Channel NewsAsia 4 Feb 08;
SINGAPORE: The Singapore resident population - comprising citizens and permanent residents - hit some 3.58 million (3,583,100) by end of June last year, compared to 3.53 million (3,525,900) at the end of June 2006.
But the Department of Statistics says the latest figures showed that Singapore's total population as at end of June this year was 4.59 million (4,588,600).
This includes the non-resident population, which increased to slightly over one million by end-June 2007 (1,005,500) compared to 875,500 in the previous year. - CNA/ir
Singapore population hits 4.6 million
Number of foreigners increasing faster than citizens, PRs
Business Times 5 Feb 08;
SINGAPORE'S economic planners think the country can hold 6.5 million people, a size they feel will be ideal to keep the economy humming.
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, however, feels the optimum population size for tiny Singapore might be smaller, between 5 and 5.5 million.
The latest numbers released yesterday by the Singapore Department of Statistics - after some refinements that exclude persons who were away for at least 12 months continuously, in line with United Nations guidelines - show that Singapore is just less than one million people away from hitting that figure recently suggested by Mr Lee.
Singapore's total population has swelled to 4.6 million - and that was seven months ago.
The drive to attract foreign talent to make up the local shortage is apparently bearing fruit. The number of foreigners who work and live here has crossed the one-million mark.
In the past five years, the figure grew three times as fast as the number of Singaporeans and permanent residents.
The result: foreigners made up 22 per cent of Singapore's total population as at June 2007, up from 18 per cent in 2003. From 2006 to 2007, the number of foreigners jumped nearly 15 per cent to 1,005,500.
Locals and permanent residents rose by less than 2 per cent to 3,583,100.
Away for over 12 months? You won't be counted...
Keith Lin, Straits Times 5 Feb 08;
SINGAPOREANS and permanent residents who stay abroad for a continuous period of at least 12 months are now excluded from its population count.
The move follows Singapore's decision to adopt a recommendation of the United Nations (UN), which considers people who are away from the country for 12 months or more as having their usual residence overseas.
This group includes those studying abroad, working overseas and those who have emigrated but have not given up their citizenship.
With the revision, Singapore's resident population - made up of citizens and PRs - is 3.58 million as at end-June last year.
Including foreigners, Singapore's total population adds up to 4.59 million, below the pre-revision 4.68 million.
The change was announced yesterday by the Department of Statistics.
Calculations from its website's figures show that in the last five years, the number of Singapore residents away continuously for more than 12 months hovers between 70,000 and 90,000.
In 2003, they totalled around 80,000 and 90,000 as at end-June last year.
Demographers interviewed said the revision would prevent double-counting and help the authorities plan resource allocation better.
Calling the move 'sensible', Professor Gavin Jones from the National University of Singapore's Asia Research Institute, said: 'Obviously, somebody who is away for years is not going to be studying in the schools here or using the MRT.'
Consultant demographer G. Shantakumar said the new measure helps the UN resolve the problem of double-counting when it makes global population projections.
'A situation where two countries count one particular person as part of their individual population can be avoided,' he said.
The change does not affect the number of foreigners living here, which is around 1.01 million as at last June, a 15 per cent rise over 2006.
