S’pore population increase in 2026 mainly due to growth in number of construction workers
Singapore’s population has grown to 6.21 million as of June 2026, a 1.6% increase from a year earlier.
It comes as Singapore became a “super-aged” society this year, with 21.4% of citizens aged 65 and above, said the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) on Friday (25 Sept).
Source: Keith Yap on Unsplash
6.21M population includes 1.98M non-residents
The figures were released in NPTD’s annual Population In Brief report, which highlights key Singapore demographic trends.
NPTD said the population total comprises 3.68 million citizens and 0.55 million permanent residents (PRs).
The rest of the population was made up of 1.98 million non-residents, which included foreign workers of all pass types, their dependants and international students.
Source: National Population and Talent Division
Non-resident population grew the most in 2026
Of the three groups, the non-resident population increased the most — by 3.7%, from 1.91 million in June 2025.
In contrast, the citizen population rose by just 0.7% to 3.68 million, from 3.66 million.
The number of PRs remained “relatively stable”, growing by about 10,000 from a year earlier.
Source: National Population and Talent Division
Construction sector ramped up workforce for key projects
NPTD said the increase in non-residents was mainly due to a rise in the number of work-permit holders, followed by migrant domestic workers.
In particular, the construction sector ramped up its workforce to support key projects such as Changi Airport Terminal 5 and the expansion of the Marina Bay Sands, as well as to boost housing supply and transport infrastructure.
Foreign employment growth in Singapore was higher in the year before June 2026, compared with the previous year, NPTD noted.
Source: National Population and Talent Division
This was primarily due to an increase in work-permit holders, who now make up about two-thirds of the non-resident population.
S’pore now ‘super-aged’ society with 21.4% of citizens 65 & above
Another notable point in this year’s update is that Singapore has now attained “super-aged society” status, NPTD said.
21.4% of citizens are now aged 65 and above, compared with 13.7% in 2016.
A society becomes “super-aged” when at least 21% of its citizens are aged 65 and above, according to the Ministry of Health.
Proportion of post-65 citizens rising at faster pace
NPTD said the proportion of Singapore citizens in the post-65 age range is rising at a faster pace compared with the last decade.
This comes as “large cohorts of baby boomers” enter this age range.
Source: National Population and Talent Division
The number of citizens in the post-80 age range also grew by as much as 60% since 2016, from 95,000 to 152,000 currently.
Source: National Population and Talent Division
Reflecting this shift, the median age of citizens also increased to 44.1 years old, from 41 in 2016.
Source: National Population and Talent Division
More aged people in future
The future is expected to become even more aged, as an estimated 26.1% of citizens — or more than one in four — will be aged 65 and above in 2035.
However, the proportion of citizens aged from 20 to 64 years old should remain “broadly stable” between 2030 and 2035 due to smaller cohorts entering the post-65 age band.
This will be balanced by younger cohorts entering the 20 to 64 age band, including from “managed immigration inflows”, NPTD said.
Source: National Population and Talent Division
Immigration stops citizen population from shrinking
Speaking of immigration, NPTD maintained that it helps “moderate the impact” of ageing and low birth rates.
This keeps the number of citizens from shrinking over the long term.
The Government continues to maintain “a measured pace of immigration”, it said, adding that 25,094 people were gained citizenship and 35,352 gained PR in 2025.
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Featured image adapted from Keith Yap on Unsplash and MS News.
