Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Demographic Profile of Foreigners Granted Singaporean Citizenship Since 2000

Question:

Mr Leong Mun Wai: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs for each year since 2000, what is the (i) age (ii) profession and (iii) income distribution of foreigners who have been granted Singapore citizenship.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:

1.   On age, the Member may refer to my parliamentary reply to him on 1 August 2022.

2.   On profession, from 2000 to 2022, at point of application, on average about 37% of new Singapore citizens (SC) granted each year were Professionals, Managers, Executives & Technicians (PMET), 14% were non-PMETs, and 49% were not economically active. The last group comprises those who were not working and were granted SC on the basis of family ties to Singaporeans, being dependants of main applicants, or were still studying.

3.   Based on available data, from 2012 to 2022, at point of application, on average about 32% of new SCs granted each year had a gross monthly income above the median income of full-time employed SCs of that year. This calculation includes new SCs who were granted SC on the basis of family ties to Singaporeans, being dependants of main applicant, or were still studying; and may or may not have been working at the point of application.