Singapore population of 4.99m is older, more likely living alone

Singapore population of 4.99m is older, more likely living alone By channelnewsasia.com | Posted: 28 September 2009 1448 hrs

Population of Singapore at end-June stands at 4.99 million

Singapore: The population of Singapore at the end of June stood at 4.99 million according to the 2009 Population Trends report.

The Department of Statistics report, issued on Monday, also showed that there were 3.73 million Singapore residents and 1.25 million non-residents.

Singapore Residents and Permanent Residents formed 75% of the population, with the resident population growing 2.55% in 2009, from the 3.1% total growth over the previous year.

The statistics compiled through the register-based approach indicated that the number of Singapore citizens grew to 3.20 million. This is as the number of permanent residents rose to 0.53 million, while non-resident numbers eased to a growth of 4.8% compared to 10% seen in earlier years.

The Population Trends report also found that the Singapore population is now older with a median age of 37 years, as the baby boomers of the 1970s move into the 45-64 years age group.

There are also more women in Singapore as the gap widened in 2009, with females outnumbering males by 44,400.

While the number of marriages went up to 24,596, making it the largest number since 2000, it also turned out that more people were marrying late with many still single despite being in their thirties.

However, while more men did marry, more women were widowed, indicating the longer life-span of women.

The fertility rate continued to decline with 1.28 live births per female in 2008 compared to 1.29 a year earlier.

Women were also giving birth later, delaying till the age of 30-34 years, with fewer families opting for a third or fourth child.

Households were small, the report found, with a 10% rise in the number of people living alone.

The Population Trends report also concluded that a 2008 new-born Singapore resident could expect to live some 80 years.

- CNA/sf

More details of the 2009 Population Trends report can be found here


- wong chee tat :)