Net migration in Singapore
Singapore: Net migration was 16,892 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Singapore, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Singapore stood at 16,892.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 15.6% on the previous year and down 59.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Singapore peaked at 214,842 in 2022 and was at its lowest, -145,556, in 2020.
Singapore ranks 36th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Singapore, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2,008 | — |
| 1961 | 3,490 | +73.8% |
| 1962 | 3,714 | +6.4% |
| 1963 | 2,668 | -28.2% |
| 1964 | 3,043 | +14.1% |
| 1965 | 4,199 | +38.0% |
| 1966 | 3,507 | -16.5% |
| 1967 | 6,006 | +71.3% |
| 1968 | 6,792 | +13.1% |
| 1969 | 6,763 | -0.4% |
| 1970 | 4,024 | -40.5% |
| 1971 | 573 | -85.8% |
| 1972 | -1,631 | -384.6% |
| 1973 | -495 | -69.7% |
| 1974 | 2,748 | -655.2% |
| 1975 | 4,104 | +49.3% |
| 1976 | 949 | -76.9% |
| 1977 | 2,757 | +190.5% |
| 1978 | 436 | -84.2% |
| 1979 | -2,384 | -646.8% |
| 1980 | 42,433 | -1879.9% |
| 1981 | 85,869 | +102.4% |
| 1982 | 41,568 | -51.6% |
| 1983 | 11,699 | -71.9% |
| 1984 | -4,396 | -137.6% |
| 1985 | -31,036 | +606.0% |
| 1986 | -7,858 | -74.7% |
| 1987 | 25,411 | -423.4% |
| 1988 | 40,976 | +61.3% |
| 1989 | 68,031 | +66.0% |
| 1990 | 66,950 | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 57,821 | -13.6% |
| 1992 | 54,359 | -6.0% |
| 1993 | 58,820 | +8.2% |
| 1994 | 71,170 | +21.0% |
| 1995 | 91,947 | +29.2% |
| 1996 | 102,018 | +11.0% |
| 1997 | 95,241 | -6.6% |
| 1998 | 51,905 | -45.5% |
| 1999 | 19,681 | -62.1% |
| 2000 | 55,218 | +180.6% |
| 2001 | 45,027 | -18.5% |
| 2002 | -40,023 | -188.9% |
| 2003 | -30,012 | -25.0% |
| 2004 | 50,487 | -268.2% |
| 2005 | 92,023 | +82.3% |
| 2006 | 135,625 | +47.4% |
| 2007 | 192,292 | +41.8% |
| 2008 | 176,182 | -8.4% |
| 2009 | 95,841 | -45.6% |
| 2010 | 72,571 | -24.3% |
| 2011 | 89,856 | +23.8% |
| 2012 | 78,501 | -12.6% |
| 2013 | 52,176 | -33.5% |
| 2014 | 40,154 | -23.0% |
| 2015 | 41,852 | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 13,737 | -67.2% |
| 2017 | -8,880 | -164.6% |
| 2018 | 21,820 | -345.7% |
| 2019 | 870 | -96.0% |
| 2020 | -145,556 | -16830.6% |
| 2021 | -44,030 | -69.8% |
| 2022 | 214,842 | -587.9% |
| 2023 | 26,996 | -87.4% |
| 2024 | 20,011 | -25.9% |
| 2025 | 16,892 | -15.6% |
Singapore compared with similar countries
- Singapore's 16,892 is above the median for high income countries, which is 843, 20.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Singapore's 16,892 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -462. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Singapore changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -16830.6% | 870 | -145,556 |
| 1980 | +1879.9% | -2,384 | 42,433 |
| 1974 | +655.2% | -495 | 2,748 |
| 1979 | -646.8% | 436 | -2,384 |
| 1985 | -606.0% | -4,396 | -31,036 |
| 2022 | +587.9% | -44,030 | 214,842 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4,219 | 2,008 | 6,792 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1,108 | -2,384 | 4,104 | 10 |
| 1980s | 27,270 | -31,036 | 85,869 | 10 |
| 1990s | 66,991 | 19,681 | 102,018 | 10 |
| 2000s | 77,266 | -40,023 | 192,292 | 10 |
| 2010s | 40,266 | -8,880 | 89,856 | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,859 | -145,556 | 214,842 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
More financial sector data for Singapore
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 8.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0023 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 230.78 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 3.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0017 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 168.51 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 8.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0023 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 230.78 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 3.73 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Singapore?
- Net migration in Singapore was 16,892 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 214,842 in 2022.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was -145,556 in 2020.
- How does Singapore rank for net migration?
- Singapore ranks 36th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Singapore data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.