Overseas Singaporean
![]() | |
Total population | |
---|---|
217,200 (2019)[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Diaspora total | 340,751 (2019)[2][a] |
Malaysia | 91,002[2] |
Australia | 64,739[2] |
United Kingdom | 58,432[2] |
United States | 39,018[2] |
Indonesia | 23,524[2] |
China | 12,799[2] |
Canada | 12,582[2] |
Bangladesh | 9,709[2] |
New Zealand | 5,734[2] |
India | 4,155[2] |
Netherlands | 4,126[2] |
Japan | 2,735[2] |
Germany | 2,638[2] |
France | 2,512[2] |
Switzerland | 2,349[2] |
Vietnam | 1,830[2] |
Languages | |
Religion | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Singaporeans |
Overseas Singaporeans refers to citizens or people who identify with the sovereign island city-state of Singapore, but living outside of Singapore.[3] Most of the Overseas Singaporeans are expatriates accompanied by their families or students studying abroad.[4] According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in 2019, the population of the Singaporean diaspora stands at 340,751[2] and according to official statistics from the Government of Singapore, 217,200 of Singaporeans overseas retained their citizenship.[1] Majority of the Singaporean diaspora are located in Malaysia, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Overview[]
Most Singaporeans abroad are expatriates accompanied by their families as professionals are sought after in various industries in regions such as China, India, the Middle East, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia, as they are bilingual and highly skilled. Other reasons for living aboard includes students seeking to study in overseas universities or Singaporeans that settled in the home countries of their foreign spouses.[5] Population of the Singaporean diaspora was at 156,468 in 1990, with the United Kingdom having the largest community of Singaporeans at 33,320 and the second largest in Malaysia, with a population of 31,269. In 2000, the population of the diaspora increased to 192,989, which was a 23.3% increase since 1990. In the same year, the number of Singaporeans in Malaysia increased to 44,779 individuals, surpassing the community in the United Kingdom, which had a population of 39,131. From 2000 to 2015, the number of Singaporeans moving aboard increased to 314,281 individuals. By 2019, there were 340,751 overseas Singaporeans, with 123,551 individuals holding other nationalities.[2]
Although more Singaporeans are moving aboard, there was only an average of 1,200 Singaporeans renouncing their citizenship annually, according to official government statistics.[6][7] In recent years, however, more Singaporean students living aboard have plans to return to Singapore after completing their studies as countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States introduced stricter policies on working visas and immigration.[8] According to a 2016 survey conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies, 48.5% of Singaporeans aged between 19 and 30 stated that they could achieve the goals they have without migrating and 42.6% "preferred to improve" their socio-economic wellbeing without migrating.[9]
Reasons for emigration[]
According to a 2014 survey conducted by Singapore Polytechnic, some of the top reasons why Singaporeans would want to leave the country were "the high costs of living, having more opportunities overseas for work and education and a slower pace of life".[10] Other factors includes different lifestyles, such as having access to more recreational activities in other countries.[11]
Notable people[]
This is a list of notable people of Singaporean origin that includes people who were born or raised in Singapore and Singaporeans living aboard.
- Amanda Lee Koe – Singaporean-American novelist
- Anna Cummer – Canadian actress
- Allan Massie – Scottish journalist, columnist, sports writer and novelist
- Boey Kim Cheng – Australian poet
- Desney Tan – Singaporean researcher working for Microsoft Research, based in the United States
- Paddy Boom – American professional drummer
- Ross Butler – American actor
- Victoria Chan-Palay – Singaporean neuroscientist, former American citizen
- Ian Goodenough – Australian politician
- Kevin Kwan – American novelist
- Michael Chan, Baron Chan – British physician and politician
- Nancy Lam – Singaporean chef based in the United Kingdom
- Patrick Grove – Australian entrepreneur, co-founder of Catcha Group
- John Burton-Race – British Michelin starred chef
- Jonathan Seet – Canadian singer-songwriter, composer and producer
- Astra Sharma – Australian tennis player
- Peter Whish-Wilson – Australian politician
- Quek Leng Chan – Malaysian tycoon, co-founder of Hong Leong Group Malaysia
- Francis Seow – Singaporean-born American writer
- Sharon Tay – American journalist and former host
- Vanessa-Mae – British violinist
- Wan Azizah Wan Ismail – Malaysian politician and 1st Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia
- Brandon Wade – American businessman, of Chinese Singaporean descent
- Wilfred Skinner – Singaporean national athlete, migrated to Canada
References[]
- ^ a b c "2019 Singapore Population in Brief" (PDF). Strategy Group Singapore, Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "International migrant stock 2019". United Nations. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "More S'poreans overseas, but brain drain concerns dissipate". Today. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ "Chart of the Day: 200,000 Singaporeans live overseas". Singapore Business Review. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ "Singaporeans living aboard" (PDF). National University of Singapore. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ "Are Singaporeans renouncing their citizenship and rapidly being replaced?". gov.sg, Government of Singapore. 19 January 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "Commentary: More Singaporeans going abroad, but are no less Singaporean for it". Channel News Asia. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Harder for skilled Singaporeans to live, work overseas". The Straits Times. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Survey on Emigration Attitudes of Young Singaporeans (2016)" (PDF). Institute of Policy Studies, Singapore. 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Six in 10 young Singaporeans have considered leaving the country to fulfill their dreams, Singapore News & Top Stories". The Straits Times. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ "Working Overseas: Singaporeans Share 7 Things They Had to Get Used to When Living Abroad". MoneySmart Singapore. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
Notes[]
External links[]
- People from Singapore