singapore. The non-resident population comprised foreigners who were working, studying or living in Singapore but not granted permanent residence, excluding tourists and short-term visitors.
Sex Ratio
Sex ratio refers to the number of males per thousand females in the population.
Singapore Residents
Singapore residents comprises Singapore citizens and permanent residents. The latter group refers to non-citizens who have been granted permanent residence in Singapore.
Total Population
Total population comprises Singapore residents (i.e Singapore citizens and permanent residents) and non-residents.
Type of Dwelling
A dwelling refers to a building or part of a building used or intended to be used by one or more persons as living quarters. Each dwelling has its own separate entrance with direct access to a public road or pathway. A dwelling may be a residential building by itself, or a unit in a residential building, or part of a non-residential building such as a shop or factory with space used as living quarters. Dwellings are broadly classified into the three categories: Housing and Development Board (HDB) properties, condominiums and other apartments, and landed properties. For data from 2012, the Singapore Standard Classification of Type of Dwelling (Jan 2012) is used to classify the type of dwelling.