S'pore's population increased to 6.1 million in 2025, largely due to increase in non-residents

The number of births in Singapore increased between 2023 and 2024, despite the number of marriages decreasing in that period, according to a population report released by key agencies on Sep. 29, 2025.

Singapore's population size also increased slightly, largely due to the increase in the number of foreigners, including migrant workers.

Fewer marriages

Compared to the 24,355 citizen marriages in 2023, there were 22,955 citizen marriages in 2024, a 5.7 per cent decrease.

The average number of citizen marriages per year from 2020 to 2024 also dipped slightly to 23,000, as compared to 23,600 in the same five-year frame from 2015 to 2019.

Of citizen marriages in 2024, 37 per cent of them were transnational, which means both parties did not originate from the same country.

Meanwhile, the number of transnational marriages, where both parties originate from different countries, and inter-ethnic marriages, where both parties are of different ethnic groups, remained mostly stable at 37 per cent and 19 per cent respectively.

There has been a notable increase in single males and females in recent years, with individuals between 25 and 29 years old and 30 and 34 years old forming the bulk of this group.

More births

There was also an increase in the number of citizen births from 2023 to 2024, with a 1.2 per cent jump from 28,877 to 29,237.

However, the average number of births per year from 2020 to 2024 dropped from the previous five-year period from 2015 to 2019, from 32,900 to 30,400.

Over the past decade, the median age of mothers having their first child has increased from 30.3 years in 2014 to 31.6 years in 2024.

Generational shift

Singaporean families are generally getting smaller with fewer children per family.

Married women without children increased from 6.7 per cent in 2004 to 14.4 per cent in 2024, while married women with only one child increased from 15.9 per cent in 2004 to 22.8 per cent in 2024.

This increase is attributed to a "generational shift", the report stated, as is the case across many other advanced societies.

This means that younger Singaporeans may prioritise other life goals before marriage and parenthood, and marry later or choose not to have children.

Those who later attempt to have children at an older age also face greater difficulties conceiving.

Marriage and parenthood decisions are affected by a number of factors, including costs of raising children, juggling work and family commitments and societal expectations of parenthood, a survey found.

Singapore's total fertility rate (TFR) remained unchanged from 2023 to 2024, at 0.97, which means that, on average, 0.97 children are born to a woman throughout her lifetime.

However, about 80 per cent of young Singaporeans continue to desire marriage and having children, while more than one-third of married couples aspire to have three or more children.

More foreigners

Singapore's total population size as of June 2025 was 6.11 million, a 1.2 per cent increase from June 2024.

The growth was largely due to an increase in the non-resident population, in particular construction Work Permit Holders and Migrant Domestic Workers, the report found.

Non-residents, which include migrant workers and international students, stood at 1.92 million.

The citizen population increased by 0.7 per cent, from 3.64 million in June 2024 to 3.66 million in June 2025, while the Permanent Resident (PR) population stayed relatively constant at 0.54 million.

Ageing population

At the same time, Singapore's population continues to age, and at a faster pace than in the last decade, the report stated.

The proportion of citizens aged 65 years and above increased from 13.1 per cent in 2015 to 20.7 per cent in 2025, especially since the "Baby Boomer" generation has started to enter the post-65 range.

Citizens aged 80 and above also increased by about 60 per cent, from 91,000 in 2015 to 145,000 in 2025.

It is projected that by 2030, about one in four citizens will be at least 65 years old.

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