PACE OF IMMIGRATION
One way to moderate the impact is immigration, said Ms Indranee, but Singapore will continue to “carefully manage” the pace of this.
In 2024, Singapore granted citizenship to about 24,000 people, including 1,400 children born overseas to Singaporean parents. It also granted permanent residency to about 35,000 people.
The average annual number of new citizens and permanent residents for the past five years is slightly higher than in the previous five years.
“We remain committed to ensuring that our new citizens and PRs are well-integrated into our communities,” she said.
She added that openness and multiculturalism are two values that have served Singapore well over the last 60 years.
“These are fundamental aspects of who we are and key strengths that help us make our way in the world,” she said.
Many newcomers to Singapore end up becoming not just friends but family, Ms Indranee said.
In the last decade, more than one-third of citizen marriages every year were between a Singaporean and a foreigner.
“We will continue to review our population strategies to ensure that they remain relevant in meeting our needs,” said Ms Indranee.
