Singapore's total population has reached a record 6.21 million, according to Reuters. The increase was driven by a rise in foreign residents, the outlet reported on Friday, September 25, 2026.
The figure marks the highest population level recorded for the city-state. Reuters attributes the growth to a larger number of foreign residents rather than any single other factor.
Singapore has long relied on foreign workers and residents to supplement its small citizen base and support its economy. The country's population counts typically combine citizens, permanent residents and various categories of foreign residents, though Reuters did not break down the 6.21 million figure by category in its headline report.
The record comes as governments across the region continue to weigh the economic benefits of foreign labor against domestic concerns about infrastructure, housing and social cohesion. Singapore's approach to immigration and foreign manpower has been a recurring subject of policy debate in recent years.
Full details of the population breakdown, including the specific growth rates for each resident category, were not available in the initial reporting. Reuters did not provide a comparison with the previous year's total in the material available.
What to watch next: whether Singapore's government releases a detailed breakdown of the 6.21 million figure, including citizen, permanent resident and foreign resident totals, and how the record number shapes upcoming policy discussions on immigration and population planning.
