People & Society
Photo credits: Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth
A strong and cohesive Singapore society is one that embraces diversity. Singapore has a rich history of welcoming people of different cultures and backgrounds; many Singaporeans can trace their ancestry beyond the country’s shores.
The coexistence and intermixing of cultures continue today. 19% of citizen marriages last year were inter-ethnic (Chart 8)[1]. This proportion has remained largely stable over the last ten years. Transnational marriages made up 37% of citizen marriages in 2024 (Chart 9). This proportion has remained largely stable over the last ten years, barring dips in the COVID years of 2020 and 2021[2].
Chart 8: Inter-ethnic marriages as a proportion of citizen marriages
Source: Department of Statistics
The figures are based on the full calendar year (January to December).
Chart 9: Transnational marriages as a proportion of citizen marriages
Source: Department of Statistics
The figures are based on the full calendar year (January to December).
Immigration helps to moderate the impact of ageing and low birth rates on our citizen population, and keeps the citizen population from shrinking over the long term. Our PRs and new citizens also add to the vibrancy of Singapore’s society and economy.
Singapore takes in a carefully controlled number of PRs and new citizens each year. We are careful to grant citizenships and PRs to individuals who can contribute to Singapore, integrate well, and are committed to making Singapore their home. Many of our new citizens and PRs either share family ties with Singaporeans (for example, through marriage), or have studied, worked or lived in Singapore for some time.
All new adult citizens come from our pool of PRs, as individuals have to obtain permanent residency before they may apply for citizenship in Singapore[3]. Our PR population size remains stable at around half a million, with the majority of our PRs aged between 25 and 59 years (Chart 10).
Chart 10: Age pyramid of resident population, as at June 2025
Source: Department of Statistics
We continue to maintain a measured pace of immigration. In 2024, 22,766 individuals were granted citizenship and 35,264 individuals were granted permanent residency. The average number of citizenships and permanent residencies granted per year over the last five years (21,300 citizenships and 33,000 permanent residencies) was slightly higher than over the preceding five years (20,500 citizenships and 31,700 permanent residencies) (Chart 11).
Chart 11: Number of Citizenships and Permanent Residencies granted
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
The figures are based on the full calendar year (January to December).
Note: From 2025, to more accurately reflect immigration inflows and birth statistics, the figures for total number of citizenships granted exclude the category of citizenships by descent. This category is instead included under the Marriage & Parenthood section. Citizenship by descent is based on a constitutional entitlement to citizenship for children born overseas to at least one Singaporean parent, akin to how children born in Singapore to at least one Singaporean parent are constitutionally entitled to citizenship by birth.
The exact number of PRs and citizenships granted each year depends on several factors, including the number and quality of applications received and our changing needs. Various markers of integration are considered, such as family ties to Singaporeans, length of residency, and whether they have studied in our national schools or completed National Service. Other factors considered include the applicant’s economic contributions, qualifications and age.
It is important for new citizens and PRs to be integrated into our communities. To help them along, the National Integration Council (NIC) supports initiatives such as the Singapore Citizenship Journey (SCJ), a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), the People's Association (PA) and the Immigrations & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). All naturalised citizens go through the SCJ to enrich their understanding of Singapore’s history, norms and values, and build stronger ties with the local community. A nation-wide grassroots network of more than 1,500 Integration and Naturalisation Champions (INCs) also helps drive integration efforts within their local communities.
Our integration efforts seek to create acceptance, mutual understanding and mutual respect between locals and foreigners. Fostering social integration and cohesion is a whole-of-society effort; as the newcomers learn and adapt to local values and norms, we can play our part by reaching out and helping them understand our local culture and way of life.
[1] Inter-ethnic marriages refer to marriages between persons of different ethnic groups, namely Chinese, Malay, Indian and Others.
[2] Transnational marriages refer to marriages between a citizen and a non-citizen (i.e. PR or NR).
[3] The small group of new citizens who were not PRs prior to obtaining citizenship were minors who were either (i) children of citizens, or (ii) children of PRs who were included as dependants in their parents’ citizenship application.