Singapore Plans to Grant Citizenship to Up to 30,000 Foreigners Annually as Population Challenges Grow

Singapore has unveiled a plan to offer citizenship to 25,000 – 30,000 foreigners each year over the next five years in response to a sharp decline in birth rates and pressures on the country’s workforce. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong told Parliament that demographic trends are creating long-term challenges for the nation’s labour pool and economic growth.

The decision comes as Singapore grapples with one of the lowest fertility rates in its history, with the total fertility rate (TFR) falling below one child per woman — a level far below what is needed to sustain the population naturally. This decline in births has raised concerns that the citizen population could begin shrinking by the early 2040s if no action is taken.

Singapore’s total population was about 6.11 million as of mid-2025, with citizens making up approximately 3.6 million of that figure. While the number of births each year remains low, the number of foreign residents — including permanent residents and foreigners on work passes — continues to grow.

Under the new strategy, the government will increase the number of new citizens it grants each year to help bolster the workforce and support economic productivity. This approach is part of a broader effort to manage Singapore’s ageing population and sustained labour shortages, particularly in skilled sectors where local supply is limited.

The policy also includes plans to admit more permanent residents (PRs) — with estimates of around 40,000 new PRs annually over the same period — to create a robust pipeline toward citizenship while helping to sustain population growth.

Despite prioritising support for Singaporean families and efforts to raise fertility, the government says that carefully managed immigration will remain necessary to supplement the low birth rate. Officials stress that the intake of new citizens and PRs will be adjusted based on demographic trends and the nation’s capacity to accommodate growth without straining public services and infrastructure.