Asia's richest country's population hits record high, driven by foreign residents

Singapore's population has reached a record high, with the city-state recording a 3.7% increase in foreign residents, bringing their total to 1.98 million, as of June 2026. This growth is attributed to the lifting of strict pandemic-related restrictions that had previously led to population declines. While the rising number of foreigners presents potential political sensitivities, particularly concerning jobs and living costs, Singapore's unemployment rate remains low at 1.9%.

The Southeast Asian city-state aims to grant citizenship to up to 30,000 people annually to address demographic challenges, including low birth rates and an aging population. As of June 2026, 19.5% of Singapore's population is aged 65 and above, up from 18.8% in 2025 and 12.4% in 2016. Singapore boasts the highest nominal GDP per capita in Asia, at approximately $107,758, according to IMF data for 2026, with its economic growth forecast raised to 4.5%-5.5% for the year.

Brief written by urgent.news from VnExpress International's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.