Singapore's population reaches 6.21 million amid economic expansion

Singapore's population climbed to 6.21 million, reflecting a 1.6 per cent increase driven largely by foreign workers filling labour demand across key sectors. Citizens comprised 3.68 million of the total population, according to latest official figures. The expansion underscores the city-state's reliance on migrant labour to sustain economic growth and undertake major development initiatives. Construction emerged as the primary driver of work permit holder growth, as companies mobilised additional resources to meet demands from signature projects including Changi Airport's Terminal 5 expansion. The sector also supported acceleration in the residential construction pipeline, as Singapore moves to increase housing supply to meet long-term demand. Economists note that managed population growth remains critical to Singapore's economic strategy, allowing the island to maintain labour-intensive sectors while expanding infrastructure capabilities. The figures reflect broader demographic trends in the region, where developed economies increasingly depend on skilled and semi-skilled foreign workforces to sustain development trajectories.