Singapore's population grows 5 per cent as foreign workers return post-pandemic

Singapore’s population increased by 5 per cent in a year as overseas workers returned to the city-state following the epidemic, according to figures released on Friday.

Singapore had a population of 5.9 million people in June, up from 5.6 million in June of the previous year. Sixty-one per cent were Singaporeans, 9 per cent were permanent residents, and 30 per cent were foreigners working or studying in the nation.

The majority of the population growth was due to foreign employment, with 162,000 foreign workers arriving in Singapore between June 2022 and June this year.

According to the National Population and Talent Division, the highest rise was seen among construction, maritime shipyard, and process employees, as contractors employed more personnel to complete projects that had been postponed due to the epidemic.

The labour market has remained tight since the country dropped pandemic restrictions last April, with total employment at 3.8 per cent above its pre-pandemic level in Q1 this year.

The economy grew 3.6 per cent in 2022.

The government, however, expects growth to be sluggish this year. The ministry in August narrowed its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent this year from 0.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent previously.

In 2020, Singapore’s population shrank by 2 per cent. It was the first time the population had fallen since the 1970s as 47,000 foreigners left amid strict Covid-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions.

The population shrank further in 2021 as 147,000 foreign workers left Singapore, causing the population to drop to 5.45 million.