http://www.thegovmonitor.com/world_...es-2010-population-in-brief-report-34158.html
Singapore Releases 2010 Population In Brief Report
Source: Government of Singapore Posted on: 22nd June 2010
Singapore’s total population grew by 3.1% in 2009 over the previous year.
Growth was recorded across citizens (+1.1%), permanent residents (PR; +11.5%) and non-residents (+4.8%).
Amid the global recession, growth in the non-resident population had slowed significantly compared to the 19.0% increase in 2008 over 2007.
Singapore continues to face significant population challenges, brought about by persistently low fertility rates and consequently an aging population. We will continue to adopt a three-prong approach of supporting more Singaporeans in getting married and having more children, facilitating the naturalization and integration of suitable foreigners, and engaging our Overseas Singaporeans.
The proportion of residents (i.e. citizens and PRs) aged 65 and above increased from 7.0% of the resident population in 1999 to 8.8% in 2009. Correspondingly, the number of younger residents aged 15-64 for every resident aged 65 and above (i.e. the old-age support ratio) fell from 10.1 in 1999 to 8.3 in 2009.
The low fertility rates over the past 30 years have resulted in a much smaller proportion of young residents in the population. With increasing life expectancy and decreasing fertility rate, the proportion of residents aged 65 and above will continue to rise. The old-age support ratio is expected to continue decreasing as the population ages.
Singlehood and Marriage
More citizens are not getting married. Among citizens aged 30-34, the proportion of singles in 2009 (41.9% for males and 29.8% for females) was significantly higher compared to 1999 (33.2% for males and 21.7% for
females). Singlehood rates were the highest among males with below secondary educational qualifications and among females with university qualifications
Citizens who do get married are doing so at a later age. Between 1999 and 2009, the median age of citizens at first marriage increased from 28.4 to 29.9 years for males, and from 25.9 to 27.4 years for females
Overall, the general marriage rate for citizen males decreased from 53.1 per 1,000 unmarried males in 1999 to 41.5 in 2009, while that for citizen females decreased from 56.0 to 38.2 over the same period
Proportionately more citizens are marrying non-citizens. Of all marriages involving citizens, the share of those between citizens and noncitizens increased from 30.7% in 1999 to 40.8% in 2009 (Chart 6). Marriages
between citizen grooms and non-citizen brides in particular made up 78.0% of all such marriages in 2009. The majority of the non-citizen spouses originated from Asia, although non-citizen grooms came from more diverse regions
Fertility
As Singaporeans get married later in life, they also start to have children later. The median age of citizen mothers at first birth increased from 28.6 years in 1999 to 29.6 years in 2009
Singaporeans are also having fewer children. The average number of children born to ever-married females aged 30-49 years had declined in the past decade. The decline was more pronounced among the younger cohorts aged 30-39 years. Based on current trends, this group is less likely to achieve an average of two children by the time they reach 40-49 years old
In 2009, 8.9% of ever-married citizen females aged 40-49 years were childless, an increase from 7.2% in 1999. In comparison, the proportion of ever-married citizen females aged 30-39 years who were childless had increased significantly over the past decade, from 14.4% in 1999 to 20.6% in 2009. The trend among the younger cohort aged 30-39 years suggests that more could remain childless by the time they reach 40-49 years old
The global recession in late 2008 could have contributed to the decline in births in 2009, although the impact was smaller compared to the past economic downturns. The number of citizen births declined by 1.8% from 32,423 in 2008 to 31,842 in 2009 (Chart 11). In comparison, citizen births declined by 8.6% during the SARS episode in 2003, and 12.5% during the global recession in 2001. The introduction of the marriage and parenthood (M&P) package in August 2008 may have helped to cushion the decline in births. The Government will continue to monitor fertility trends as the economy picks up in 2010.
Overall, the fertility rates for the prime childbearing age group of 20- 34 years declined between 1999 and 2009. The peak childbearing age group also shifted from 25-29 to 30-34 years
Singapore’s resident total fertility rate (TFR) reached a historic low of 1.22 in 2009. The Chinese (1.08) continued to have the lowest TFR, followed by Indians (1.14) and Malays (1.82). The TFR for Malays showed the most significant decline over the past decade
Immigration
The Government has tightened the immigration framework and has started to calibrate the inflow of new immigrants since the last quarter of 2009. There were 59,460 new PRs and 19,928 new citizens in 2009, lower than the 79,167 new PRs and 20,513 new citizens in 2008. A large majority of the new residents in 2009 had post secondary educational qualifications (Chart 14), which adds to diversity of skills in our population. The
Government will continue to ensure that new immigrants are of suitable quality and are able to integrate well into Singapore society.
Overseas Singaporeans
As of June 2009, there were 180,700 Singaporeans who were overseas for a cumulative period of six months or more in the previous 12 months. Most Overseas Singaporeans (OS) were aged between 20 and 54 (63%). This is expected as most OS venture overseas to work or study
OS are part of the Singaporean family. To help them stay connected to Singapore and their fellow Singaporeans, the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU) has put in place various initiatives such as the OS Portal (www.overseassingaporean.sg) and OS Clubs, as well as outreach events such as Singapore Day and the Distinguished Business Leaders Series.
Today, the OS Portal has around 27,000 members. We have also reached out to more than 22,000 OS through our events in 2009.
