Singapore's population is at its lowest in over a decade since the government tightened immigration, according to figures released by the Statistics Department of Singapore on September 25.
By June 2014, the city-state's population was 5.47 million, up 1.3 percent year-on-year. The birth rate fell to 1.19 births per woman in 2013, compared to 1.29 in 2012.
While Singaporean nationals numbered 3.34 million, up 0.9 percent from the year before, permanent foreign residents totalled 527,700, down 0.7 percent.
Currently, almost a third of the country’s population are foreign non-residents living, working, and studying in Singapore who have not been granted permanent residency status.
In total, foreigners make up nearly 40 percent of Singapore’s population.
However, local citizens have complained that they are forced to compete with foreign workers for jobs. Furthermore, concerns have been raised over the issue of overcrowding on the wealthy but small island.
To address the issue of mass immigration, the government has implemented a number of measures to limit the amount of foreigners being hired and restrict permanent residency.
In an effort to increase population growth, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged young Singaporean couples to have more children and boost birth rates.-VNA
By June 2014, the city-state's population was 5.47 million, up 1.3 percent year-on-year. The birth rate fell to 1.19 births per woman in 2013, compared to 1.29 in 2012.
While Singaporean nationals numbered 3.34 million, up 0.9 percent from the year before, permanent foreign residents totalled 527,700, down 0.7 percent.
Currently, almost a third of the country’s population are foreign non-residents living, working, and studying in Singapore who have not been granted permanent residency status.
In total, foreigners make up nearly 40 percent of Singapore’s population.
However, local citizens have complained that they are forced to compete with foreign workers for jobs. Furthermore, concerns have been raised over the issue of overcrowding on the wealthy but small island.
To address the issue of mass immigration, the government has implemented a number of measures to limit the amount of foreigners being hired and restrict permanent residency.
In an effort to increase population growth, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged young Singaporean couples to have more children and boost birth rates.-VNA
