THE POPULATION OF SINGAPORE AND ITS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

This dissertation is a study of the demographic trends in Singapore since its foundation in 1819, with special emphasis on the post-World War II trends and their implications in the field of social and economic development of the island. Chapter One traces the history and development of the demographic records upon which the major portion of this study is based. An account of the island’s population growth and the growth factors is given in Chapter Two. The structure of the population with special reference to race composition, sex composition and age structure is discussed in Chapter Three. Chapter Four deals with fertility trends and differentials. The original plan of a separate chapter on migration was abandoned owing to the dearth of migration statistics, but the salient features of migration have been included in the second chapter on population growth. The future population trends are estimated and discussed in Chapter Six. The final Chapter gives an appraisal of the population problem in Singapore. My thanks are due to Dr. You Poh Seng under whose supervision this dissertation was undertaken.