What is the aim of Government population policies?

[Updated as of 2 Oct 2024]

Our population size is affected by many factors, including birth rates, life expectancy, as well as global developments. The Government aims to achieve a careful balance between these factors to ensure a sustainable Singapore with a cohesive society and vibrant economy that improves Singaporeans’ lives.

The Government does not seek to achieve any particular population size. We monitor our population trends closely, and regularly review our population policies along with infrastructure and social development needs. An update on our population outlook was provided in Parliament in March 2018. At that update, the Government said that given recent trends, Singapore’s total population is likely to be significantly below 6.9 million by 2030. This outlook remains valid today^[1].

^[1] Update as of Sep 2024: Subsequent updates have since been provided in Parliament reiterating the same point. At the 2023 Committee of Supply debate, Minister Indranee Rajah shared that the population was likely to be significantly below 6.9 million by 2030, and that based on the various scenarios that the Government had, the planning parameter of 6.9 million remained relevant for the 2030s.