MigrantoImmigrants in Singapore
2.7M foreigners live in Singapore — 45% of the country's population
Immigrants in Singapore by country
The 3 largest groups make up 91% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Malaysia | 1553249 |
| China | 533745 |
| India | 377038 |
| Indonesia | 180437 |
| USA | 26705 |
| Australia | 17222 |
| Taiwan | 11137 |
| Hong Kong | 3584 |
| New Zealand | 3378 |
| Canada | 3197 |
By region of origin
98% of immigrants come from Asia
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Key facts
Immigrants in Singapore in numbers
Immigration drives population growth
67% of the population growth of Singapore since 1990 came from immigrants.
64% of all emigrants from Malaysia live in Singapore
No other country has more people born in Malaysia.
Malaysians are the largest group by a wide margin
57% of all immigrants were born in Malaysia, while the next group accounts for just 20%.
1 in 2 residents of Singapore was born abroad
2.7M of 6M residents were born abroad — 44.9% of the population.
More immigrants come from a single country than in 1990
The largest group's share rose from 49% to 57%, and today that group is people born in Malaysia.
Immigrant population in Singapore over time
Foreigners living in Singapore, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 712788 |
| 1995 | 968636 |
| 2000 | 1285531 |
| 2005 | 1414923 |
| 2010 | 2025010 |
| 2015 | 2399793 |
| 2020 | 2457314 |
| 2024 | 2709692 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Singapore, by year
| Year | Malaysians | Chinese | Indians | Indonesians | Americans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 349149 | 261603 | 48762 | 38441 | 3272 |
| 1995 | 515743 | 306636 | 73539 | 53142 | 4989 |
| 2000 | 733158 | 347062 | 108733 | 71417 | 7372 |
| 2005 | 785955 | 358888 | 149282 | 91676 | 10173 |
| 2010 | 1085108 | 480475 | 263621 | 151605 | 17952 |
| 2015 | 1318217 | 532271 | 321966 | 172869 | 22252 |
| 2020 | 1384577 | 509007 | 336901 | 169056 | 23638 |
| 2024 | 1553249 | 533745 | 377038 | 180437 | 26705 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Singapore
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Singapore
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Singapore?
Around 2.7M immigrants live in Singapore — the world's #25 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Singapore are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 45% of the population of Singapore — that's 2.7M out of a total population of 6M.
Where do most immigrants in Singapore come from?
Most immigrants in Singapore come from Malaysia, China and India — these three countries account for about 91% of all immigrants.
How many Malaysians live in Singapore?
Around 1.6M Malaysians live in Singapore — about 57% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Singapore growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Singapore has grown from 2.4M to 2.7M, about 13%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Singapore come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Singapore. Their children born in Singapore are not included.
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Living in Singapore
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