Singapore population hits record 6.21 million, driven by foreign residents

• Singapore's population reached 6.21 million in June, up 1.6% year-on-year.
• Foreign residents increased by 3.7% to 1.98 million.
• Unemployment was 1.9% in Q2 2026.
• Retrenchments hit their highest level since mid-2020.
• Singapore plans to grant citizenship to up to 30,000 people annually for five years.
• The proportion of residents aged over 65 rose to 19.5% in 2026.

Singapore's population has reached a record high of 6.21 million as of June, marking a 1.6% increase from the previous year, according to government statistics released on Friday. The growth is largely attributed to a 3.7% rise in the number of foreign residents, bringing their total to 1.98 million.

The influx of foreigners can be a sensitive issue for political leaders, particularly when voters are concerned about job security and the cost of living. In 2013, public protests arose against plans to significantly increase immigration, which aimed to boost the population to 6.9 million by 2030.

Despite the increase in retrenchments, which reached their highest level since the middle of the COVID pandemic in 2020, Singapore's unemployment rate remained low at 1.9% in the second quarter of 2026.

To address demographic challenges such as low birth rates and an aging population, Singapore intends to grant citizenship to up to 30,000 individuals annually over the next five years. As of June 2026, the proportion of Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 65 and above increased to 19.5%, up from 18.8% in 2025 and 12.4% in 2016.

In August, Singapore revised its economic growth forecast upwards to a range of 4.5% to 5.5% for 2026, an increase from the previous forecast of 2.0% to 4.0%, following stronger-than-initially-estimated economic growth in the second quarter.