Singapore Releases 2010 Population In Brief Report
Source: Government of Singapore Posted on: 22nd June 2010
Singapore’s total population grew by 3.1% in 2009 over the previous year.
Growth was recorded across citizens (+1.1%), permanent residents (PR; +11.5%) and non-residents (+4.8%).
Amid the global recession, growth in the non-resident population had slowed significantly compared to the 19.0% increase in 2008 over 2007.
Singapore continues to face significant population challenges, brought about by persistently low fertility rates and consequently an aging population. We will continue to adopt a three-prong approach of supporting more Singaporeans in getting married and having more children, facilitating the naturalization and integration of suitable foreigners, and engaging our Overseas Singaporeans.
The proportion of residents (i.e. citizens and PRs) aged 65 and above increased from 7.0% of the resident population in 1999 to 8.8% in 2009. Correspondingly, the number of younger residents aged 15-64 for every resident aged 65 and above (i.e. the old-age support ratio) fell from 10.1 in 1999 to 8.3 in 2009.
The low fertility rates over the past 30 years have resulted in a much smaller proportion of young residents in the population. With increasing life expectancy and decreasing fertility rate, the proportion of residents aged 65 and above will continue to rise. The old-age support ratio is expected to continue decreasing as the population ages.
Singlehood and Marriage
More citizens are not getting married. Among citizens aged 30-34, the proportion of singles in 2009 (41.9% for males and 29.8% for females) was significantly higher compared to 1999 (33.2% for males and 21.7% for
females). Singlehood rates were the highest among males with below secondary educational qualifications and among females with university qualifications
Citizens who do get married are doing so at a later age. Between 1999 and 2009, the median age of citizens at first marriage increased from 28.4 to 29.9 years for males, and from 25.9 to 27.4 years for females
Overall, the general marriage rate for citizen males decreased from 53.1 per 1,000 unmarried males in 1999 to 41.5 in 2009, while that for citizen females decreased from 56.0 to 38.2 over the same period
Proportionately more citizens are marrying non-citizens. Of all marriages involving citizens, the share of those between citizens and noncitizens increased from 30.7% in 1999 to 40.8% in 2009 (Chart 6). Marriages
between citizen grooms and non-citizen brides in particular made up 78.0% of all such marriages in 2009. The majority of the non-citizen spouses originated from Asia, although non-citizen grooms came from more diverse regions
Fertility
As Singaporeans get married later in life, they also start to have children later. The median age of citizen mothers at first birth increased from 28.6 years in 1999 to 29.6 years in 2009
Singaporeans are also having fewer children. The average number of children born to ever-married females aged 30-49 years had declined in the past decade. The decline was more pronounced among the younger cohorts aged 30-39 years. Based on current trends, this group is less likely to achieve an average of two children by the time they reach 40-49 years old
In 2009, 8.9% of ever-married citizen females aged 40-49 years were childless, an increase from 7.2% in 1999. In comparison, the proportion of ever-married citizen females aged 30-39 years who were childless had increased significantly over the past decade, from 14.4% in 1999 to 20.6% in 2009. The trend among the younger cohort aged 30-39 years suggests that more could remain childless by the time they reach 40-49 years old
The global recession in late 2008 could have contributed to the decline in births in 2009, although the impact was smaller compared to the past economic downturns. The number of citizen births declined by 1.8% from 32,423 in 2008 to 31,842 in 2009 (Chart 11). In comparison, citizen births declined by 8.6% during the SARS episode in 2003, and 12.5% during the global recession in 2001. The introduction of the marriage and parenthood (M&P) package in August 2008 may have helped to cushion the decline in births. The Government will continue to monitor fertility trends as the economy picks up in 2010.
Overall, the fertility rates for the prime childbearing age group of 20- 34 years declined between 1999 and 2009. The peak childbearing age group also shifted from 25-29 to 30-34 years
Singapore’s resident total fertility rate (TFR) reached a historic low of 1.22 in 2009. The Chinese (1.08) continued to have the lowest TFR, followed by Indians (1.14) and Malays (1.82). The TFR for Malays showed the most significant decline over the past decade
Immigration
The Government has tightened the immigration framework and has started to calibrate the inflow of new immigrants since the last quarter of 2009. There were 59,460 new PRs and 19,928 new citizens in 2009, lower than the 79,167 new PRs and 20,513 new citizens in 2008. A large majority of the new residents in 2009 had post secondary educational qualifications (Chart 14), which adds to diversity of skills in our population. The
Government will continue to ensure that new immigrants are of suitable quality and are able to integrate well into Singapore society.
Overseas Singaporeans
As of June 2009, there were 180,700 Singaporeans who were overseas for a cumulative period of six months or more in the previous 12 months. Most Overseas Singaporeans (OS) were aged between 20 and 54 (63%). This is expected as most OS venture overseas to work or study
OS are part of the Singaporean family. To help them stay connected to Singapore and their fellow Singaporeans, the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU) has put in place various initiatives such as the OS Portal (www.overseassingaporean.sg) and OS Clubs, as well as outreach events such as Singapore Day and the Distinguished Business Leaders Series.
Today, the OS Portal has around 27,000 members. We have also reached out to more than 22,000 OS through our events in 2009.
