\n<\/p>\n
At the macro level, a declining population means less vitality in Singapore and its economy, said Mr Gan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Economic growth and income growth will slow while spending on healthcare and social issues must increase to support the growing population of seniors, he added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis tremendous strain will be felt at the national level, but also at the individual households.\u201d<\/p>\n With fewer citizens, it will also become increasingly difficult to meet Singapore\u2019s national security and defence needs, said Mr Gan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis raises the deeper question of what Singapore will be 50 or 100 years from now \u2013 will we remain vibrant, liveable and relevant? Will we exist?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Even as the government redoubles its efforts to support Singaporeans in starting families and having more children, the country will still need \u201ccarefully managed\u201d immigration flow to augment its low birth rate, said the deputy prime minister.<\/p>\n While most Singaporeans recognise the case for immigration, this is not the full picture, he said, noting people\u2019s concerns and anxieties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWill bringing in immigrants mean fewer job opportunities for us? Will the Singapore that my children grow up in feel vastly different from the one that I grew up in? I understand these concerns,\u201d said Mr Gan.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we take these concerns over competition and our social fabric seriously. We will continue taking steps to address them.\u201d<\/p>\n Singapore granted about 25,000 citizenships in 2025, he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The country expects to take in between 25,000 to 30,000 new citizens each year over the next five years, said Mr Gan, noting that this depends on other demographic trends including the total fertility rate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe will also have to adjust our PR (permanent resident) intake, as permanent residence is the pathway to work towards citizenship,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Singapore\u2019s PR population has remained stable at 540,000 over the last few years, said Mr Gan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The country expects to take in about 40,000 PRs each year in the next five years, more than the 35,000 granted in 2025, he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n